Countdown to prep football: Two opinions on IHSA playoff expansion

To every point, there’s a counterpoint. Even in high school football.

This season offers the perfect example. The IHSA is expanding the playoffs after a positive vote by the member schools, who by a majority endorsed increasing the number of postseason teams from 256 to 384 to be spread throughout the usual eight classes.

Ever since the news emerged, debate has been widespread. That’s where we step in.

The Daily Herald’s countdown to prep football continues this week as we bring you insight related to the 2026 football campaign for teams, players and coaches throughout our coverage area. We’ll reach No. 1 next Friday, opening night for the bulk of the state.

So far we’ve listed 10 of the area’s top senior recruits, nine juniors to watch, eight quarterbacks on our radar, seven new head coaches, six stellar season openers, five of the toughest schedules, four area teams facing out-of-state competition and three bold predictions for the upcoming season.

Now we offer two differing opinions on the playoff expansion that crams in an extra week to the season to accommodate the 128 additional qualifiers.

Point: Let them play!

Too many deserving teams haven’t made the playoffs in past seasons.

In the Daily Herald area alone, at least a dozen schools would’ve fit in nicely in last year’s field. Geneva, Wheaton Academy, Marmion, Grayslake Central and Leyden suffered the heartbreak of just missing out at 4-5.

But even at 3-6, teams from tough conferences like the Mid-Suburban (Conant, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, Buffalo Grove) and the DuKane (Lake Park, Wheaton North) could’ve competed and possibly surprised.

And let’s not forget teams like Streamwood (3-6), which hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2011. Dundee-Crown hasn’t qualified since 2013. Think they don’t want a shot?

As for concerns about blowouts, well, they’re already out there. Nine of the 16 first-round games in Class 8A were decided by at least three touchdowns in 2025, a story repeated in every class.

Let’s open it up and give more teams a chance to experience the postseason. Maybe we’ll even see some upsets.

Counterpoint: Don’t water it down

About those nine first-round games decided by at least three touchdowns … that’s an argument for contraction, not expansion.

Do we really want to expose struggling teams to a demoralizing end to the season with a major blowout? How does that improve the experience for players?

The football playoffs are unique (at least they used to be) in the IHSA landscape because they don’t let everyone in. The drive for five wins — which at one time was six, and before that even more wins were required — made every regular-season game an event because qualification could hang in the balance.

Making the football playoffs should be special, something to brag about, something to rally around. Something not meant for everyone.

Now you might get in with two wins? A postseason berth in IHSA football never should be commonplace.

Not only should expansion be avoided, we should seriously think about returning to six classes and 192 qualifiers. Make the playoffs truly mean something.

kschmit@dailyherald.com