Success Factor Points Update (2025 Season)

[Indiana Fan]

I usually like to post this as the season comes to an end. Does anybody know or would like to find where success factor points stand as we approach the semi states? Which teams will be moving or staying in the same classes next season? 
 

I know I could probably find this information through IHSAA, but I am not the best at tracking these. Also, it tends to be a little confusing with multiple 2 year cycles going on at once.

[fenderbender]

3 minutes ago, Indiana Fan said:

I usually like to post this as the season comes to an end. Does anybody know or would like to find where success factor points stand as we approach the semi states? Which teams will be moving or staying in the same classes next season? 
 

I know I could probably find this information through IHSAA, but I am not the best at tracking these. Also, it tends to be a little confusing with multiple 2 year cycles going on at once.

Was almost going to start a post on this. 
 

Chatard - down to 3A

East Central - down to 4A 

That’s all the teams that I know. 

[Coach Nowlin]

It is also rolling cycle now, not just clarification years

Adams Central has moved up again to 3a with their Regional victory over Eastbrook 

NJSP stays down in 1a 

 

[Indiana Fan]

8 minutes ago, fenderbender said:

Was almost going to start a post on this. 
 

Chatard - down to 3A

East Central - down to 4A 

That’s all the teams that I know. 

Wild that East Central will be back down in 4A after 2 sectional championships in class 5A.

[Indiana Fan]

5 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

It is also rolling cycle now, not just clarification years

Adams Central has moved up again to 3a with their Regional victory over Eastbrook 

NJSP stays down in 1a 

 

Yes so the rolling must be in the same class. (New Pal 5A) and (Decatur Central 6A). Both schools started their new cycle this season.

[fenderbender]

13 minutes ago, Indiana Fan said:

Wild that East Central will be back down in 4A after 2 sectional championships in class 5A.

Probably lost to State champ both seasons. 

18 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

It is also rolling cycle now, not just clarification years

Adams Central has moved up again to 3a with their Regional victory over Eastbrook 

NJSP stays down in 1a 

 

I like how this rule was tweaked. 

[Komets2727]

I believe Snider goes to 5A next year

[WWFan]

Believe Providence stays in 1A (although most believe enrollment will move em up) 

South putnam still alive to move up to 2A if they win it. 

Cant remember how many to stay but Lutheran got 3 points

[Indiana Fan]

32 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

I believe Snider goes to 5A next year

Snider to 5A yes. I do believe with some enrollment changes and some of the potential success factor involvement , 5A and 6A could have some big sectional changes. Which these classes haven’t really had much change of recent.

[fenderbender]

31 minutes ago, WWFan said:

Believe Providence stays in 1A (although most believe enrollment will move em up) 

South putnam still alive to move up to 2A if they win it. 

Cant remember how many to stay but Lutheran got 3 points

Rule is more than 2, you stay up. 

[jakone]

Luers? 

[1st_and_10]

LCC will drop back to 1A I believe

[Yuccaguy]

14 minutes ago, jakone said:

Luers? 

Already bumped to 3A 

[Coach Nowlin]

Don't you stay in your elevated class if you earn 4 points in the SF class up?   So if East Central 4 points by back to back 5a sectionals wouldn't they stay in 5a? 

 

https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/Football TSF 2024-25.pdf

 

All right here 

[WWFan]

15 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Don't you stay in your elevated class if you earn 4 points in the SF class up?   So if East Central 4 points by back to back 5a sectionals wouldn't they stay in 5a? 

 

https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/Football TSF 2024-25.pdf

 

All right here 

If 4 that means LCC and Lutheran go back to 1A? 

[fenderbender]

31 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Don't you stay in your elevated class if you earn 4 points in the SF class up?   So if East Central 4 points by back to back 5a sectionals wouldn't they stay in 5a? 

 

https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/Football TSF 2024-25.pdf

 

All right here 

Sectionals are 1 point. 
 

2 sectionals = 2 points. 

[jakone]

47 minutes ago, Yuccaguy said:

Already bumped to 3A 

But they went to the state championship last year in 3a what if they go again? 

[Coach Nowlin]

3a because of Enrollment not because of SF 

Schools Competing in a Larger Enrollment Classification due to Rule 2-5

# Decatur Central plays in Class 6A for 2025-26, 2026-27 due to Rule 2-5

# Heritage Hills plays in Class 4A for 2025-26, 2026-27 due to Rule 2-5

n Indianapolis Bishop Chatard plays in Class 4A for 2024-25, 2025-26 due to Rule 2-5

$ Indianapolis Cathedral plays in Class 5A for 2025-26 and 2026-27 due to Rule 2-5.

n Lafayette Central Catholic plays in Class 2A for 2024-25 and 2025-26 due to Rule 2

 

29 minutes ago, jakone said:

But they went to the state championship last year in 3a what if they go again? 

Correct 3a due to enrollment not SF from previous cycle :  ie:  LUERS 

[crimsonace1]

1 hour ago, fenderbender said:

Rule is more than 2, you stay up. 

It's 3 now, not 2. 

[Coach Nowlin]

1 hour ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Don't you stay in your elevated class if you earn 4 points in the SF class up?   So if East Central 4 points by back to back 5a sectionals wouldn't they stay in 5a? 

 

https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/Football TSF 2024-25.pdf

 

All right here 

Whoopsie:  Yup, always get the points messed up as Regional qualifier is only 1 pt, Regional winner is 2 points 

IHSAA Rule 2-5, the Tournament Success Factor, 

promotes competitive balance by moving successful teams to a higher enrollment class for a specific sport. Teams earn points for reaching later stages in the tournament: 1 for a sectional championship, 2 for a regional, 3 for a semi-state, and 4 for a state championship. A team that scores six or more points over a two-year period is moved up to the next largest enrollment class for that sport. 

 

How the rule works

• Point system: Schools earn points for success in the tournament series for specific sports like football, baseball, softball, and basketball.
  • Sectional championship: 1 point
  • Regional championship: 2 points
  • Semi-state championship: 3 points
  • State championship: 4 points
• Reclassification:
  • If a school achieves a total of six or more points in a specific sport over a two-year period, it is moved up to the next higher enrollment class for that sport for the following two years.
  • If a school is already in a higher class, it will move up to the next largest class if it earns six or more points over two years.
• Annual review (effective 2024-25): Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, a school's performance and points accumulated in a two-year span will be reviewed annually.
• Staying in class: A school that is playing in a higher class will drop down one class if it accumulates three or fewer points over the two-year span. Schools scoring four or more points will remain in that higher class.
• Purpose: The rule was created to improve competitive balance and slow the dominance of certain programs by reclassifying teams based on their tournament success, not just their enrollment numbers. 

[kdets89]

1 hour ago, WWFan said:

If 4 that means LCC and Lutheran go back to 1A? 

Nevermind.

Edited November 17, 2025 by kdets89
I was wrong.

[crimsonace1]

Of the schools currently "playing up"

Decatur Central: 1st year in 6A; will stay up through 2027 season if they win a *regional* next year
Heritage Hills: 1st year in 4A. will stay up through 2027 season with a semistate win this year. 
Chatard: Back to 3A next year (1 point during 2 years in 4A)
East Central: Back to 4A next year (2 points during 2 years in 5A)
Cathedral: 1st year in 5A. Will stay in 5A through 2027 season with a semistate win in 2026. If not, will go back to 4A in 2027. 
LCC: 2nd year in 2A. Going back to 1A next year (1 point during 2 years in 2A)
New Pal: 1st year in 5A. Will stay up through 2027 season with a semistate win. 
FW Snider: Back to 5A next year (0 points during 2 years in 6A)
Lutheran: Staying in 2A next year (3 points during 2 years), will need to win a regional next year to stay up in 2027. 

Other teams potentially going up/down
Adams Central: 2A champ last year; 2A regional this year. Going to 3A for 2026/27
Andrean: 2A regional last year. Will go up to 3A for 2026/27 with a state title this year. 
Bloomington South: 5A regional last year. Will go up to 6A for 2026/27 with state title this year
FW Luers: 3A semistate last year. Will move up to 4A for 2026/27 with a semistate title this year. 
Merrillville: 5A regional last year. Will move up to 6A for 2026/27 with a state title this year. 
South Adams: 1A regional last year. Will move up to 2A for 2026/27 with a state title this year. 
South Putnam: 1A regional last year. Will move up to 2A for 2026/27 with a state title this year. 
 

12 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Whoopsie:  Yup, always get the points messed up as Regional qualifier is only 1 pt, Regional winner is 2 points 

 

IHSAA Rule 2-5, the Tournament Success Factor, 

promotes competitive balance by moving successful teams to a higher enrollment class for a specific sport. Teams earn points for reaching later stages in the tournament: 1 for a sectional championship, 2 for a regional, 3 for a semi-state, and 4 for a state championship. A team that scores six or more points over a two-year period is moved up to the next largest enrollment class for that sport. 

 

How the rule works

• Point system: Schools earn points for success in the tournament series for specific sports like football, baseball, softball, and basketball.
  • Sectional championship: 1 point
  • Regional championship: 2 points
  • Semi-state championship: 3 points
  • State championship: 4 points
• Reclassification:
  • If a school achieves a total of six or more points in a specific sport over a two-year period, it is moved up to the next higher enrollment class for that sport for the following two years.
  • If a school is already in a higher class, it will move up to the next largest class if it earns six or more points over two years.
• Annual review (effective 2024-25): Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, a school's performance and points accumulated in a two-year span will be reviewed annually.
• Staying in class: A school that is playing in a higher class will drop down one class if it accumulates three or fewer points over the two-year span. Schools scoring four or more points will remain in that higher class.
• Purpose: The rule was created to improve competitive balance and slow the dominance of certain programs by reclassifying teams based on their tournament success, not just their enrollment numbers. 

Basically, you get one point for each trophy you win in the tournament (except the runner-up trophy). 

[Frozen Tundra]

Not a fan of teams needing 3 points to stay up. Should’ve stayed at 2 points. 

[Coach Nowlin]

as always @crimsonace1 is all over it !!

Much Appreciated 

[fenderbender]

20 minutes ago, crimsonace1 said:

It's 3 now, not 2. 

Rule does not say equals 3, just says more than 2.  Sorry I so particular with wording.  

Edited November 17, 2025 by fenderbender