I have went back and forth on my opinion several times. As of now I think we will have 8 football state titles. Here's why and this is just my opinion going by the nchsaa Rules.
The rules states if a classification has less than 50% participation move that class up with the next highest classification "ALSO" not having 50% participation. Example: 1a wrestling and 2a wrestling "BOTH" have less that 50% participating. Therefore wrestling combined as it has.
In football only one class has less than 50% participating so we have to go to the next step in the rule. The rules then says "If only one class has less than 50% participating reduce the playoffs for that class by one round". Then states if reducing by one round isn't achievable move them up to the next classification regardless.
The question then becomes can 1a playoffs be reduced by one round? We know that the other classes will have 6 rounds and a bunch of first round byes. Can 1a be reduced to 5 rounds?
I think so, if 1a has a 32 bracket with a few byes it can be 5 rounds. That would be less byes than the other classes will have. This is not confirmed but I hear 1a could have 27 or so teams this year. If that's true 1a would only need a couple more teams to join next year to make this debate obsolete.
So basically if 1a can have 5 rounds it won't combine with 2a.
The rules states if a classification has less than 50% participation move that class up with the next highest classification "ALSO" not having 50% participation. Example: 1a wrestling and 2a wrestling "BOTH" have less that 50% participating. Therefore wrestling combined as it has.
In football only one class has less than 50% participating so we have to go to the next step in the rule. The rules then says "If only one class has less than 50% participating reduce the playoffs for that class by one round". Then states if reducing by one round isn't achievable move them up to the next classification regardless.
The question then becomes can 1a playoffs be reduced by one round? We know that the other classes will have 6 rounds and a bunch of first round byes. Can 1a be reduced to 5 rounds?
I think so, if 1a has a 32 bracket with a few byes it can be 5 rounds. That would be less byes than the other classes will have. This is not confirmed but I hear 1a could have 27 or so teams this year. If that's true 1a would only need a couple more teams to join next year to make this debate obsolete.
So basically if 1a can have 5 rounds it won't combine with 2a.
