Question on who would get home game in this scenario Rice vs ESL

[Topiarydan1]

So assuming the following happens on 7A

IHSA - Illinois High School Association

The official site for the Illinois High School Association, providing schedules, scores, and news for high school sports in Illinois.

www.ihsa.org

Rice hosts the winner of SCN and - assuming its SCN
Then if Rice wins and Batavia wins - Rice will host Batavia - so 2nd home game
Assuming if Rice wins they would then go on road and play Normal

Then
EST hosts the winner of Elgin and Reavis
Assuming ESL wins they would then host the winner of St Pats/Westinghouse - most likely Pats
However since St Pats hosts first play in game and then goes on road - technically both St Pats and ESL would have hosted 1 game
already - so ESL would then host Pats correct?
Then if they win they would most likely host Prospect who would have hosted 2 games prior to them both playing

Then if Rice wins at Normal
and
EST beats Prospect then ESL would need to go to Rice for the semis correct since Rice would have only played 2 home while ESL would have played 3
Does this sound correct?

 

[4Afan]

And if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle

 

[ejande]

I think that is correct. You are assuming Rockford Guilford beats Zion/Glenbook North which might not be right. Hard to tell how good NIC10 teams are.

An unintended consequence of going to 48, when seeds 17 to 32 pull upsets in the 1st round, they will travel for 2nd round games due to hosting in the opening round. In the past, the 17 to 32 seeded teams would have hosted. This will then impact future round sites. I think the impact will be you'll have more ties in number of times hosting so it'll default to the higher seed hosting, which is probably a good thing.

 

[Cross Bones]

My understanding is that the opening round doesnt count towards the home/away.

 

[Topiarydan1]

My understanding is that the opening round doesnt count towards the home/away.

Saw this on bottom of brackets page - didn't know if this helps/hurts Rice - *Note: In the opening round, the higher seed hosts the game. In subsequent rounds, the school that has hosted fewer times during the current playoff series hosts the game. If both teams have hosted an equal number of times, the higher seed hosts.

 

[McCaravan]

With all the changes made they couldn't toss in the higher seed should get the home field from the quarters on? Or at least for the semifinal?

 

[SiuCubFan8]

With all the changes made they couldn't toss in the higher seed should get the home field from the quarters on? Or at least for the semifinal?

I will preface this with saying I totally understand the argument and I can't say I disagree but I do like the quirkiness of it and it is HS football after all.

 

[refreff01]

My understanding is that the opening round doesnt count towards the home/away.

This is correct. Insanely stupid but correct. Gotta love the IHSA. By this dumb rule, lower first round seed is actually penalized for winning as compared to later rounds. If a lower seed wins round one, they should host round two. That makes sense to me in the this dumb practice.

Goes back to my point of maybe rewarding teams for playing a tough schedule thus making it easier to find game.

 

[jha618]

This is correct. Insanely stupid but correct. Gotta love the IHSA. By this dumb rule, lower first round seed is actually penalized for winning as compared to later rounds. If a lower seed wins round one, they should host round two. That makes sense to me in the this dumb practice.

Goes back to my point of maybe rewarding teams for playing a tough schedule thus making it easier to find game.

But you would then penalize the higher seed in rd 2 by starting their playoffs on the road.

 

[Kevin JCHS 1981]

But you would then penalize the higher seed in rd 2 by starting their playoffs on the road.

But a lot of teams have been wanting to be able to waive their 1st round Home game, just so they could qualify for a Home game in a later round.

 

[refreff01]

But you would then penalize the higher seed in rd 2 by starting their playoffs on the road.

The higher seed would theoretically benefit in the long run with these rules that while may be well intended have zero rational basis.

 

[jha618]

The higher seed would theoretically benefit in the long run with these rules that while may be well intended have zero rational basis.

Im not following. How is it a penalty for the lower seed to play a R2 road game but a theoretical benefit for the higher seed to play a R2 road game? They both stand to benefit the same in later rounds by playing that R2 game on the road.

 

[Topiarydan1]

This is correct. Insanely stupid but correct. Gotta love the IHSA. By this dumb rule, lower first round seed is actually penalized for winning as compared to later rounds. If a lower seed wins round one, they should host round two. That makes sense to me in the this dumb practice.

Goes back to my point of maybe rewarding teams for playing a tough schedule thus making it easier to find game.

Actually I think this is incorrect. Let's start by looking at the language on this year's brackets at bottom of each one from last year's bracket 2025-26 where there was no opening round - but rather only 1st round
*Note: In the first round, the higher seed hosts the game. In subsequent rounds, the school that has hosted fewer times during the current playoff series hosts the game. If both teams have hosted an equal number of times, the higher seed hosts.
and this year's 2026-27
*Note: In the opening round, the higher seed hosts the game. In subsequent rounds, the school that has hosted fewer times during the current playoff series hosts the game. If both teams have hosted an equal number of times, the higher seed hosts.

So there is technically an additional round

So role playing on Rice bracket side where they are the 8 seed
SCN plays at home and wins
plays winner of SCN higher seed and - So Rice would have 1 game at home
Then let's assume Batavia wins their home game - so they play Round 2 at home
Then assuming they're playiing Normal in 3rd they would go to Normal - 1 away

Pats plays at home in opening round and wins so they have their first game at home
ESTL will play 1st round game at home vs either Reavis or Elgin- 1 game at home
then
EST will then play the winner of Westinghouse and most likely Pats (who would have had their home game in opening round) - so regardless that winner is goig to ESL in 2nd round - EST 2nd game at home
then
let's say Prospect plays at home in their 1st round - 1 game at home
and then they play at home again vs Guilford - 2nd game at home
then go on the road since both ESL and Propsecct would have played 2 home game s- so EST would then have 3 home games through the 3rd round

Now Rice who is 2 home and 1 away would play ESL with 3 home games
So Rice would get the semi at Rice
and not have ccosecurative long drives
Thoughts?

 

[crusader_of_90]

Thoughts?

That SGT. McJackOff of the CPD will be there with a badge around his neck and talking smack to the ESL players and coaches again, despite it not being against MC.

 

[McCaravan]

That SGT. McJackOff of the CPD will be there with a badge around his neck and talking smack to the ESL players and coaches again, despite it not being against MC.

I'm a Detective not a Sgt . What did I miss on this one

 

[crusader_of_90]

I'm a Detective not a Sgt . What did I miss on this one

HA - not you.

Some guy with a dago name used to come on here and brag that he was talking stuff to the coaches and players. For sure, a hard-R type of guy.

 

[refreff01]

Actually I think this is incorrect. Let's start by looking at the language on this year's brackets at bottom of each one from last year's bracket 2025-26 where there was no opening round - but rather only 1st round
*Note: In the first round, the higher seed hosts the game. In subsequent rounds, the school that has hosted fewer times during the current playoff series hosts the game. If both teams have hosted an equal number of times, the higher seed hosts.
and this year's 2026-27
*Note: In the opening round, the higher seed hosts the game. In subsequent rounds, the school that has hosted fewer times during the current playoff series hosts the game. If both teams have hosted an equal number of times, the higher seed hosts.

So there is technically an additional round

So role playing on Rice bracket side where they are the 8 seed
SCN plays at home and wins
plays winner of SCN higher seed and - So Rice would have 1 game at home
Then let's assume Batavia wins their home game - so they play Round 2 at home
Then assuming they're playiing Normal in 3rd they would go to Normal - 1 away

Pats plays at home in opening round and wins so they have their first game at home
ESTL will play 1st round game at home vs either Reavis or Elgin- 1 game at home
then
EST will then play the winner of Westinghouse and most likely Pats (who would have had their home game in opening round) - so regardless that winner is goig to ESL in 2nd round - EST 2nd game at home
then
let's say Prospect plays at home in their 1st round - 1 game at home
and then they play at home again vs Guilford - 2nd game at home
then go on the road since both ESL and Propsecct would have played 2 home game s- so EST would then have 3 home games through the 3rd round

Now Rice who is 2 home and 1 away would play ESL with 3 home games
So Rice would get the semi at Rice
and not have ccosecurative long drives
Thoughts?

I was of he understanding that the first round does not count in this scenario and St Pats will host ESL after they thump Westinghouse in round one. Then BR and ESL both would have two home games and BR goes to ESl.

I could be wrong.

 

[refreff01]

Im not following. How is it a penalty for the lower seed to play a R2 road game but a theoretical benefit for the higher seed to play a R2 road game? They both stand to benefit the same in later rounds by playing that R2 game on the road.

My assumption is the team going on the road to play the lower seed gains the advantage further down stream.

In regard to BR and ESL. ESL benefits by going on the road to play at St Pats, while St Pats benefits here getting ESL at home but then St Pats would be on the road to BR while ESL is at home thus the higher seed benefits. In general higher seeds can be penalized when the seedings are not based on strength of team but the IHSA formula.

BR wants to play at home v Batavia but ESL benefits in that Westinghouse should not be receiving a bye and in getting a bye screws the advantage BR would have if they go to the higher seed Normal and win. I am sure BR is cool with traveling to Normal if gets ESL at home but I believe they will travel both days while ESL only travels once and it is a more winnable game.

 

[crusader_of_90]

Bye teams all start at home, assumably that counts as a home game being the “opening round.”

 

[Topiarydan1]

But the title of the headers says Opening Round and the language at bottom of brackets says
Opening Round - so if you're a play in team and you're hosting that opening round game -then
you have played a home game and then proceed to the 1st round where all higher seeds are home team games

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Saw this on bottom of brackets page - didn't know if this helps/hurts Rice - *Note: In the opening round, the higher seed hosts the game. In subsequent rounds, the school that has hosted fewer times during the current playoff series hosts the game. If both teams have hosted an equal number of times, the higher seed hosts.

Every bye week team hosts.

 

[refreff01]

Topairy is correct as the opening round counts as a home game.

The opening round counts and if the lower seeds wins they still do not host as the bye team / higher has not hosted either so neither have had a home game.

St Pats will win at home (Home game #1) and then go to Westinghouse (doesn't matter who wins) (1st Round) and at ESL (2nd Round) ESL will play at home first round which offsets Pat's Opening Round and then host St Pats/Westinghouse as each will have a home game.

Prospect would then go to ESL as lower seed while BR goes to Normal. That assume Prospect wins. Prospect would host BR as the higher seed if Prospect gets past ESL and BR makes it that far.

I am out on this topic as it intrigues me but also gave me a headache.

 

[refreff01]

So every bye week team hosts.

Yes as they have not had a home game and they are the higher seed.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Yes as they have not had a home game and they are the higher seed.

My response was suppose to be a statement not a question.

 

[refreff01]

My response was suppose to be a statement not a question.

Sorry I read So as beign an uncertainty

 

[Carmine Evergreen]

The BYE teams should have the option to go on the road for Round 1.

 

[Anon539691]

That SGT. McJackOff of the CPD will be there with a badge around his neck and talking smack to the ESL players and coaches again, despite it not being against MC.

Captain Sivada lol i remember that guy