New Playoff Hosting Rules Clarification

[Blue2Flew]

Under the old playoff system, the team that had played less home games hosted after the “First Round”. The higher seed hosted if both teams had hosted an equal amount of games.

With the expanded playoffs this season, we now have an “Opening Round” where the top 1/3 of teams receive a bye before the “First Round”.

Is there clarification to determine if hosting an “Opening Round” would be factored in when determining home field advantage?

 

[jha618]

Under the old playoff system, the team that had played less home games hosted after the “First Round”. The higher seed hosted if both teams had hosted an equal amount of games.

With the expanded playoffs this season, we now have an “Opening Round” where the top 1/3 of teams receive a bye before the “First Round”.

Is there clarification to determine if hosting an “Opening Round” would be factored in when determining home field advantage?

I haven't seen anything but I think the ihsa has made some adjustments in how they determine host teams in the playoffs. If there is an upset in the "play in" round, the teams with a bye would open their playoffs on the road. And tbh is bet many of them would prefer an opening round game on the road to increase the chances of playing a tougher opponent at home in the later rounds.

 

[DR.Eireog]

Under the old playoff system, the team that had played less home games hosted after the “First Round”. The higher seed hosted if both teams had hosted an equal amount of games.

With the expanded playoffs this season, we now have an “Opening Round” where the top 1/3 of teams receive a bye before the “First Round”.

Is there clarification to determine if hosting an “Opening Round” would be factored in when determining home field advantage?

The new playoff format would have been the perfect time to adjust the hosting rules. I’d have liked to seen the higher seed getting the option to host or go on the road in the opening round. I’d also have liked to see the higher seed host the semi final game too. But I don’t think anything has changed. I may be mistaken?

 

[Kevin JCHS 1981]

I haven't seen anything but I think the ihsa has made some adjustments in how they determine host teams in the playoffs. If there is an upset in the "play in" round, the teams with a bye would open their playoffs on the road. And tbh is bet many of them would prefer an opening round game on the road to increase the chances of playing a tougher opponent at home in the later rounds.

Correct me if I'm wrong (like I could stop you), but from what I figure under the old existing Hosting Rules is: The Bye would always be Home regardless of which team won the Play-In game.

At least that's how the math worked for me.

 

[SmallSchoolFan]

my thoughts

If #16 wins at home, #16 has hosted once and #1 has hosted zero times, so #1 hosts.
If #17 wins the upset on the road, both teams have hosted zero times. That's a tie, so the higher seed (#1) hosts.

Then subsequent rounds would fall in line with previous wins/upsets.

 

[Kevin JCHS 1981]

my thoughts

If #16 wins at home, #16 has hosted once and #1 has hosted zero times, so #1 hosts.
If #17 wins the upset on the road, both teams have hosted zero times. That's a tie, so the higher seed (#1) hosts.

Then subsequent rounds would fall in line with previous wins/upsets.

Exactly. I thought I was backward reading this thread.

 

[4Afan]

Nothing changes for round 1. The opening round has no effect on who hosts in round 1, higher seed will host.

 

[Blue2Flew]

Nothing changes for round 1. The opening round has no effect on who hosts in round 1, higher seed will host.

I agree with this, where it starts to be a relevant question is in the “Second Round” (which is the third week of postseason play) and beyond.

Let’s assume we are looking at a 24 team bracket.
The #9 seed would host the #24 in the Opening Round and then visit the #8 in the following round.
The #1 seed would host the winner of the #16 and #17.

So when the #9 and #1 meet in the third week of the postseason, home field advantage will come down to whether hosting the “opening round” is factored in. I assume that the IHSA would count the #9 hosting the “Opening Round” against them, thus making them need to travel to the #1. But this does seem like a point worth clarifying.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

I agree with this, where it starts to be a relevant question is in the “Second Round” (which is the third week of postseason play) and beyond.

Let’s assume we are looking at a 24 team bracket.
The #9 seed would host the #24 in the Opening Round and then visit the #8 in the following round.
The #1 seed would host the winner of the #16 and #17.

So when the #9 and #1 meet in the third week of the postseason, home field advantage will come down to whether hosting the “opening round” is factored in. I assume that the IHSA would count the #9 hosting the “Opening Round” against them, thus making them need to travel to the #1. But this does seem like a point worth clarifying.

I assumed "opening round" had no implications at all througout the playoffs on hosting.

 

[4Afan]

I assumed "opening round" had no implications at all througout the playoffs on hosting.

Correct. Either ignore who hosts the opening round or consider it a reset once the first round starts, whichever way you choose to look at it.

 

[Cyclone630]

I assumed "opening round" had no implications at all througout the playoffs on hosting.

Correct. Either ignore who hosts the opening round or consider it a reset once the first round starts, whichever way you choose to look at it.

From the IHSA:

Determining the Host Team

In the Opening and 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 games, the higher seed hosts the game.

Based on "current playoff series", I think hosting the opening round is factored into who hosts Round 2 and beyond.

 

[4Afan]

From the IHSA:

Determining the Host Team

In the Opening and 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 games, the higher seed hosts the game.

Based on "current playoff series", I think hosting the opening round is factored into who hosts Round 2 and beyond.

It's not because whoever wins the opening round games will, by default, be the lower seed in round one as they will be playing a seed that received a bye. So regardless if they host the opening round or not doesn't matter, it basically resets after the opening round.

 

[Cyclone630]

It's not because whoever wins the opening round games will, by default, be the lower seed in round one as they will be playing a seed that received a bye. So regardless if they host the opening round or not doesn't matter, it basically resets after the opening round.

Team A (seeded 22) does not host Opening Round and wins to play Team B in First Round. (Team A - 0 hosted games)
Team A wins First Round vs Team B and plays winner of Team C and Team D (Team A - 0 hosted games)

Team C (seeded 14) hosts Opening Round and wins to play Team D in First Round (Team C - 1 hosted game)
Team C wins First Round vs Team D and plays winner of Team A and Team B (Team C - 1 hosted game)

Who hosts Second Round? Team A (seeded 22 and hasn't hosted a game) or Team C (seeded 14 and hosted opening round game)?

If you ignore opening round or reset (which is not found in the IHSA manual), both teams have 0 hosted games and the higher seed hosts - Team C hosts.
If all games matter, Team C has 1 hosted game, Team A has 0 hosted games. Team A Hosts.

IHSA says hosted games in current playoff series.

And you are correct that opening round doesn't matter in who hosts the First Round, but it does matter after the first round.

 

[jha618]

Team A (seeded 22) does not host Opening Round and wins to play Team B in First Round. (Team A - 0 hosted games)
Team A wins First Round vs Team B and plays winner of Team C and Team D (Team A - 0 hosted games)

Team C (seeded 14) hosts Opening Round and wins to play Team D in First Round (Team C - 1 hosted game)
Team C wins First Round vs Team D and plays winner of Team A and Team B (Team C - 1 hosted game)

Who hosts Second Round? Team A (seeded 22 and hasn't hosted a game) or Team C (seeded 14 and hosted opening round game)?

If you ignore opening round or reset (which is not found in the IHSA manual), both teams have 0 hosted games and the higher seed hosts - Team C hosts.
If all games matter, Team C has 1 hosted game, Team A has 0 hosted games. Team A Hosts.

IHSA says hosted games in current playoff series.

And you are correct that opening round doesn't matter in who hosts the First Round, but it does matter after the first round.

The top 16 seeds get a bye in the 48 team bracket so a 14 seed wouldn’t play in the opening round

 

[Cyclone630]

The top 16 seeds get a bye in the 48 team bracket so a 14 seed wouldn’t play in the opening round

Wrong. 6A and below are split into North and South 1-24, with 1-8 in each split getting the bye. 7A and 8A are seeded 1-48 with 1-16 getting the bye.

 

[Carmine Evergreen]

6 classes 32 teams per class. Make the IHSA Football Playoffs Great Again