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State Final Schedule Recommendation Discussed at the December Football Advisory Committee Meeting

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William Foster

Senior
Jul 2, 2019
333
464
63
VI. Tournament Structure & Time Schedules A. Days & Times
Recommendation: The committee recommends considering a different State Finals schedule.
Friday at ISU: 11:00 - 1A; 2:30 – 2A; 6:00 - 3A
Saturday at ISU: 11:00 - 4A; 2:30 - 5A; 6:00 - 6A
Monday in Chicago or the suburbs: 3:00 – 7A; 6:30 – 8A
Rationale: The current State Finals schedule features two extremely long days with four games on Friday and Saturday. Games run longer now than ever before, so the second, third, and fourth games of the day rarely start on time. Playing three games on Friday and Saturday would allow more time between games to match the reality of how long games currently run. Playing the 7A and 8A championship games in Chicago or the suburbs makes sense. Over the past 25 years, 96% of teams in those games have been from Chicago or the suburbs. The committee understands the Football Season Limitation By-Law (By-Law 5.071) would need to change in order to extend the season beyond the current Saturday of IHSA Week 21.
 
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johnndoe

Senior
Oct 19, 2019
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William Foster said:
VI. Tournament Structure & Time Schedules A. Days & Times
Recommendation: The committee recommends considering a different State Finals schedule.
Friday at ISU: 11:00 - 1A; 2:30 – 2A; 6:00 - 3A
Saturday at ISU: 11:00 - 4A; 2:30 - 5A; 6:00 - 6A
Monday in Chicago or the suburbs: 3:00 – 7A; 6:30 – 8A
Rationale: The current State Finals schedule features two extremely long days with four games on Friday and Saturday. Games run longer now than ever before, so the second, third, and fourth games of the day rarely start on time. Playing three games on Friday and Saturday would allow more time between games to match the reality of how long games currently run. Playing the 7A and 8A championship games in Chicago or the suburbs makes sense. Over the past 25 years, 96% of teams in those games have been from Chicago or the suburbs. The committee understands the Football Season Limitation By-Law (By-Law 5.071) would need to change in order to extend the season beyond the current Saturday of IHSA Week 21.
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Realistically, 2 school days (M & Tu) are negatively affected for the students, coaches who teach and the classrooms of the latter. It is OK for Friday and Saturday to be long days over the holiday. Doing what is best for the students should be the guide.
 
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4Afan

All-Conference
Sep 15, 2001
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Why not 2 on Wednesday, 3 Friday, 3 Saturday? Most, if not all schools are off the day before Thanksgiving.
 
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4Afan

All-Conference
Sep 15, 2001
3,709
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Doctor_D said:
Problem I see there is that playing on Wednesday is an awfully short week of prep. Would negatively affect the performance IMO.
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My other suggestion is to not wait for scheduled start times. Treat it like March Madness, the next game starts 30 min after the previous game ends.

1A and 2A were both running clocks this year and over ahead of schedule. There was no need to wait until 4pm to start 3A which ended up running longer due to the high score, which pushed the start of 4A back.
 
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William Foster

Senior
Jul 2, 2019
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SilverHelmet said:
Play on Sunday. Easiest solution.
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John Boehner Ok GIF
 
M

McCaravan

All-American
Feb 1, 2016
4,624
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4Afan said:
IHSA by laws against it.
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I know there has been a by law but there has been some wiggle room on this as I've seen numerous basketball, baseball and other teams play on Sundays. What is the exact rules with this ?
 
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4Afan

All-Conference
Sep 15, 2001
3,709
3,349
113
McCaravan said:
I know there has been a by law but there has been some wiggle room on this as I've seen numerous basketball, baseball and other teams play on Sundays. What is the exact rules with this ?
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According to the AI machine it is not actually a by law just common practice to ensure students have at least one day per week off. I can't see them putting football finals on a Sunday as students are coming back from the holiday weekend.
 
E

Edgytim

Senior
Staff member
May 29, 2001
468
703
113
William Foster said:
VI. Tournament Structure & Time Schedules A. Days & Times
Recommendation: The committee recommends considering a different State Finals schedule.
Friday at ISU: 11:00 - 1A; 2:30 – 2A; 6:00 - 3A
Saturday at ISU: 11:00 - 4A; 2:30 - 5A; 6:00 - 6A
Monday in Chicago or the suburbs: 3:00 – 7A; 6:30 – 8A
Rationale: The current State Finals schedule features two extremely long days with four games on Friday and Saturday. Games run longer now than ever before, so the second, third, and fourth games of the day rarely start on time. Playing three games on Friday and Saturday would allow more time between games to match the reality of how long games currently run. Playing the 7A and 8A championship games in Chicago or the suburbs makes sense. Over the past 25 years, 96% of teams in those games have been from Chicago or the suburbs. The committee understands the Football Season Limitation By-Law (By-Law 5.071) would need to change in order to extend the season beyond the current Saturday of IHSA Week 21.
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Will not happen strictly from a TV standpoint. Can they do games in separate locations? Yes. Do they want to do games in separate locations? Nope. The 2025 state title games were strictly a one off and the TV production struggled to get everything in place and operational. Also finding enough capable crew/workers in two separate locations is another big issue/factor as well. The 4 games in a day is an issue so the three in a day will get some interest....but like others have said I don't see a Monday working by choice either.
 
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SilverHelmet

All-Conference
Apr 30, 2006
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Edgytim said:
Will not happen strictly from a TV standpoint. Can they do games in separate locations? Yes. Do they want to do games in separate locations? Nope. The 2025 state title games were strictly a one off and the TV production struggled to get everything in place and operational. Also finding enough capable crew/workers in two separate locations is another big issue/factor as well. The 4 games in a day is an issue so the three in a day will get some interest....but like others have said I don't see a Monday working by choice either.
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Best to go back to 6 classes
 
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4Afan

All-Conference
Sep 15, 2001
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Colin2299 said:
I’m very aware you think this. However, there have been several coaches coming out in support of this lately.

We’ll see if it gets legs
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I don't see how. When do coaches seed the teams? Do they have to get it all done in 3 hours after all the week 9 Saturday games before the pairings come out? Do they treat it like other sports? If so, then you have teams getting seeded in week 6 or 7.
 
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Cyclone630

Redshirt
Oct 24, 2014
36
22
8
Chicago312 said:
Easy fix, SIX CLASSES!!!! for the sepearation lovers, 4 public, 2 non boundary.....class 1, 3, & 5 ( smallest non boundary) on Friday....2, 4, & 6 (largest non bounday). Game times 12, 3, & 6pm
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Regardless of the number of classes, privates only get 1 class. 10% of the high schools in the state are not getting 25-33% of the playoffs.

The smaller privates will just have to work harder to compete in the single private class.
 
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Colin2299

Sophomore
Aug 13, 2025
178
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Cyclone630 said:
Regardless of the number of classes, privates only get 1 class. 10% of the high schools in the state are not getting 25-33% of the playoffs.

The smaller privates will just have to work harder to compete in the single private class.
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This is the argument that I find most hilarious that people actually think this is a solution.
 
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Colin2299

Sophomore
Aug 13, 2025
178
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4Afan said:
I don't see how. When do coaches seed the teams? Do they have to get it all done in 3 hours after all the week 9 Saturday games before the pairings come out? Do they treat it like other sports? If so, then you have teams getting seeded in week 6 or 7.
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It’s not that hard
 
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cornerrat#1

Senior
Jul 1, 2025
414
410
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All..... Football is a different beast with the angst that would go to seeding the privates from a group of public Coach's that would likely comprise a majority number. No sir I don't want that "gent" from Antioch having a say. It's not perfect but has been mentioned Calpreps or Massey.

Leave it alone and keep it the same even though at times that can be flawed. Ratsy
 
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SiuCubFan8

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2007
5,571
3,487
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in regards to coaches doing seeding.
With the rhetoric we’ve heard over the years from public school coaches about private schools…… no.
 
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Colin2299

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Aug 13, 2025
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You guys are crazy. Why is this viewed as so hard???

Off the top of my head…first idea.

48 teams qualify for a class. The 48 HC’s then rank these teams on selection Saturday and the pairings announced that night. Elimate 2 outliers ballots to prevent rouge voters.

Yes, 4Afan…the coaches can come up with this seeding in an hour or two.

We then don’t have title games in the 2nd or 3rd round. Mission accomplished.

Really all that matters is dividing up the top teams so we don’t get Byron/Montini in the early rounds and other matchups like this.
 
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Doctor_D

All-Conference
Oct 9, 2016
2,976
2,614
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Colin2299 said:
You guys are crazy. Why is this viewed as so hard???

Off the top of my head…first idea.

48 teams qualify for a class. The 48 HC’s then rank these teams on selection Saturday and the pairings announced that night. Elimate 2 outliers ballots to prevent rouge voters.

Yes, 4Afan…the coaches can come up with this seeding in an hour or two.

We then don’t have title games in the 2nd or 3rd round. Mission accomplished.

Really all that matters is dividing up the top teams so we don’t get Byron/Montini in the early rounds and other matchups like this.
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Idk about this.

Coaches seeding is “okay” in other sports because it exists at the regional/sectional level and in sports that typically have many more regular season games from which to base opinions. There is much more likelihood for h2h comparisons of the teams that are local. I think it’s fairly often that all the teams in a given regional have already played each other. And even at this level, it isn’t perfect, because coaches can pull some bs shenanigans or simply not put much effort in.

You are asking them to seed 48 teams statewide… seems a bit much. I’d rather have computer rankings than that.
 
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4Afan

All-Conference
Sep 15, 2001
3,709
3,349
113
Colin2299 said:
You guys are crazy. Why is this viewed as so hard???

Off the top of my head…first idea.

48 teams qualify for a class. The 48 HC’s then rank these teams on selection Saturday and the pairings announced that night. Elimate 2 outliers ballots to prevent rouge voters.

Yes, 4Afan…the coaches can come up with this seeding in an hour or two.

We then don’t have title games in the 2nd or 3rd round. Mission accomplished.

Really all that matters is dividing up the top teams so we don’t get Byron/Montini in the early rounds and other matchups like this.
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For your example the coaches would already need to know which teams are in which class and that's not determined until after all the games are played.

Then you're assuming all 48 coaches in every class would accurately seed teams statewide, most of which they have never seen play throughout the season. Then as others have mentioned you have the public/private divide and coaches miss seeding out of spite.

In other sports there are multiple coaches who don't even participate in seedings meetings or submit their seeding forms. What makes you think they would all fully participate for football?
 
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Colin2299

Sophomore
Aug 13, 2025
178
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What benefit is there to mis-rank a team out of spite?

let’s say 8 privates qualify in 6A and Antioch’s coach ranks them 41-48 out of spite.

What does that accomplish? How does it screw them? How does it help Antioch?
 
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Doctor_D

All-Conference
Oct 9, 2016
2,976
2,614
113
Colin2299 said:
What benefit is there to mis-rank a team out of spite?

let’s say 8 privates qualify in 6A and Antioch’s coach ranks them 41-48 out of spite.

What does that accomplish? How does it screw them? How does it help Antioch?
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There are just a lot more logistical problems to seeding football compared to the other sports.
All of them have the potential for disingenuous or lazy efforts from coaches.

Football additionally:
1. Is statewide vs regional - a lot more teams and zero chance that coaches have seen anything meaningful from at least half of them.
2. has the time crunch of a couple hour window from which the classes are determined and the pairings are supposed to be released.

I am on board with trying to avoid a 2024 Byron @ Montini in round 2 situation, but I’d settle for no more north south split.
 
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SiuCubFan8

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2007
5,571
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113
Colin2299 said:
What benefit is there to mis-rank a team out of spite?

let’s say 8 privates qualify in 6A and Antioch’s coach ranks them 41-48 out of spite.

What does that accomplish? How does it screw them? How does it help Antioch?
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We saw a coach post a map with a 30 mile radius out of spite last year when private schools won title…What did that accomplish?
 
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