Are numbers issues threatening more and more Indiana high school football programs?

[wabashalwaysfights]

1 hour ago, Coach Nowlin said:

I have no issues with Co Op as an idea to get participation, but how to do it is the ultimate quagmire for me personally.    I think state leaders and myself included from my personal belief, before CO OPs, schools should adopt 8 man.    Not sure why INDIANA FB programs right now has some angst against it.  Especially when there is a path to go from 8 to 11 when numbers improve.  It's a change yes, but if the goal is to play a game of tackle football then 8 man is an OUTSTANDING choice for programs who are in this boat of this conversation .   8 man has over 1000 HS teams over 30 states.     

I can understand and agree on 8 man football.  I am not an admin (nor do I ever care to be) but if I had a guess as to why the resistance to 8 man it would be two things: 1) travel, as @Muda69 points out.  Honestly, that is no illegitimate concern given the price of fuel. 2) I think maybe the best word would be maybe "stigma" or maybe "lack of understanding," and not even on the part of admin themselves but also the community. 

There's no easy solution to be sure.

[Coach Nowlin]

Stigma > gas / travel.    IMO.  

South Newton informed their teams they are going 8 man football this year.    Frontier and Benton Central have just announced looking for games for weeks 3 and 8.  

 

[Muda69]

14 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Stigma > gas / travel.    IMO.  

South Newton informed their teams they are going 8 man football this year.    Frontier and Benton Central have just announced looking for games for weeks 3 and 8.  

 

A North Newton/South Newton co-op would have been the logical answer here.

[wabashalwaysfights]

3 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Stigma > gas / travel.    IMO.  

South Newton informed their teams they are going 8 man football this year.    Frontier and Benton Central have just announced looking for games for weeks 3 and 8.  

 

I agree, but the later is great cover for the former.

I figured based on what I had seen throughout the day. Its too bad, but I am really glad they aren't folding.

[Zardoz]

My suggestion would be that if a school that withdraws from a full varsity schedule in 11 man after moratorium week, they would go to 8 man until they can show a consistent participation for a predetermined years (2 or 3) and number of players (say 25) before being allowed back into 11 man.

[JustRules]

12 hours ago, oldtimeqb said:

A hill I would fight on - Girls Flag should have been a SPRING sport. That is all. 

College flag is a Spring sport as are many states doing HS flag. It could evolve as recruiting grows and Indiana girls are overlooked because they are playing outside the normal recruiting window.

[Muda69]

Wabash Apaches moving to a hybrid 8-man and 11-man schedule for 2026:  https://statelinesportsnetwork.net/2026/08/14/wabash-indiana-hs-to-play-both-8-man-and-11-man-football-in-2026/

 

Quote

(8-14-26) In 2026 Wabash will play a very unique hybrid football schedule…8-man and 11-man opponents.

Recently schools in several states that cancel varsity seasons have decided to play JV to keep the program active.

So with playing some 11 man games will the IHSAA let the Apaches be a part of the playoffs? Plus will the IHSAA have issues with this format?

How about the schools who were scheduled to play Wabash react to all of this…including Maconaquah, Rochester and Lewis Cass.

...

From the Wabash Athletics Facebook page:

 

Due to lower football numbers this year, Wabash Football will play a hybrid schedule featuring both 8-man and 11-man football. This schedule gives us the best opportunity to keep our young team safe throughout the season while putting our players in a position to compete in meaningful games.

Our 11-man games will continue to include our Wabash County opponents and Whitko.

 We’ve also added 8-man games against:

• Kosciusko Thunder
• South Newton High School
• Greenwood Christian Academy
• Ft. Wayne Crusaders

The Apaches will get their first taste of action by traveling to Whiteland Community High School for an 8-man jamboree to kick off the season.

Wabash Football has been taking the field since 1896, and that tradition continues this fall. Some games will be 8-man, some will be 11-man, and a couple will be played on Saturday afternoons. It may look a little different, but every game gives our players an opportunity to put on a Wabash uniform, represent their school and community, and compete.

And what shouldn’t look any different?

The tailgates.
The great crowds.
The turf field.
The Cheer & Dance Team.
The Apache Band.
And a community showing up and supporting Wabash Football.

Whether it’s under the Friday night lights or on a Saturday afternoon, we hope to see Wabash show up and support our young men.

 Check out our new schedule, share it, and make plans to join us this fall!

Weird, dropping all your non-county and conference foes, except for one, and replacing them with 8-man games.  So I guess this makes them ineligible for the IHSAA tournament?

 

[Impartial_Observer]

On 8/6/2026 at 11:38 PM, JustRules said:

College flag is a Spring sport as are many states doing HS flag. It could evolve as recruiting grows and Indiana girls are overlooked because they are playing outside the normal recruiting window.

I have heard it said that flag football will do for old officials what three-man did in basketball, extend careers.