If i was the 8-man playoff czar.. Take the power out of the power points

JAG164 · Oct 20, 2026

After reading the discourse on playoff qualifiers in 8-man, specifically the D3 argument of playing up.. Here's what I would do.

Iowa's playoff system:
- Iowa has 10 eight-player districts with 6–7 teams per district in the 2025–2026 cycle.
- Thirty teams qualify automatically: the top three teams in each district.
- Two additional statewide at-large teams qualify, making 32 playoff teams total.
- At-large selection begins with the fewest district losses. If more teams are tied than available spots, the 17-point differential tiebreaker is used: plus/minus points from district games divided by the number of games played within the district.
- District standings also drive first-round hosting opportunities. District champions are positioned strongly, and the manual contains specific tie procedures for district finish and hosting.

D3 Example (41 teams)

7 districts (6 - 6 - 6 - 6 - 6 - 6 - 5)

1) Everyone plays 9 games (4 non & 5 district / 5 non & 4 district)
2) District Champ and Runner Up are auto bids (14 teams)
3) Two at large bids based off power points (2 teams)
4) 7 District Champs HOST 1st round of playoffs - after that power points used for "seeding"
5) Power points used for seeding, not qualifying, as well as tie breakers. Power points are fluid through 1st rd

Justification:
- Eliminates power points from controlling playoff qualifiers
- Makes winning games in your district in your CLASS important
- Eliminates scheduling issues and creates an even/fair playing field for everyone in the class, regardless of location

GBR1245647 · Oct 20, 2026

There would still be the same problem of lopsided districts where one is insanely tough and one is insanely weak. The idea of power points is to even it out as much as possible. If that was this case this year Cross county who will barely make it to the playoffs will host a first round game, same with that BDS district in D2. The idea is somewhat there. There are always going to be issues no matter what the criteria is

JAG164 · Oct 20, 2026

Good points. Maybe not auto host.

bigredguy23 · Oct 20, 2026

I always felt like a more accurate way to do it would be having 10 tiers rather than 4 for points. Sounds complicated, but it's very simple. For a 9 game season:

Winning against:
8-1 Team: 50 Points
7-2 Team: 49 Points
6-3 Team: 48 Points
5-4 Team: 47 Points
.
.
.
0-9 Team: 42 Points

Losing to:
9-0 Team: 41 Points
8-1 Team: 40 Points
.
.
.
1-8 Team:

and so on.

It would do a couple things: Differentiate more to reduce the ties in the power points, and would punish teams less for losses to really good teams. If you look at the points system now, I don't agree with the fact that beating a really bad 0-9 team is worth 5 more power points than losing a game to the top 9-0 team in the state.

huskbuster · Oct 20, 2026

Its not broken and doesnt need fixed. Best teams have won state last several years and the best make the finals since switching from East-West division in the brackets

Big bo fan · Oct 20, 2026

Th

JAG164 said:
After reading the discourse on playoff qualifiers in 8-man, specifically the D3 argument of playing up.. Here's what I would do.

Iowa's playoff system:
- Iowa has 10 eight-player districts with 6–7 teams per district in the 2025–2026 cycle.
- Thirty teams qualify automatically: the top three teams in each district.
- Two additional statewide at-large teams qualify, making 32 playoff teams total.
- At-large selection begins with the fewest district losses. If more teams are tied than available spots, the 17-point differential tiebreaker is used: plus/minus points from district games divided by the number of games played within the district.
- District standings also drive first-round hosting opportunities. District champions are positioned strongly, and the manual contains specific tie procedures for district finish and hosting.

D3 Example (41 teams)

7 districts (6 - 6 - 6 - 6 - 6 - 6 - 5)

1) Everyone plays 9 games (4 non & 5 district / 5 non & 4 district)
2) District Champ and Runner Up are auto bids (14 teams)
3) Two at large bids based off power points (2 teams)
4) 7 District Champs HOST 1st round of playoffs - after that power points used for "seeding"
5) Power points used for seeding, not qualifying, as well as tie breakers. Power points are fluid through 1st rd

Justification:
- Eliminates power points from controlling playoff qualifiers
- Makes winning games in your district in your CLASS important
- Eliminates scheduling issues and creates an even/fair playing field for everyone in the class, regardless of location

There are weak and strong districts in every class. The only reason we are having this discussion is because FCSH got a couple more higher class non district games then everyone else They probably snuck in the playoffs because of the extraordinary points but if they didn’t beat 3 of the 4 they wouldn’t have made it . And they are likely a 15 seed and are going to get drilled. The system is fine . Is it perfect?no bit no system is .the best teams are getting to the finals and that what it comes down too

GBR1245647 · Oct 21, 2026

huskbuster said:
Its not broken and doesnt need fixed. Best teams have won state last several years and the best make the finals since switching from East-West division in the brackets

I agree, going away from the east west last year was great. I never liked the reseed in the first place. I liked how it was straight up 1-32 and now it’s 1-16.

JAG164 · Oct 21, 2026

Just because it “works” doesn’t make it the best / right. But I respect your opinion.

Alum-Ni · Oct 21, 2026

bigredguy23 said:
I always felt like a more accurate way to do it would be having 10 tiers rather than 4 for points. Sounds complicated, but it's very simple. For a 9 game season:

Winning against:
8-1 Team: 50 Points
7-2 Team: 49 Points
6-3 Team: 48 Points
5-4 Team: 47 Points
.
.
.
0-9 Team: 42 Points

Losing to:
9-0 Team: 41 Points
8-1 Team: 40 Points
.
.
.
1-8 Team:

and so on.

It would do a couple things: Differentiate more to reduce the ties in the power points, and would punish teams less for losses to really good teams. If you look at the points system now, I don't agree with the fact that beating a really bad 0-9 team is worth 5 more power points than losing a game to the top 9-0 team in the state.

Interesting scenario.

Husker7562 · Oct 21, 2026

Any thought on going to 24 team playoffs instead of always flopping between 16 and 32. I do feal that 32 teams is to many but 16 feels like not enough. Especially in D3 this year. 24 just seams like the right number.

Big bo fan · Oct 21, 2026

Husker7562 said:
Any thought on going to 24 team playoffs instead of always flopping between 16 and 32. I do feal that 32 teams is to many but 16 feels like not enough. Especially in D3 this year. 24 just seams like the right number.

They added a 3rd Class in 8man to get all classes C1 through D3 between 30 and 40 per then they could go 16 statewide in 8 man like 11 man has been

Husker7562 · Oct 21, 2026

Feel like a class with 30 teams and a class with 40 is a pretty decent difference in who makes it in and who doesn't.

Look at the records of the teams making it into playoffs in C1 and C2 and compare that to D-3. Especially when you get these schedule and district imbalances where over half the playoffs could be or would be coming out of 2 or 3 districts. St. Mary's is one such team that is top ten caliber team but siting on the edge from having a tough non-district and tough district. Doesn't feel like we are getting the best teams into the playoffs.

Big bo fan · Oct 21, 2026

Husker7562 said:
Feel like a class with 30 teams and a class with 40 is a pretty decent difference in who makes it in and who doesn't.

Look at the records of the teams making it into playoffs in C1 and C2 and compare that to D-3. Especially when you get these schedule and district imbalances where over half the playoffs could be or would be coming out of 2 or 3 districts. St. Mary's is one such team that is top ten caliber team but siting on the edge from having a tough non-district and tough district. Doesn't feel like we are getting the best teams into the playoffs.

That’s just the way it goes unfortunately every year. There are weak districts and strong districts . You can’t go to a higher number to get in just because a St Mary’s drew a tough schedule. Because the other teams behind a st Mary’s in power points definitely do not deserve to be in

ACICOD is BACK · Oct 21, 2026

16 is the right number. Everyone gets 9 games now to prove they belong. When a team goes 5-4 against a really good schedule, they've proven they cannot beat playoff teams 4 times.

That's just my take on it.

Husker7562 · Oct 21, 2026

ACICOD is BACK said:
16 is the right number. Everyone gets 9 games now to prove they belong. When a team goes 5-4 against a really good schedule, they've proven they cannot beat playoff teams 4 times.

That's just my take on it.

Understand the logic but what about teams that only play 1 playoff quality team or 2 and make it in? Would of lost to the same 4 or 5 the other teams did just didn't have the opportunity to lose them.

Big bo fan · Oct 21, 2026

Husker7562 said:
Understand the logic but what about teams that only play 1 playoff quality team or 2 and make it in? Would have lost to the same 4 or 5 the other teams did just didn't have the opportunity to lose them.

Thats the luck of the draw . You have games being played. 480 miles east to west and 250 miles north to south. No system is perfect.

Coach Klein · Oct 22, 2026

Husker7562 said:
Understand the logic but what about teams that only play 1 playoff quality team or 2 and make it in? Would have lost to the same 4 or 5 the other teams did just didn't have the opportunity to lose them.

In D1 there’s a district champ that will be a 14-16 seed depending how the cookie crumbles the next two nights. Luck of the draw I get that but just kind of sad to me. Had 3 chances against playoff teams and didn’t play a single one of them close.

ACICOD is BACK · Oct 22, 2026

Coach Klein said:
In D1 there’s a district champ that will be a 14-16 seed depending how the cookie crumbles the next two nights. Luck of the draw I get that but just kind of sad to me. Had 3 chances against playoff teams and didn’t play a single one of them close.

I'm curious.................who is the team that you would want in the playoffs that won't make it? It seems as if you have a team who you feel doesn't deserve to be in................if you could pick the 16 teams who deserve to be in, who would they be?

highschoolfootballnut · Oct 22, 2026

ACICOD is BACK said:
I'm curious.................who is the team that you would want in the playoffs that won't make it? It seems as if you have a team who you feel doesn't deserve to be in................if you could pick the 16 teams who deserve to be in, who would they be?

yes who is the team that deserves it more ??????

Coach Klein · Oct 22, 2026

ACICOD is BACK said:
I'm curious.................who is the team that you would want in the playoffs that won't make it? It seems as if you have a team who you feel doesn't deserve to be in................if you could pick the 16 teams who deserve to be in, who would they be?

Someone between Ponca, Pender, Amherest, Alma, Tri county is going to get left out depending on how things shake out. I get your next argument that if they win Friday they are in. Also I get luck of the draw argument you put anyone of those said 4 teams in District 3 and they run the table in that district to get in. It's going to be a blow out in the first round of the playoffs. Just to me and maybe I am way off in my thinking I would like to see the champion of districts compete in the playoff not get blown out first round.

bigredguy23 · Oct 22, 2026

Coach Klein said:
Someone between Ponca, Pender, Amherest, Alma, Tri county is going to get left out depending on how things shake out. I get your next argument that if they win Friday they are in. Also I get luck of the draw argument you put anyone of those said 4 teams in District 3 and they run the table in that district to get in. It's going to be a blow out in the first round of the playoffs. Just to me and maybe I am way off in my thinking I would like to see the champion of districts compete in the playoff not get blown out first round.

I think Ponca and Pender are probably both better than Cross County this year. Pender unfortunately dealt with some injuries throughout the season that caused them to drop the Wisner game. Ponca is dealing with injuries now from what I hear, which could impact this week's game.

I don't think any of the other 3 teams would beat Cross County. I don't think any of those games would be competitive.

ACICOD is BACK · Oct 22, 2026

bigredguy23 said:
I think Ponca and Pender are probably both better than Cross County this year. Pender unfortunately dealt with some injuries throughout the season that caused them to drop the Wisner game. Ponca is dealing with injuries now from what I hear, which could impact this week's game.

I don't think any of the other 3 teams would beat Cross County. I don't think any of those games would be competitive.

I agree with your assessment:

Pender & Ponca

Cross County

Alma, Amherst, & Tri County

Those are 3 distinct tiers. Alma, Amherst, & Tri County would not beat Cross County.

In my opinion, whichever team(s) get in from District D1-7 (Amherst, Alma, Elm Creek, Gibbon, Kimball), will be the weakest teams in the playoffs.

LooseCannon · Oct 23, 2026

Husker7562 said:
Any thought on going to 24 team playoffs instead of always flopping between 16 and 32. I do feal that 32 teams is to many but 16 feels like not enough. Especially in D3 this year. 24 just seams like the right number.

16 is perfect. There are not more than 16 teams that could potentially win a state title. If you go 6-3 you are pretty much locked in.

IMO, a team like Leigh this year in D3 should not make the playoffs. They have six wins and of those six wins, the opponents have a combined seven wins. SEVEN.

LooseCannon · Oct 23, 2026

Coach Klein said:
Someone between Ponca, Pender, Amherest, Alma, Tri county is going to get left out depending on how things shake out. I get your next argument that if they win Friday they are in. Also I get luck of the draw argument you put anyone of those said 4 teams in District 3 and they run the table in that district to get in. It's going to be a blow out in the first round of the playoffs. Just to me and maybe I am way off in my thinking I would like to see the champion of districts compete in the playoff not get blown out first round.

Tri County has six wins. The six wins are...

4-4 Centennial
1-7 Cedar Bluffs
0-9 Southern
1-7 JCC
0-8 Fairbury
2-6 Falls City

They got smoked by J-B and E-M. They are not a playoff team. Besides Johnson-Brock, E-M and Lourdes that area of football in the state is struggling badly.

If i was the 8-man playoff czar.. Take the power out of the power points

Sophomore

Redshirt

Sophomore

Redshirt

All-Conference

All-American

Redshirt

Sophomore

Heisman

Redshirt

All-American

Redshirt

All-American

Freshman

Redshirt

All-American

Sophomore

Freshman

Senior

Sophomore

Redshirt

Freshman

Heisman

Heisman