temptation

Don't meet the height requirement.

Doubtful based on the recent history of IPS football programs. It’s a dead end gig if you wanna compete and anyone with success (however it’s measured) moves on to something bigger and better (just like FCS/non P4s) and who can blame em?

I mean we can all pick and choose what data to assess when doing our rankings and we can pick each team’s best or worst moment to validate our stance. Case in point, Decatur Central’s week one thrashing by Columbus North (early season which you stated holds less weight than October and November games) and their blowing of a 35 point lead against a Martinsville squad (that New Pal obliterated in the regional) a couple of weeks later. I know you don’t like the transitive property but if we are just looking at those two data points, it’s easy to justify a handful of teams between New Pal and Decatur Central in the rankings. Then again, Decatur Central and New Pal ended the their matchup in a 21-21 tie that was never finished so it is also reasonable to claim that the two teams should be side by side in the rankings. We all pick and choose how to produce our rankings and it’s all in good fun.

Just stop. Both of those rankings are justified.

Whiteland.

The captain has spoken!!!

Yeah, I screwed up. Well, I had Plainfield as my 5A pick this year and they got obliterated by Decatur Central on their home field in the sectional championship. By far my worst prediction.

You were pretty down on Decatur Central most of the year weren’t you? They seem to have some real mojo over Plainfield I tell ya. I keep expecting Plainfield to take than next step but DC (8-2 in their last 10 matchups) seems to have their number. Plainfield is 15-6 over the last two years…3 of the 6 are to DC.

Snider is the exception, not the rule. My bad. I am probably unfairly lumping 5A and 6A together.

What love do I have? It's simply pointing to history. Do I see 5A/6A south teams more often? Sure. But until northern 5A and 6A teams give me a reason to watch and are actually competitive at the state finals, I will continue to focus most of my attention and time to those teams. I did catch a couple of Crown Point's games after they started hot but their lackluster performance in the semi-state will make me more hesitant to do so next year. Not much below the 3A level interests me much. I did watch the Evansville Memorial/Heritage Hills game a few weeks back but other than that, its kinda boring. For the hundreth time, I have no allegiance to any team nor program.

Why did you need to see them play? You had them losing to Chatard and they went on the road and won that one well prior to last weekend. The win over Chatard did not validate them in your mind? They had to roll East Noble by 4+ possessions? Will you doubt them again next year?

Well, I think Notre Dame is pretty much locked into the #5 spot and I don't see IU falling to #12. Of course I could see UGA losing to Texas on Saturday and falling to the 7-8-9 slot which makes a matchup with IU possible. Hate to be that guy but unless they draw and SMU or the non p4 squad, I see them being significant underdogs to whomever they play.

Don't understand the reasoning behind this question but maybe I am naive. East Central has been a powerhouse at the 4A level and was likely a top 10 team regardless of class last year. They graduated Ringer and a host of others (unless I am mistaken), moved up to 5A and played the eventual 5A state champions closer than anyone in the tournament. What am I missing here? Sounds a lot like New Pal honestly.

Eh, I will give em one. Actually they did win 1 (in 2023). So, Crown Point (#5 in your poll) is a running clock over New Pal (#11 in your poll) and Crown Point (#5 in your poll) by 10-17 over Franklin Central (#17 in your poll)? Got it.

Westfield beats Crown Point 10 times out of 10. Zero doubt in my mind. The level of competition Westfield sees as opposed to Crown Point is massive. Crown Point and Franklin Central is a 10-14 point game...hell you have the Flashes 17th. I don't "want" Decatur Central to be good. Doesn't matter to me. They've now made 3 state finals appearances in the last 7 years. Their success speaks for itself as their two losses were to New Pal's best team in school history and a Snider team highly regarded as a top 3-5 team regardless of class last year. Indy always gets the benefit of the doubt from me and it has nothing to do with where I live. The results speak for themselves.

IU fans in the know: Which potential playoff opponents do we see as the most favorable matchup for the Hoosiers later this month? Are they gonna hang on to a top 8 spot and host?

Ah, the "I was just joking when I said Crown Point is going to win 6A" after the fact. You are right from time to time but man, when you miss, you sure DO miss badly. 2-3 solid predictions can be spoiled by one terrible one. I did Crown Point a service by keeping them in the top ten as that Westfield game proved to me they are closer to being on par with Franklin Central than they are Westfield. Kyle has seen more of these teams in person so I can't really argue much with his rankings and even HE had Crown Point lower than me. Kinda boring to continually hear the one-sided "this team from the north played its worst game of the season at the worst time" narrative and "I promise they are better than they showed at Lucas Oil" bits. Those are also not direct quotes but it seems that is how things are trending in a roundabout way. It is also a bit short sighted (like some posters like to do) to assume that turnovers and bad plays are only a result of the losing team screwing up as opposed to awarding credit to the team that caused them. Based on what I saw over the last month, I think Crown Point and Decatur Central would be an all out war decided by one possession. Your turn to sit and spin.

Keep hanging on. Love your dedication. In just two weeks we have gone from “Crown Point is going to win 6A” to “at least the north has 3 of the best 4 teams in 5A.” Can’t wait to see where the goalposts are moved next.

Yep. Goes both ways, just like weather.

Zero respect for the Fort Wayne teams it appears. And he has Crown Point behind DC…

5th coach in 10 years if Harrell is accurate. Sad for the kids.

I wasn’t.

Nah but they rolled Avon, something Noblesville and Zionsville weren’t able to do.

No Lafayette Jeff?

Doyel is a cuck. Also, there HAS to be more to this story…