BLACKGOLD2007

That would work better for Penn and Elkhart, Idk if the NIC is going to let their two largest schools and fan bases leave in just football. It may be an all or nothing situation.

I agree.

Those sports already fill out their schedules with teams from those current regions. So, going from a conference of all local teams to a smaller conference that may require driving two-three times that season, is not unfeasible because they are already doing it. The rest of their schedules will likely stay close to the same because the AD's at the other schools may not want to go shop around and try to fill the spot Penn and Elkhart left. The conference can create rules that their conference games are on the weekends to eliminate missed class time and diminished study time. Sadly we cannot jump on the 465 and be on the other side of the city in 20 or so minutes. The luxury of dense population is not in our favor. It won't happen, but if these schools made the decision that they wanted to improve their athletic competitiveness across all sports I think this would be a good step. Penn and Elkhart joining the DAC or an elite conference of Fort Wayne schools helps everyone in the North.

This is exciting to see another Fort Wayne Talent come to South Bend. I hope he has an outstanding season at Snider.

I am surprised at how low you put Snider on this list. Snider would have won 6A North last year. Unless you think they take a step back this year?

I think this is the most logical based on how the season ended last year. The only outlier is Carroll, but their recent history against Indy schools and current program stability warrants a top 10 inclusion.

You are right, it probably isn't that easy. But, if schools want to play the top teams around the state, the AD's are going to want the game on nights where the largest % of the local populate can come out. Up hear it isn't as uncommon to travel to play schools on the east and west edges of our state.

But, in the non football sports Penn regularly plays teams from Ft. Wayne and the Region during the regular season, during the school week. Good AD's should be looking to make those weekend or Friday night games. This is not anything different for those teams.

@temptation what are the differences you are seeing in these teams? We know East Central is without their stud do it all Mr. Football RB. But, are they in reload mode? How much has Chartard lost with graduation or transfers? Is Carmel going to stop underachieving?

If those schools don't mind the drive...A Penn, Snider, Carroll, Homestead, Dwenger, Elkhart and Warsaw conference would be tough. That is 6 conference games with 3 non conference games where these schools can take on teams from Indy. Since W/L records don't matter in the tournament, these schools would be 100% ready for what is too come in the playoffs. For example Penn would go West for sectionals and would see top talent from teams like Snider and Carroll. That would make playing CP in sectionals more palatable.

I agree, with open enrollment now state wide and school of choice possibly growing in the incoming years I think will help balance some disadvantages the smaller schools are facing. Making recruiting "legal" I think Snider even though a 5A enrollment has top coaching and top athletes could have given BD of last year a great challenge. Would they have won, maybe not, but it would have been a much better game then we have seen in a while.

Whoa, Penn is no where near the top 100 schools in the nation anymore. Thanks for the shoutout @BTF but we are not near the level some of these other programs are at.

25. Warsaw 24. Valparaiso 23. Mishawaka 22. Noblesville 21. Merrillville 20. Evansville Reitz 19. Bloomington South 18. Franklin Central 17. Penn 16. East Central 15. Lawrence North 14. Decatur Central 13. Bishop Chatard 12. Fishers 11. Carmel Temp's rankings so far. So you all can see it in one post instead of flipping through the pages.

I mean, no matter what it is going to be tough. I think teams in the North are making improvements. Eventually one will get over the hump, it just may come at a time where they have their generational team and the big 3-5 in the South are not as good as they usually are. I would love to see two generationally good teams throw down, typically if it does happen both the teams are from the Indy area.

I get what you are saying, the problem for Penn and Elkhart they are on an island with no schools of relative similar size. Like I have mentioned before, Penn and Elkhart can go East or West, and it doesn't really change much. Size wise the Duneland makes more sense, however maybe Fort Wayne would be a better fit overall, bring Warsaw into the fold as well. We complain about Penn's weak schedules...This is a way to fix that issue right away. I never said that Penn should join the NLC, that comment was about Elkhart.

And, right now with Warsaw being in 5A and Snider in 6A, there is no other offense in 6A that runs that style of offense....that I know of. I agree with playing a Warsaw or Mishawaka if you are going to see that style of offense in the playoffs. But, right now the bones shook out in a way that neither Penn or Snider benefit from playing either school. I like playing Mishawaka, but right now the rivalry needs to go back on the shelf, for a few years. I have talked to a couple people that are near the Elkhart program, they are saying the same thing we as Penn fans are saying, leaving the NIC needs to happen. The folks I talked to liked the prospect of moving to the DAC, and actually shot down the idea of moving to the NLC where they would culturally and geographically fit right in. I think if the DAC added Penn, Elkhart, New Prairie and a Hobart or Lowell in, the conference would be very competitive at the top and in the middle at the 4A and 5A level. A conference with Penn, Merrillville, Crown Point, Valpo running the top of the ticket and Elkhart, NP, Hobart, MC, and Chesterton or Lake Central as the next tier is a strong strong conference.

I agree, if the playoffs were not all in format, the games would have more importance. However, a 1 loss Penn isn't getting left out of a tournament (in regards to last year only).

I don't know too much about 3A on down but I think the South wins 6A, 5A will be close and 4A. 6A could this be the year a true North team gives the South a scare. I think that 6A north will be represented by a true North school again this year. It will be tough, Westfield, Fishers and HSE wont just roll over. I think BTF is on to something. It could be wishful thinking. 5A East Central is the favorite, but maybe the step up to 5A closes the gap between how dominant they were over their 4A foes. 4A Can Mishawaka break through the glass ceiling and actually get back to a state title?

If you ask me going into a Penn v Top Indy school, I as a Penn fan am putting my money on the Indy school. Penn's issue with Indy schools even back into the Geez era, was at times we really struggled with their speed. However, a Geez team if given a second chance closed the gap or came out on top in the rematch game. Over the last twenty years Corey has had good football teams and really good football teams that ran into two of the best teams in Indiana football history and crapped the bed against an outstanding Carmel team. I think the Cathedral series may have played out more evenly if Penn, could have maintained their high standards of competitiveness. Penn was a 6A semi-state fixture up to 2017. We went through a drought for about 5/6 seasons, and we are now in a position to get back into the mix. Penn needs to get Snider back on their schedule asap, this Northern Indiana Rivalry is a must, I will sacrifice the Mishawaka game every year for this to happen. If Penn gets Snider and Merrillville or CP on their schedule every year...their worthless schedule improves 10 fold. I hope the new coaching regime sees this issue and is working to correct it.

The Penn Cathedral game last year was 110% a let down. Everything I heard is that the team just lacked motivation and enthusiasm to be there....That scared me last year. I think the future is getting brighter in Penn Country from the things I have heard from some players and parents.

Elkhart and Penn are fluid they can go East or West. Elkhart high is like a mile from the St. Joe county line which is like 7 miles east of Penn. Warsaw is an easy 45 minute drive from Elkhart high school...if you speed down the back roads. If we did a poll of True North teams that line is pretty much Ohio to Illinois and Fort Wayne to Michigan state line. That I think is a very interesting poll. 1- Snider 2- CP 3- Carroll 4- Penn 5- Merrillville 6- Valpo 7- Warsaw 8- Mishawaka 9- New Prairie 10- Elkhart (on potential)

Merrillville and Penn have had their back and forth trading of wins. The ones that stand out to me were my Sophomore and Junior years. Aldridge the 5 star that went to ND, was supposed to run all over us, he broke his hand early in the first game we won 31-0 and did nothing my Junior year when we had our back up QB playing and lost 7-0. All that talent and couldn't produce. Those teams went 11-2 and 11-3 respectively.

Whoever they get in Semi-State, especially if it is Merrillville better not sleep on them. Valpo will be able to handle a physical grind it out game. Merrillville, fast athletes don't like to be hit hard... If Warsaw can keep Merrillville in front of themselves and get hits on them...it will be a long night. If Merrillville can get the edges and get the D running sideline to sideline I think they will be able to pull away.

I think the Valpo v Merrillville rematch will be a good game and I think the DC v EC will probably be the south Semi-state. Looking at what Warsaw has I think they are a favorite to get to Semi-State in those two sectionals.

I think 5A Regional matchups will be: Merrillville v Valpo (easy) Warsaw v Kokomo....(I don't like the Kokomo selection, because Kokomo underachieves almost every season) Decatur Central v East Central (best matchup of the 5A tournament) Bloomington North v Evansville North (just guessing)