Out of state could be a mess, but everyone in Illinois is in the same boat so just adjust the contracts up one week for any in state opponents.
The Playoff Expansion Bylaw PASSED!
- Thread starter Catch-22
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Out of state could be a mess, but everyone in Illinois is in the same boat so just adjust the contracts up one week for any in state opponents.
One big thing this does, and is going to really backfire on the schools that wanted this, is provide more dominance for private schools.
Antioch isn’t going to be very happy when 2-7 CCL team beats them in round 1.
Antioch isn’t going to be very happy when 2-7 CCL team beats them in round 1.
Well, yeah.....
The season starts one week earlier so are the players going to have enough time practice? Is equipment going to be ready? Are field renovations going to be completed? What about that August heat.
Yes, I hope somebody was thinking of the children.
Who wants to start a t-shirt company with me? We're about to make a fortune selling playoff qualifier shirts to teams!
If that week was already Week 0 and teams were scrimmaging with other teams, the equipment already had to be ready, same weather, etc.
This is really a sad day for this sport. I’m from the old school when there were 5 classes and you had to earn your way in. This rewards mediocrity and bad football. Nothing more.
Yeah, what happens when a 3-6 CCL team wins the championship?
July to Halloween with no dead week is a long time. And doing it all in the hottest time of the year is definitely in the players best interest.
Does the acclimatization rules stay the same at start of the season. Going to be a lot of fun watching games when teams only has 4 fully padded practices before Week 1. Again, I'm sure this is in the players best interests.
Scheduling will still be an issue, especially next season. Teams will still dodge the big dogs and when all is said and done, only 3 or 4 teams in each class will have a realistic shot at a title, and they will probably meet in the Quarters and Semis because 1-32 isn't possible.
I don't understand this take. Mediocrity was already being rewarded. There are teams who don't do the things that everyone one this board claims are the big separators (lift year round, have a fully bought in lower level program) and are still rewarded with playoff births because their conference is bad at football. They are the medium fish in the small pond. All of the schools that we annually pick to be "upset" because they have a high seed and never win a playoff game. But there are also a ton of schools with many disadvantages and issues that do not pertain to football but impact football and they do everything the right way. Work hard, lift year round, their coaches pour their heart and soul in to their kids, and those teams are now rewarded with possibly an extra game, and sometimes 2 games.
The "rewarding mediocrity" doesn't make any sense. Because either
a- they win their first playoff game which means they will give a better test to the team with a bye and the team that made it over them was the team rewarded for mediocrity
b- they lose, and the team that traditionally was in the round of 32 is still in the round of 32 and no one was rewarded anything besides maybe one more game.
Every other sport has every team in the state make the playoffs. Football was the only sport that did not. But that doesn't mean those schools who don't have a path to 5 wins try and less hard or care any less about football. This expands experiences to communities that haven't always had access to these experiences and for the life of me I don't understand why people on this board are so against that. Who is it harming if Evanston plays Huntley and the winner plays Warren? If Evanston wins, they proved they belong. Mediocrity was not rewarded. If Evanston loses, Huntely proved they belong and mediocrity was not rewarded. In the end, it helps Evanston's program to sell the carrot of making the playoffs and get more athletes in the school involved.
Zion Benton had a great season this year. Had 4 wins, played some really tough games against playoff teams. Those kids worked extremely hard and did all of the right things to change their culture and get to 4 wins. I just roll my eyes at everyone on this board who just thumbs their nose at those kids and act like they are mailing it in. They are not, this gives them a chance to be proud of something. There is not an unrealistic world where they beat Willowbrook and upset Glenbard East (who only beat Willowbrook 28-21). And if Willowbrook wins, then Zion has another notch in their belt to sell to their kids to keep working hard and improve and build the program in the offseason. This is what high school football is about. Communities have different environments. Providing communities like Zion Benton access to extra meaningful football games is not the negative thing people on the board make it out to be.
What happens? Nothing. The CCL went 5-0 this year in the playoff brackets they entered. So if a 3-6 CCL won the championship, that wouldn't be any different than this year. It certainly wouldn't be "rewarding mediocrity" if a team who went 3-6 won the state championship.
Are you insinuating that teams aren't practicing in July because of the heat? Just because the season was pushed up a week does that mean you think teams weren't practicing at those times before? They just skipped those days? For the acclimatization period, we have double the days of many nearby states (Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky) so it will put our acclimatization in line with those states.
Admittedly, the product in week 1 will drop. Going from 16 practices (or 15 and a scrimmage) before the first game to 10 will definitely impact the level of play. But kids were already playing scrimmages and having full contact team periods in those times. I am not sure safety is going to be impacted. I do think caliber of play in week 1 will be down.
Because dead week is changed, this does not mean teams HAVE to practice during dead week. They still only have 20 summer contact days. They can use those any way they want. I also think it doesn't make sense to just add 5 weeks to the season so I assume most teams will still have a week off between summer and practice. As for scheduling, the MSL is finding out right now how hard it is to schedule when you are Palatine, Prospect, Barrington, etc. I think it will get easier.
I think everyone crying that this is the worst thing ever will realize that this in fact does give more access to more communities and people are going to enjoy watching a variety of matchups come playoffs too.
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This will result in even more public schools who will complain that their school would have gone all the way had they not gotten knocked out of the playoffs by a private school in an early round game.
Be careful what you wish for.
Be careful what you wish for.
"Rewarding mediocrity" is simply allowing more teams to hang a banner and make t shirts calling themselves playoff qualifiers.
It's better, but in theory different schools have different conference obligations. And depending on what was agreed to, one school may want to keep a game the other can't. Probably worst for any independent who may rely on scheduling at least some late games against odd-numbered conference teams.
With this change could ESTL leave their conference and add to their national schedule? I am sure they could find 3 wins.
I mean if they had a game planned for week 2 they can still have it, week 2 is just one week earlier on the calendar. If an independent has issues scheduling later in the year I don't see how the new schedule affects that.
Were there really any 5-4 or 4-5 teams this year or any prior year that hung banners and made such T-shirts?
Huh? Why are people so worried about the regular season, everything just moves up one week? It will create issues for any national games ESL has planned but they still need to play 9 games and most of those will be in conference. It's been discussed before that scheduling a full 9 games on a national level is almost impossible.
Why did it need to go into effect this year? Seems like this will really screw with some schedules and leave teams scrambling.
It's a one-year issue many Midwest states start a week early then IL currently, if anything it opens up more opportunities to travel.
Yes. Most schools have t shirts, banners, etc indicating years they have made the playoffs. Or T shirts with "2025 IHSA State Playoffs" with the school logo and rosters on the back.
Yes, teams do it every year.
I'm starting to think this is just the Big Hoodie corporations pushing this ideas so they can sell more hoodies and T-shirts.
The hoodie lobby is strong.
Soucie already claiming we're losing non con matchups. Its possible many will be saved on the basis of both teams moving the date, but it's possible there are scheduling conflicts that are date sensitive that will cause some disruption, at least for next year.
Edit, more:
Edit, more:
If you’re 4-5 or 3-6 you’re not good enough to be a playoff team hence rewarding mediocrity.
I agree when we went to 8 classes it watered things down a lot.
this does give some programs a shot like Zion or Mundelein but in the end this waters the field down - a field that is already bad.
Look at some of the first round scores. This will be uglier if that’s possible.
But 4-5 teams already make the playoffs. And have the last few years. So I guess some are good enough? And isn't 5 wins an arbitrary demarcation? I know society in general is going to default to nice round numbers (like .500 winning percentage) to make decisions, but that doesn't mean those numbers are the right number. Mundelein is another good example. They went 5-58 (.079 win percentage!!!!!!) in a 7 year stretch. That is awful. Then they showed some really good progress. They won 4-3-4-4 games in a four year stretch so they went 15-21 in those four years (.417 win percentage). That is a huge improvement. They beat playoff teams in those seasons but did not make the playoffs because they are in a good conference with 5 playoff teams. They did not get over the hump in any of those seasons unfortunately, like Zion Benton this year. I don't think rewarding those players with meaningful games, giving that community a playoff experience, waters down the field. Like you said, it's already watered down. If they win a play in game, then the next round game would be more competitive. Maybe it helps them recruit their own hallways and helps build momentum toward even more competitive football seasons moving forward. If they don't, then those kids were given one extra game.
I'm not blaming you persay, but I do not understand the sky is falling type comments from posters that act like kids at a 3-6 school playing 1 extra game hurts the integrity of football. If more kids and more communities playing more meaningful football hurts the integrity of football, then the integrity is not that strong to begin with.
Also I don't get the more blowouts. Because if you focus on the round of 32, either the 5-4 or 6-3 team will win the play-in game and they will play the team they traditionally play before the inclusion of these "underserving" teams. But if they "undeserving team" were to win, they certainly wouldn't lose by more than the team they just beat? So why does this lead to increase blowouts?
Hypothetically,
Team A went 3-6 this season. Their 3 wins were each against teams that were 1-8. They won those 3 games by a total of 17 points. Each of their 6 losses were by running clock, the closest margin of which was 34 points. Their point differential for the season was -257. Do you want them in the playoffs?
IHSA, yes.
Big Hoodie, yes.
Kids mom and dad, yes.
The kids, some but not all, yes.
Coaches, not really but some.
Fans of HS football, nope.
It's already somewhat watered down as is and the number of 30+ point wins in the 1st 2 rounds is evidence enough that more teams should not get in.
You all act like giving an extra game to some high school kids is going to negatively impact so many lives.
Maybe take a step back, take a deep breath, and gain some perspective. It will all be ok.
Maybe take a step back, take a deep breath, and gain some perspective. It will all be ok.
My hope is the only schools willing to play Roxanna will be Loyola, ESL, Mt. Carmel, LWE, JCA, Montini, Naz, St. Rita, Cary Grove, Fenwick, or Simeon. Thanks for jacking up the highly competitive out of state games for those programs which actually earn their way into the playoffs with a winning record.
| Regular | Oct. 9 and Oct. 23 - Week 7 & 9 - 2026 | Roxana | Home | 2 yr. |
| Roxana High School – Football Games Needed (2026 Season) Roxana High School is looking to fill two varsity football dates for the upcoming 2026 season: October 9 (@ Roxana) October 23 (@ Roxana) We are seeking home games for weeks 7 & 9 and are willing to provide a $1,000 travel stipend to any school willing to come to Roxana. If you are interested or need additional details, please contact: Mark Briggs Athletic Director, Roxana High School Email: [email protected] |
This is a start. At end of day after coaching for over 30 years. Either we need a non- boundary/boundary bracket. Or Break state into D1/D2 teams. This will get what the Catholic league wants. To play the best. As with ESL. It is good. No issues. Just set the stakes and play.
Getting rid of the August dead period is dumb.
Due to a situation like the above (or one with team numbers decimated by injuries, suspensions or quitting), COULD A TEAM OPT OUT without some IHSA sanction? Also, hate the bye at the HS level on principle.
I wasn't going to chime in, but there was some Prep Bowl talk, so....
1- Expanding the playoffs and moving the season up a week puts Illinois more in line with Indiana. Indiana doesn't require a dead week the last week of July, but a majority of teams take one.
2- Speaking of Indiana, every team qualifies for the playoffs - BUT THERE IS NO SEEDING! The IHSA plan is infinitely better in this regard. The regular season should matter in football.
3- Every sport qualifies every team or athlete at the beginning of the state tournament - except for football. Regardless how any of us feel about 2-7 teams getting into the playoffs, it happens in all other sports. The saving grace is that there will be seeding so the top teams are actually positioned to get further in the tournament. Again, every year in Indiana there are top 5 teams playing in the first or second round. At least we avoid that.
4- This probably comes from me loving CPL football, but who really cares about t shirts? Seriously.
I will always be on the side of more football is better than no football. Especially in high school. The overwhelming majority of high school football players will never play after high school. So they get an extra game or two. So what?
1- Expanding the playoffs and moving the season up a week puts Illinois more in line with Indiana. Indiana doesn't require a dead week the last week of July, but a majority of teams take one.
2- Speaking of Indiana, every team qualifies for the playoffs - BUT THERE IS NO SEEDING! The IHSA plan is infinitely better in this regard. The regular season should matter in football.
3- Every sport qualifies every team or athlete at the beginning of the state tournament - except for football. Regardless how any of us feel about 2-7 teams getting into the playoffs, it happens in all other sports. The saving grace is that there will be seeding so the top teams are actually positioned to get further in the tournament. Again, every year in Indiana there are top 5 teams playing in the first or second round. At least we avoid that.
4- This probably comes from me loving CPL football, but who really cares about t shirts? Seriously.
I will always be on the side of more football is better than no football. Especially in high school. The overwhelming majority of high school football players will never play after high school. So they get an extra game or two. So what?
