IHSA shoots down football playoff expansion

The IHSA did not see the double vision of the proponents of expanding the football playoff field.

The IHSA Legislative Commission rejected a proposal to double the field of teams qualifying for the football playoffs from 256 to 512 teams at its Monday meeting. There were 13 proposals to change the IHSA constitution and bylaws that were placed on its annual referendum ballot.

The expanded playoff proposal would have reduced the regular season to eight games. Week 9 would have been a playoff game for all but approximately 30 teams which wouldn't make the field.

One of the reasons for the proposal was to alleviate nonconference scheduling problems faced by some leagues. Football is also the only sport where all teams aren't eligible for postseason participation.

The last expansion to the football playoffs occurred before the 2001 season. The number of teams increased by 64 and the number of classes jumped from six to eight.