Footballking16

For years I have advocated for a playoff qualifying format that effectively cuts the field in half at the conclusion of the regular season. This is done regularly in other states. To implement this format: -add tenth regular season game -at conclusion of regular season; use ranking system that accounts for W-L record, Opp W-L record, SOS, and Opp SOS that eliminates the field in half 1-32 1A-4A and 1-16 5A and 6A -Once the field is cut in half, Send the 16 Northern-most teams to one half of the bracket and the 16 Southern-most teams to the other half. Seed 1-16 accordingly where 1 plays 16, 2 plays 15 on the opposite ends of the bracket etc with highest remaining seed hosting until you get to semi-state where games will be hosted at neutral locations I've used Sagarin (as it is readily available) for the last decade to create a mock qualifying tournament with subsequent seeding. In my qualifying format using Sagarin, the above mentioned teams have made it into the field rather easily. I imagine they would make the field in just about every other rating system that uses similar factors.

I know it's not your wording. You questioned whether or not 05 Lowell or Northwood, 21 WeBo and State runner-ups such Zionsville, Luers, CG, Northridge, Kokomo, and LaPorte would have made qualified for the postseason. I'm telling you that unequivocally yes, all those teams would have qualified for a postseason format that effectively cut the field in half at the conclusion of the regular season using a rating system that factored in W-L record, Opp W-L record, SOS, and Opp SOS. You also said, "the existence of one team that has made a deep postseason run that would not have otherwise made it outside of an all-in formula is enough to justify the all-in formula. End of story." I'll ask again, please provide an example of a team that has gone on a deep postseason run that wouldn't have made the postseason under a qualifying format?

Northwood was a top 15 Sagarin team in 3A the year they went 3-6 and won the state title. They would have qualified for any postseason format that effectively cut the field in half at the conclusion of the regular season, and been comfortably in. Beating Chatard was definitely an upset, no dispute there, but they weren't some longshot team that had no business being in the state tournament. They were a smaller enrollment school playing in a predominantly larger class conference who played a bunch of teams close. All the teams you listed in the above mentioned post would have qualified for a postseason format that effectively cut the field in half using a rating system that factored in W-L record, Opp W-L record, SOS, and Opp SOS despite finishing the regular season with losing records. My argument was never that bottom half teams haven't upset top half rated teams, other than it was extremely rare. You made the unfounded argument that any bottom half team that makes a "deep tournament run" justifies the all-in. I'm asking for an example of a bottom half rated team that has gone on a "deep tournament run". I've yet to come across a single case of this in the nearly decade I've been tracking such data. Cinderella's don't exist in high school football.

Provide an example of a team rated outside the top half of the field that has made a deep postseason run. I've done this exercise for almost 10 years running. Cinderella in Indiana High School football is a myth, it doesn't exists. Teams rated outside the top half of a rating system such as Sagarin that advance under the current climate do so by virtue of drawing another team rated outside the top half of the field. There has to be a winner in this instance. Instances where a team from outside the top half upsets a top half team is extremely rare, as in you only need one hand to count the number of times its happened. I've yet to come across a team rated outside the top half of the field in all the years I've been tracking this data that has gone on a "deep tournament run".

If you used any kind of rating system that factored in W-L record, Opp W-L record, SOS, and Opp SOS to cut the field in half at the end of the regular season all those teams are in with relative ease. All 4-5 teams aren't built equally. Northwood was a top 15 Sagarin rated team in 3A the year they won heading into the playoff at 3-6.

I'm sure you'd hear the same nonsensical arguments that you hear from detractors on here. "Every team starts fresh with a new slate come playoff time" "Playing our best football right now" "Kids have worked to hard to have their season end"

An uproar if a team that finished 0-9 or 1-8 wasn't invited to the postseason? Why? Add a 10th regular season game. Allow teams who didn't qualify for the postseason to play an end of the year "bowl game" if gate revenue is the sole purpose for maintaining an archaic playoff format. Shouldn't be that hard to figure out.

I don't know if it's just me, but the build up to this game just isn't there this year. This has been one of the marquee regular season games for the last couple years, this year it just feels like its another game. I honestly have no clue how good Cathedral is given they really haven't been tested in about 2 months. CG has gone about their business after losing a nail bitter in Kentucky. Here is to hoping for a good, clean, injury-free game.

Correct. The all-in format is the only way to justify current week 1 blowouts. The second the sectionals are seeded and there's 100+ non-competitive first round games will only open the door to a qualifier which isn't what the IHSAA wants. So instead, teams like Shortridge are the sacrificial lambs.

As I've been saying for years.......there is a quick and easy fix for something like this.

To be fair, Minnesota hadn’t played a soul prior to their game with Purdue (outside a vastly overrated MSU team) and were without their two best offensive players.

Leonhard will be a breath of fresh air from Chryst. Young, fiery and animated demeanor which is complete opposite from Chryst. Wisconsin recruiting has been down these last two classes. Young coach should help in that department. Does need to hire an innovative OC. Wisconsin doesn't need to change everything about their brand, but it does need a facelift. Running the ball 40-50 times a game isn't going to attract elite skill position athletes. If I'm Leonhard/Wisconsin, I break the bank to get Brian Hartline and making him offensive coordinator.

Game got away from Wisconsin in the second half, but I'm not sure you can entirely fault the Leonhard and the defense. Illinois only have 300 yards of total offense which doesn't suggest the beat down at hand, but when you factor in that Wisconsin only had 200 yards of offense, multiple 3 and outs, and 3 turnovers, two of which happened at their own end of the field, you can see how the defense was put in a bad spot over and over again.

Ekiyor and Stepp were sophomores on the 2015 team that lost to Avon and Werner and Stewart (BC commit) were juniors. QB Max Bortenschlager was a senior. 2016 team was loaded but oft hurt. Stepp tore his hamstring on his first carry from scrimmage that year and came back for the playoffs but only played when the offense was in the red zone. Stewart had a pretty significant leg injury as well. Those teams in 2015 and 2016 had some great top end talent but didn't have near the depth suited for a 6A run like Cathedral has enjoyed the last few years. Cathedral has some studs at the top this year (not quite as deep as those teams) but they are in a much better position to make a run this year given this team is much deeper across the board.

John Bosco and Mater Dei play Friday and most publications have them #1 and #2 in the country. Mater Dei already boasts a win over Bishop Gorman who most have in the top 10 as well as Centennial who is another top 15, top 20 team depending on publication. Guessing this is the biggest game in high school football this year.

What Boilernation said. CBC is likely a lot better coached and disciplined team than Detroit King. Both teams probably have similar athletes. CBC is all-male ~850 boys.

I guess if Roncalli is forced to throw the ball 20-25+ times then it just ain't their night. I'm willing to bet the Roncalli staff knows what their QB is and isn't capable of doing in the event they can't get their ground game going. But I think its senseless for Roncalli to make it priority to come out and start slinging the ball around the field for the sake of possibly needing it down the road. Roncalli has an identity, and a good one at that, force the other team to adjust rather than vice versa. Nobody has stopped Roncalli on the ground this year.

St. Louis has some pretty underrated Catholic football. Desmet, CBCHS, and Cardinal Ritter all pump out a decent amount of D1 prospects. Desmet and CB have around 800 students (all boys) so roughly the size of a small 5A school.

I've seen numerous Chatard and Roncalli teams run roughshod through 3A and 4A tournaments in years past without having the need to throw a forward pass. Any of the New Pal teams with Charlie Spegal could have won state without throwing a forward pass. There may come a time when Roncalli needs to throw the ball, but they haven't at all this year out of necessity. If you're gaining 5-6 yards a carry, why throw it?

Fair enough. May not win it this year, but I think they are much more suited this go around as opposed to the last cycle. CHS had some phenomenal top end talent in 15 and 16 (Bortenschlager, Werner, Stepp) but not nearly as deep as they are this year.

Cathedral made regionals both years last go around in 6A. Lost in 2 OT to Brandon Peters Avon team and got smoked by Reese Taylor and Ben Davis (who killed everybody that year) the following year. Markese Stepp didn't play in the Avon game and was limited in the Ben Davis game, not that I think it would have mattered.

Guessing we'll find out this week against Elder. Should be able to have success running behind that line regardless of who you play but I don't see Roncalli gashing Elder for 6, 7, 8 yards a carry either. QB will likely need to make some plays this Friday.

Allen was the best player on the field by far last year, but Brebeuf was severely outcoached by Nick Hart. Can't remember all the details but I know Brebeuf had a 3 TD lead midway through the 2nd quarter and rather than methodically running the ball like they had been and keeping Allen off the field, Brebeuf through not 1 but 2 interceptions that allowed GS to get back into the game.

Tough to argue with this. I might put Illinois ahead of Iowa but that's my only nitpick. Really tough year for the B10 top to bottom.

Last years GS team vs this years 5A field I think is what is being implied.