CPS Round 1 stats.

[OnVikings!]

Not sure what, if anything, can be done, but the IHSA or CPS needs to seriously reconsider the number of CPS teams that are allowed into the state tournament. Some stats from the last three years for CPS teams in the first round:

2023: Record 2-23 (both wins came against other CPS teams), outscored 1092-183.
2024: Record 5-21 (4 out of 5 wins came against other CPS teams), outscored 871-156.
2025: Record 4-16 (all 4 wins came against other CPS teams), outscored 893-192.

The 2024 Morgan Park Mustangs are the only CPS team out of 51 attempts to win a first round playoff game agaisnt a non CPS opponent in the last 3 seasons. (beat Tinley Park)

Three year total: Record 11-60 (1-50 vs. non CPS teams), outscored 2856-531.

For all the talk about public vs. private, I think this is a much more glaring issue. There are good teams (public and private) watching the playoffs from home while CPS schools are getting pounded. It's a lose-lose situation. There are obviously some CPS schools that belong in the tournament (MP, Kenwood, Simeon, etc...), but it makes no sense for some of these schools to get beat 50-0 on a yearly basis.

 

[AmbroseBlack]

We discuss this every October. On one hand, you're not wrong. I wish CPS had never permitted its second-tier teams to compete in the state playoffs. On the other hand, below are the number of non-CPS teams that lost by three or more touchdowns this year. If these uneven scores keep happening, a better question to ask is whether the IHSA should go back to six classes or at least seven. Losing badly in the first round is no longer just a CPS problem. So either CPS teams have the right to lose by 30-50+ points, like the teams in the red, or the IHSA recognizes there's a competitive issue and too many teams are in the playoffs with no chance of even losing close, let alone winning.

8A
(4) Fremd 41, (29) Huntley 14
(5) Warren 35, (28) New Trier 7
(2) Barrington 72, (31) Elgin 13
(3) Maine South 56, (30) Downers Grove South 20
(19) Hinsdale Central 45, (14) South Elgin 15

7A
(9) Lincoln-Way Central 49, (24) Reavis 7
(4) Glenbard East 63, (29) West Chicago 29
(13) Batavia 56, (20) Hoffman Estates 0
(5) Moline 24, (28) Andrew 0
(2) Glenbard West 63, (31) Willowbrook 21
(6) Brother Rice 57, (27) Rockford Jefferson 0

6A
1) Nazareth 42, (16) Hononegah 13
(4) Lake Zurich 46, (13) Grant 13
(8) East St. Louis 63, (9) Plainfield East 7
(2) Bradley-Bourbonnais 42, (15) Shepard 21
(10) St. Laurence 49, (7) Oak Lawn 19
(3) Crete-Monee 73, (14) Quincy 34
(6) Dunlap 49, (11) Pekin 21

5A
(7) Kaneland 68, (10) Lakes 21
(14) St. Patrick 49, (3) Wauconda 28
(6) Cary-Grove 42, (11) Sycamore 14
(1) Washington, Ill. 45, (16) Normal U-High 13
(5) Providence 63, (12) Springfield 19
(2) Oak Forest 38, (15) Champaign Centennial 12
(7) Bloomington 57, (10) Mascoutah 26
(3) Peoria 62, (14) Decatur MacArthur 14
(6) Morton, Ill. 35, (11) TF North 10

4A
(4) Dixon 45, (13) Woodstock North 0
(5) Coal City 49, (12) Sterling 7
(2) Morris 54, (15) Woodstock 7
(9) Cahokia 44, (8) Centralia 22
(4) Breese Central 48, (13) Columbia 15
(2) Carterville 42, (15) Alton Marquette 14
(3) Rochester 56, (14) Taylorville 7

3A
(1) Richmond-Burton 49, (16) North Boone 0 (through the 3rd before being ended early)
(4) Bloomington Central 41, (13) Princeton 20
(5) Monmouth-Roseville 39, (12) Manteno 14
(2) Byron 63, (15) Oregon 15
(3) Bishop McNamara 38, (14) Herscher 14
(11) IC Catholic 42, (6) Hope Academy 13
(1) Williamsville 53, (16) Hillsboro 20
(4) Tolono Unity 42, (13) Mt. Carmel, Ill. 14
(5) Monticello 48, (12) Paris 16
(2) Vandalia 42, (15) Christopher-Ziegler-Royalton 6
(11) Roxana 55, (6) West Frankfort 18

2A
(1) Rockridge 56, (16) Illini West 12
(5) Wilmington 70, (12) West Hancock 8
(7) Sterling Newman 43, (10) Ridgeview-Lexington 8
(6) Aurora Christian 37, (11) Erie-Prophetstown 12
(5) Pana 43, (12) Bismarck-Henning 14
(2) Westville 49, (15) Shelbyville 6
(7) DuQuoin 48, (10) Carlinville 21

1A
(2) Annawan-Wethersfield 31, (15) Stark County 8
(3) Lena-Winslow 48, (14) Forreston 22
(6) Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 28, (11) Ottawa Marquette 6
(1) Calhoun 48, (16) Villa Grove 6
(8) Greenfield-Northwestern 42, (9) Sesser-Valier 14
(4) Casey-Westfield 35, (13) Red Hill 0
(2) Camp Point Central 44, (15) West Central 0
(7) Brown County 48, (10) Athens 0
(3) Dupo 28, (14) Salt Fork 7

 

[OnVikings!]

We discuss this every October. On one hand, you're not wrong. I wish CPS had never permitted its second-tier teams to compete in the state playoffs. On the other hand, consider the number of non-CPS teams that lost by three or more touchdowns this year. If these uneven scores keep happening, a better question to ask is whether the IHSA should go back to six classes or at least seven. Losing badly in the first round is no longer just a CPS problem. So either CPS teams have the right to lose by 30-50+ points, like the teams in the red, or the IHSA recognizes there's a competitive issue and too many teams are in the playoffs with no chance of even losing close, let alone winning.

8A
(4) Fremd 41, (29) Huntley 14
(5) Warren 35, (28) New Trier 7
(2) Barrington 72, (31) Elgin 13
(3) Maine South 56, (30) Downers Grove South 20
(19) Hinsdale Central 45, (14) South Elgin 15

7A
(9) Lincoln-Way Central 49, (24) Reavis 7
(4) Glenbard East 63, (29) West Chicago 29
(13) Batavia 56, (20) Hoffman Estates 0
(5) Moline 24, (28) Andrew 0
(2) Glenbard West 63, (31) Willowbrook 21
(6) Brother Rice 57, (27) Rockford Jefferson 0

6A
1) Nazareth 42, (16) Hononegah 13
(4) Lake Zurich 46, (13) Grant 13
(8) East St. Louis 63, (9) Plainfield East 7
(2) Bradley-Bourbonnais 42, (15) Shepard 21
(10) St. Laurence 49, (7) Oak Lawn 19
(3) Crete-Monee 73, (14) Quincy 34
(6) Dunlap 49, (11) Pekin 21

5A
(7) Kaneland 68, (10) Lakes 21
(14) St. Patrick 49, (3) Wauconda 28
(6) Cary-Grove 42, (11) Sycamore 14
(1) Washington, Ill. 45, (16) Normal U-High 13
(5) Providence 63, (12) Springfield 19
(2) Oak Forest 38, (15) Champaign Centennial 12
(7) Bloomington 57, (10) Mascoutah 26
(3) Peoria 62, (14) Decatur MacArthur 14
(6) Morton, Ill. 35, (11) TF North 10

4A
(4) Dixon 45, (13) Woodstock North 0
(5) Coal City 49, (12) Sterling 7
(2) Morris 54, (15) Woodstock 7
(9) Cahokia 44, (8) Centralia 22
(4) Breese Central 48, (13) Columbia 15
(2) Carterville 42, (15) Alton Marquette 14
(3) Rochester 56, (14) Taylorville 7

3A
(1) Richmond-Burton 49, (16) North Boone 0 (through the 3rd before being ended early)
(4) Bloomington Central 41, (13) Princeton 20
(5) Monmouth-Roseville 39, (12) Manteno 14
(2) Byron 63, (15) Oregon 15
(3) Bishop McNamara 38, (14) Herscher 14
(11) IC Catholic 42, (6) Hope Academy 13
(1) Williamsville 53, (16) Hillsboro 20
(4) Tolono Unity 42, (13) Mt. Carmel, Ill. 14
(5) Monticello 48, (12) Paris 16
(2) Vandalia 42, (15) Christopher-Ziegler-Royalton 6
(11) Roxana 55, (6) West Frankfort 18

2A
(1) Rockridge 56, (16) Illini West 12
(5) Wilmington 70, (12) West Hancock 8
(7) Sterling Newman 43, (10) Ridgeview-Lexington 8
(6) Aurora Christian 37, (11) Erie-Prophetstown 12
(5) Pana 43, (12) Bismarck-Henning 14
(2) Westville 49, (15) Shelbyville 6
(7) DuQuoin 48, (10) Carlinville 21

1A
(2) Annawan-Wethersfield 31, (15) Stark County 8
(3) Lena-Winslow 48, (14) Forreston 22
(6) Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 28, (11) Ottawa Marquette 6
(1) Calhoun 48, (16) Villa Grove 6
(8) Greenfield-Northwestern 42, (9) Sesser-Valier 14
(4) Casey-Westfield 35, (13) Red Hill 0
(2) Camp Point Central 44, (15) West Central 0
(7) Brown County 48, (10) Athens 0
(3) Dupo 28, (14) Salt Fork 7

Point taken. There are some juggernauts on the winning end of most of those scores though. Many CPS teams are getting belted by teams that are going to take their own beating in round 2. I do think that contracting down to 7 classes is a good option. Don’t think it will ever happen though. It blows my mind that there a proposals suggesting that the field be expanded even more than the current model.

 

[Anon1760269333]

The even bigger issue is CPS getting to play CPS in round one AND ROUND TWO. Makes for a crappy tournament. See 5a North.

Winner of Prairie Ridge/St Francis is going to play a CPS program in the quarters.

This is why it’s a must to come up with a new method for seeding.

 

[Carmine Evergreen]

Money $$$. Greed drives everything. It's the reason why the IHSA went to 8 classes in the first place. With all the latest "proposals", it will eventually expand again. 8-man and Girls Flag are also on the horizon. If there is a way to make money, Bloomington is looking into it.

 

[Cross Bones]

I never understood why people feel its okay to come on here and suggest some kids should be excluded from the playoffs if they meet the criteria. As @AmbroseBlack pointed out, plenty teams get pounded in the playoffs, plenty conferences routinely get pounded. What is the threshold that OP has that makes one collective pounding okay for the playoffs and not the other? The Southwest Prairie East champ just got beat 63-7. Should the IHSA do something about Southwest Prairie East teams making the playoffs? Upstate 8 teams? West Suburban Gold teams?

Hell, StL barely beat King. Should StL be in the playoffs?

 

[Anon1760269333]

I never understood why people feel its okay to come on here and suggest some kids should be excluded from the playoffs if they meet the criteria. As @AmbroseBlack pointed out, plenty teams get pounded in the playoffs, plenty conferences routinely get pounded. What is the threshold that OP has that makes one collective pounding okay for the playoffs and not the other? The Southwest Prairie East champ just got beat 63-7. Should the IHSA do something about Southwest Prairie East teams making the playoffs? Upstate 8 teams? West Suburban Gold teams?

Hell, StL barely beat King. Should StL be in the playoffs?

I agree with you.

My issue is w the seeding. In order to put on the best possible tournament, it would be help if the tourney was seeded differently.

it would be a better tournament if King/ Corliss winner didn’t make it to the quarterfinals. They are both actually 20+ seeds.

The college football playoffs had a similar problem last year and course corrected this year to make for a better playoff.

 

[Cross Bones]

I agree with you.

My issue is w the seeding. In order to put on the best possible tournament, it would be help if the tourney was seeded differently.

Im perfectly fine with the seeding. Yes there are some undesired results because it is imperfect but everything is imperfect. For me the most transparent the better, the least human subjectivity the better. No one is equipped to properly rank 32 teams in a class. But what we do know is 9 wins is more than 8 wins, and 50 opponents wins is more than 20 opponent wins.

Think about how many crazy opinions we see here on this board. No way in hell would I want these people seeding the playoffs.

 

[IHSAfan207]

Here is my 2 cents, and agree the issue lies more in a seeding and placement vs who gets in. My suggestions would be

1. Along with teams moving up for multiplers and success also have demotions were teams both private/public move down. Example, 3 consecutive 1st round exits move down a class.

2. Rank all classes 1-32

3. Someway incorporate strength of schedule or state ranking system in seeding. I keep seeing ideas for coaches to be involved someway, this might be it. Algorithms can get state ranking pretty accurate but maybe a coaches review committee.

While nothing will fix everything, I think some sort of implementation of the above mentioned would help the competition level become more balanced.

 

[RB_RocketFan]

I was at the RB game this weekend and I couldn’t stop thinking about how people want to expand the playoffs….its not safe to do it. Football is a violent game, and when a team is bigger, faster and stronger against a non-competitive team, it’s dangerous. This really needs to be considered before expansion.

 

[Redline9]

I wonder how many other states have the same issue.

I would 100% be in agreement with teams who faced each other regular season cannot matchup in Round 1.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

The even bigger issue is CPS getting to play CPS in round one AND ROUND TWO. Makes for a crappy tournament. See 5a North.

Winner of Prairie Ridge/St Francis is going to play a CPS program in the quarters.

This is why it’s a must to come up with a new method for seeding.

Next week is basically a quarterfinal game for PR/SF.

 

[OnVikings!]

I never understood why people feel its okay to come on here and suggest some kids should be excluded from the playoffs if they meet the criteria. As @AmbroseBlack pointed out, plenty teams get pounded in the playoffs, plenty conferences routinely get pounded. What is the threshold that OP has that makes one collective pounding okay for the playoffs and not the other? The Southwest Prairie East champ just got beat 63-7. Should the IHSA do something about Southwest Prairie East teams making the playoffs? Upstate 8 teams? West Suburban Gold teams?

Hell, StL barely beat King. Should StL be in the playoffs?

Did you read my post? The numbers speak for themselves. That’s data to support my argument. You are cherry picking one game. I looked at 50 plus games over three seasons. King belongs in the playoffs, as do a handful of other CPS schools. There are a lot of other CPS schools that don’t. Just my opinion based on research. Don’t take it personal. It would be extremely difficult for the IHSA or CPS to remedy this, and I understand that.

 

[4Afan]

Did you read my post? The numbers speak for themselves. That’s data to support my argument. You are cherry picking one game. I looked at 50 plus games over three seasons. King belongs in the playoffs, as do a handful of other CPS schools. There are a lot of other CPS schools that don’t. Just my opinion based on research. Don’t take it personal. It would be extremely difficult for the IHSA or CPS to remedy this, and I understand that.

So who decides which CPS schools meet your expectations? It was convenient of you to dismiss the other post about blowouts of non CPS schools (oh, well they just got beat by better teams). Why don't you just come out and say what you think, CPS kids don't deserve the playoff experience.

 

[wildkit_fan]

I was at the RB game this weekend and I couldn’t stop thinking about how people want to expand the playoffs….its not safe to do it. Football is a violent game, and when a team is bigger, faster and stronger against a non-competitive team, it’s dangerous. This really needs to be considered before expansion.

I agree that safety should be the primary concern in these matchups, but I don’t agree that the current system is necessarily much better than the proposed expanded system in preventing safety concerns. At least in the large classes, when I looked at what an expansion looked like, it involved many 3-6 or 4-5 teams from strong conferences getting in. Those teams have already played tough teams and survived (there was never any safety concerns when we played St L, Fremd, Maine south, GBS). I think the safety issue is much more likely when you have a team in the playoffs with a good record but has not played any really strong teams all year.

i don’t have the answer, but it seems like not thinking about SoS in this system is a source of some the problems. Finally, there are going to be a lot of blowouts in the large school classes because the best players are congregating at a select number of schools. Enrollment is a crude way to group football programs at this point, if you wanted really competitive tournaments, it would be more like AAU hoops tournaments where you have Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze divisions

 

[RB_RocketFan]

I agree that safety should be the primary concern in these matchups, but I don’t agree that the current system is necessarily much better than the proposed expanded system in preventing safety concerns. At least in the large classes, when I looked at what an expansion looked like, it involved many 3-6 or 4-5 teams from strong conferences getting in. Those teams have already played tough teams and survived (there was never any safety concerns when we played St L, Fremd, Maine south, GBS). I think the safety issue is much more likely when you have a team in the playoffs with a good record but has not played any really strong teams all year.

i don’t have the answer, but it seems like not thinking about SoS in this system is a source of some the problems. Finally, there are going to be a lot of blowouts in the large school classes because the best players are congregating at a select number of schools. Enrollment is a crude way to group football programs at this point, if you wanted really competitive tournaments, it would be more like AAU hoops tournaments where you have Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze divisions

Couldn’t agree more the current system isn’t any better, but doubling down on it and expanding it seems awful. Totally agree that having competition levels could be a solution. It’s clear to see enrollment is not the best solution.

 

[Cross Bones]

Did you read my post? The numbers speak for themselves. That’s data to support my argument. You are cherry picking one game. I looked at 50 plus games over three seasons. King belongs in the playoffs, as do a handful of other CPS schools. There are a lot of other CPS schools that don’t. Just my opinion based on research. Don’t take it personal. It would be extremely difficult for the IHSA or CPS to remedy this, and I understand that.

What if I dont think King or StL belong in the playoffs? What if I think if you dont beat CPL teams (any CPL team) by 20 then you dont deserve playoffs? Plainfield N is sitting at home while StL could barely beat King and is in. Thats the travesty here.

The problem here is the arbitrary nature at which you and others suggest certain kids aren't deserving of being allowed in the post season even though they meet the criteria. And then when asked what your actual criteria is so we can apply it across the board we never get the criteria. Why dont we get the criteria? Im more than willing to consider ideas to improve the system, but when I look at the subjective views of a number of people who espouse the views I become even more convinced that subjectivity has no place in the process.

 

[4Afan]

What if I dont think King or StL belong in the playoffs? What if I think if you dont beat CPL teams (any CPL team) by 20 then you dont deserve playoffs? Plainfield N is sitting at home while StL could barely beat King and is in. Thats the travesty here.

The problem here is the arbitrary nature at which you and others suggest certain kids aren't deserving of being allowed in the post season even though they meet the criteria. And then when asked what your actual criteria is so we can apply it across the board we never get the criteria. Why dont we get the criteria? Im more than willing to consider ideas to improve the system, but when I look at the subjective views of a number of people who espouse the views I become even more convinced that subjectivity has no place in the process.

Bingo! I agree that the system isn't perfect, but I don't know what the solution is so I'm perfectly fine with the objectivity of what we have now.

 

[mc140]

Same time frame, a few other conferences who routinely get trounced in the playoffs. I am sure there are others.

South West Prairie East
0-1
0-2
0-1

SSC Blue
1-4
2-3 2 cps wins
1-3

SSC RED
2-2 1 cps win
1-2
1-3

WSC Gold
2-1 1 cps win
2-1 1 SWP E Win
0-3

UP State 8
3-2 2 cps wins
2-4 1 cps win
1-6 Win vs another Upstate 8 team

 

[rocketnation]

FWIW, average margins of victory in Rd 1:
1a (24 points)
2a (25 points)
3a (24 points)
4a (26 points)
5a (30 points)
6a (29 points)
7a (32 points)
8a (24 points)

A playoff expansion, if approved, will inevitably result in even more lopsided margins.

If the goal was more competitive games, reducing the field from 256 to 192 might have an impact. 24 qualifiers from each class. Top 8 get a bye into Week 11. 9 through 24 play Week 10.

But as @4A Fan states there is no perfect playoff system. There may not be a sweet spot between participation and competition.

 

[Anon1760269333]

Im perfectly fine with the seeding. Yes there are some undesired results because it is imperfect but everything is imperfect. For me the most transparent the better, the least human subjectivity the better. No one is equipped to properly rank 32 teams in a class. But what we do know is 9 wins is more than 8 wins, and 50 opponents wins is more than 20 opponent wins.

Think about how many crazy opinions we see here on this board. No way in hell would I want these people seeding the playoffs.

Not all wins are the same.

wouldn’t be the edgy faithful doing the rankings.

however, a small committee

So who decides which CPS schools meet your expectations? It was convenient of you to dismiss the other post about blowouts of non CPS schools (oh, well they just got beat by better teams). Why don't you just come out and say what you think, CPS kids don't deserve the playoff experience.

man, what an absolute clown post.

Why is everything so dramatic with you?

 

[wildkit_fan]

FWIW, average margins of victory in Rd 1:
1a (24 points)
2a (25 points)
3a (24 points)
4a (26 points)
5a (30 points)
6a (29 points)
7a (32 points)
8a (24 points)

A playoff expansion, if approved, will inevitably result in even more lopsided margins.

If the goal was more competitive games, reducing the field from 256 to 192 might have an impact. 24 qualifiers from each class. Top 8 get a bye into Week 11. 9 through 24 play Week 10.

But as @4A Fan states there is no perfect playoff system. There may not be a sweet spot between participation and competition.

A playoff expansion with byes for top teams & play-in for weaker teams would result in more competitive games.

 

[SilverHelmet]

FWIW, average margins of victory in Rd 1:
1a (24 points)
2a (25 points)
3a (24 points)
4a (26 points)
5a (30 points)
6a (29 points)
7a (32 points)
8a (24 points)

Round 2 typically is not much closer. Honestly if these are the same in the championship games, I would not be surprised.

 

[rocketnation]

A playoff expansion with byes for top teams & play-in for weaker teams would result in more competitive games.

If the expansion would bring in only more 4-win teams, perhaps more competition in the early rounds could be achieved by utilizing play-ins and byes. An expansion that would bring any 2/3-win teams into the playoffs should produce even more lopsided results than currently.

 

[Dave Brody]

What if they kept 8 classes but reduced the number of teams in each class from 32 to 24? Just a thought

 

[wildkit_fan]

If the expansion would bring in only more 4-win teams, perhaps more competition in the early rounds could be achieved by utilizing play-ins and byes. An expansion that would bring any 2/3-win teams into the playoffs should produce even more lopsided results than currently.

A 3 win Naperville central play in vs several of the teams in 8A field would have resulted in a better opponent for one of the top teams. Similar story for St Ignatius, Nequa Valley, Niles Notre Dame, others. The proposed 48 team field would allow the stronger teams among seeds 17-48 to advance to play seeds 1-16. 1-16 would either face same team they play today in 32 field today or play a team that beat one of those teams, resulting in a better matchup.

 

[Go Bucs Go]

I don’t think that the North Boone kid got hurt because the team didn’t belong or was poorly coached. I wasn’t there. I didn’t see it. They play in the Big Northern conference. They make the playoffs 50 percent of the time. They have a feeder system from the middle school and jr tackle.

 

[wildkit_fan]

What if they kept 8 classes but reduced the number of teams in each class from 32 to 24? Just a thought

Keeping the current playoff rules, HF misses playoffs and team they just beat 56-8 is in . As long as it’s purely based on records, there will be teams that out of the playoffs that are obviously stronger than teams in the playoffs.

I’m for a system where any school who wants to participate is in the playoffs. Hopefully ADs and coaches at schools where safety was an issue or kids didn’t want to play would have good sense to decline to play. Now people will attack me for wanting to hand out participation trophies… whatever, letting kids play one more game of football (for many, the last they will ever play) seems like a good deal to me.

 

[Anon1760269333]

I don’t think that the North Boone kid got hurt because the team didn’t belong or was poorly coached. I wasn’t there. I didn’t see it. They play in the Big Northern conference. They make the playoffs 50 percent of the time. They have a feeder system from the middle school and jr tackle.

No one said otherwise.

 

[Go Bucs Go]

I may have misunderstood Rocketfans post.

 

[OnVikings!]

Bones, I think you are taking this way too personal. Im not trying to deny anyone anything. I think the way the IHSA currently runs things is the fairest option that creates the least drama. It is obvious though, at least to me, that the playoff teams produced from CPS outside the Metro Division are at an extreme disadvantage playing in the state playoffs. I also readily admit that there is no easy answer to fix that disadvantage.

 

[Catch-22]

To me, the scores don’t even matter. When you’re sitting there watching a team of 14-year-olds get dominated on every play, it’s very difficult. New Trier losing by 28 is nothing like Montini playing a 4-5 CPS team. They could’ve won by 200 if they wanted to.

I’m not trying to say that teams that otherwise qualify don’t deserve a playoff experience. CPS already limits the teams that are allowed to qualify for the state playoffs. Maybe that list should be expanded a bit. They used to allow only the top two teams from a CPS conference to qualify. Maybe that can be revisited. CPS has a playoff and a city champ. It’s not an easy decision to make. It’s just scary watching matchups like this.

 

[OnVikings!]

To me, the scores don’t even matter. When you’re sitting there watching a team of 14-year-olds get dominated on every play, it’s very difficult. New Trier losing by 28 is nothing like Montini playing a 4-5 CPS team. They could’ve won by 200 if they wanted to.

I’m not trying to say that teams that otherwise qualify don’t deserve a playoff experience. CPS already limits the teams that are allowed to qualify for the state playoffs. Maybe that list should be expanded a bit. They used to allow only the top two teams from a CPS conference to qualify. Maybe that can be revisited. CPS has a playoff and a city champ. It’s not an easy decision to make. It’s just scary watching matchups like this.

Well said. It's not beneficial for either team to play in matchups like that.

 

[Cross Bones]

Bones, I think you are taking this way too personal. Im not trying to deny anyone anything. I think the way the IHSA currently runs things is the fairest option that creates the least drama. It is obvious though, at least to me, that the playoff teams produced from CPS outside the Metro Division are at an extreme disadvantage playing in the state playoffs. I also readily admit that there is no easy answer to fix that disadvantage.

You still haven't come up with an actual criteria that we can apply across the board. I gave you a criteria thats actually applicable. Coincidentally it keeps my team in and excludes yours. You seem to have an issue with that.

 

[johnndoe]

Well said. It's not beneficial for either team to play in matchups like that.

I would wonder about LincolnWay West's opinion on this after HOSTING a CPS opponent for both Rounds 1 and 2 this year.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

I would wonder about LincolnWay West's opinion on this after HOSTING a CPS opponent for both Rounds 1 and 2 this year.

Kenwood is a good team. I expect LWW to win but Ken is gonna compete, hit and has some playmakers.

 

[Anon1760269333]

I would wonder about LincolnWay West's opinion on this after HOSTING a CPS opponent for both Rounds 1 and 2 this year.

Doesn’t matter what their opinion is. It’s about what’s best for putting on the best possible tournament you can put on.

They are playing Kenwood this week and not part of the issue at hand.

 

[johnndoe]

Kenwood is a good team. I expect LWW to win but Ken is gonna compete, hit and has some playmakers.

Doesn’t matter what their opinion is. It’s about what’s best for putting on the best possible tournament you can put on.

They are playing Kenwood this week and not part of the issue at hand.

I hope you guys are right about Kenwood. I have a hard time forgetting the big build-up to Kenwood hosting LWE in a season opener at Gately a few seasons ago which was a bust of a game. Although, that was East, of course.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

I hope you guys are right about Kenwood. I have a hard time forgetting the big build-up to Kenwood hosting LWE in a season opener at Gately a few seasons ago which was a bust of a game. Although, that was East, of course.

and a few years ago, it's 2025. LWW might win going away but Kenwood is a good hardnose team with some playmakers.

 

[Cross Bones]

I hope you guys are right about Kenwood. I have a hard time forgetting the big build-up to Kenwood hosting LWE in a season opener at Gately a few seasons ago which was a bust of a game. Although, that was East, of course.

LWE beat Maine South 40-nil