Indiana Eight-Man Football 2026

[justafootballguy]

1 hour ago, hhpatriot04 said:

Do 8-man players get recruited by colleges? (honest question) 

I have seen it 2 times.  An OL - big kid. Did well at the D3 level. I also saw a RB that didn't have it to play D3. 

[Muda69]

16 minutes ago, justafootballguy said:

 

Yes, I am aware of that. I coached in the state of Michigan. My point is that having 8 man football is helping save the sport for kids and schools...

But how long until 8-man football reaches a "critical mass" in Indiana, if it ever does? 

Is 8-man football recognized as an "official sport" by the MHSAA?  Do they hold a state championship tournament?

 

[hhpatriot04]

22 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

But how long until 8-man football reaches a "critical mass" in Indiana, if it ever does? 

Is 8-man football recognized as an "official sport" by the MHSAA?  Do they hold a state championship tournament?

 

16 or 24 teams to have a legitimate state champion?

Also the South has almost no representation. Union (Dugger) has a team but is considered more south central Indiana (Bloomington region) than Southwest or Southeast.

There are however a ton of schools like Loogootee, Barr Reeve, Wood Memorial, Cannelton, Northeast Dubois, Evansville Day which are "basketball schools" still and might be able to get an eight-man program going in southern Indiana.

[Muda69]

2 minutes ago, hhpatriot04 said:

16 or 24 teams to have a legitimate state champion?

Also the South has almost no representation. Union (Dugger) has a team but is considered more south central Indiana (Bloomington region) than Southwest or Southeast.

There are however a ton of schools like Loogootee, Barr Reeve, Wood Memorial, Cannelton, Northeast Dubois, Evansville Day which are "basketball schools" still and might be able to get an eight-man program going in southern Indiana.

If any of these southern "basketball schools" are like Rossville in my neck of the woods, trying to get any sort of tackle football program to the JV/Varsity level is a lost cause.  The communities are too entrenched with basketball and in the case of Rossville, also baseball,  to ever support such a program.   

Now you may be able to get away with a co-op arrangement, as long as not too many of the "basketball/baseball" kids want to play.  Can't have them getting hurt on the gridiron when they really should be practicing that jump shot.  

 

[Coach Nowlin]

1 hour ago, Muda69 said:

Rome wasn't built in a day.  

If you are going to have high school tackle football you might as well do what you need to do to have the superior product.   And that is 11-man tackle football.    And if all may be a moot point anyway in the next 20 years or so with U.S. and Worldwide populations on the decline..................

 

Yep:  In 1934 when a coach in Oklahoma decided to create it and was expanded many times over the Great Plains since.... yup.  very inferior product to start in 1934 and continue to this day in 2026.   Yup.   

[hhpatriot04]

4 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

If any of these southern "basketball schools" are like Rossville in my neck of the woods, trying to get any sort of tackle football program to the JV/Varsity level is a lost cause.  The communities are too entrenched with basketball and in the case of Rossville, also baseball,  to ever support such a program.   

Now you may be able to get away with a co-op arrangement, as long as not too many of the "basketball/baseball" kids want to play.  Can't have them getting hurt on the gridiron when they really should be practicing that jump shot.  

 

They already co-op of sorts, kids of Cannelton have played at Tell City for ages. Kids at Forest Park used to play at Southridge and Heritage Hills.

[Muda69]

4 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Yep:  In 1934 when a coach in Oklahoma decided to create it and was expanded many times over the Great Plains since.... yup.  very inferior product to start in 1934 and continue to this day in 2026.   Yup.   

In Indiana, yup.

If you love 8-man football so much why don't you start coaching it, maybe move to Oklahoma.   

Or is 8-man Rensselaer's "long term strategy" as it's enrollment continues to decline:  https://ballotpedia.org/Rensselaer_Central_School_Corporation,_Indiana#Students

 

8 minutes ago, hhpatriot04 said:

They already co-op of sorts, kids of Cannelton have played at Tell City for ages. Kids at Forest Park used to play at Southridge and Heritage Hills.

Hmm, interesting.  How were these arrangements structured between the school corporations?  

[justafootballguy]

6 hours ago, Muda69 said:

But how long until 8-man football reaches a "critical mass" in Indiana, if it ever does? 

Is 8-man football recognized as an "official sport" by the MHSAA?  Do they hold a state championship tournament?

 

They do in fact have a state championship. They have a D1 and D2 bracket. It is a MHSAA sport. 

I think with the amount of 1A schools that are slowly getting smaller.... it will help keep them playing. Its going to get bigger in Indiana. Co-ops will not get any traction.

[Muda69]

10 hours ago, justafootballguy said:

They do in fact have a state championship. They have a D1 and D2 bracket. It is a MHSAA sport. 

I think with the amount of 1A schools that are slowly getting smaller.... it will help keep them playing. Its going to get bigger in Indiana. Co-ops will not get any traction.

Thank you for the information.

I do hope co-ops get traction in Indiana, as they have in Illinois.  Finding ways for youth to play 11-man tackle football instead of 8-man tackle football should be the goal of the IHSAA and IFCA.   I have watched a number of high school 8-man tackle football games via youtube, and it is pretty much Arena Football played outside.  Blech.

 

 

[Coach Nowlin]

17 hours ago, Muda69 said:

In Indiana, yup.

If you love 8-man football so much why don't you start coaching it, maybe move to Oklahoma.   

Or is 8-man Rensselaer's "long term strategy" as it's enrollment continues to decline:  https://ballotpedia.org/Rensselaer_Central_School_Corporation,_Indiana#Students

 

Hmm, interesting.  How were these arrangements structured between the school corporations?  

My role as Direct elect of IFCA Region 4 and 16 years as Assistant Coach rep is to promote opportunities for School Communities who wish to participate in football, 11 man or 8 man.    I understand anything new creates uneasy or in your case your next crusade to opin YOUR views on a situation that you have very little knowledge of clearly .   Thats ok.  

Rensselaer has a roster of 42, we are not in the bucket that would be considered, however, If I coached at South Newton, I would have been all about it.  

 

You've really come full circle over the years here:   From the boogey man of football too dangerous for our poor children to play a game meant for kids.... to bemoaning schools who go to 8 man since they do not have the numbers for classic 11 man...     Wild Message Board Arc for you my man ,   Pure entertainment for me really 

[wabashalwaysfights]

2 hours ago, Muda69 said:

Thank you for the information.

I do hope co-ops get traction in Indiana, as they have in Illinois.  Finding ways for youth to play 11-man tackle football instead of 8-man tackle football should be the goal of the IHSAA and IFCA.   I have watched a number of high school 8-man tackle football games via youtube, and it is pretty much Arena Football played outside.  Blech.

 

 

I mean, it seems like the reasonable response from your end would simply be not to watch...

It seems that @hhpatriot04 has the best idea here: sanction both 8-man and co-ops and let the "marketplace of ideas" sort it out...

[Muda69]

22 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

  I understand anything new creates uneasy or in your case your next crusade to opin YOUR views on a situation that you have very little knowledge of clearly .   Thats ok.  

I understand that you don't like anybody other than tackle football coaching professionals with a sufficient amount of knowledge opining THEIR views on the GID.  That's ok, just stick to your navel-gazing IFCA cohorts and let others put forward alternate workable solutions in the face of declining enrollments and waning tackle football interests in primarily rural areas of our state.  

 

18 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

You've really come full circle over the years here:   From the boogey man of football too dangerous for our poor children to play a game meant for kids....

Oh, that view hasn't changed.  Tackle football is still a dangerous activity that should be played by adults, not children.  Statistics back this up. 

But I'm also a pragmatist who realizes most parents don't have an issue with putting their children in such a harm's way.  Are there peer-reviewed studies out their showing that 8-man tackle football is objectively safer than 11-man tackle football? 

[Muda69]

32 minutes ago, wabashalwaysfights said:

I mean, it seems like the reasonable response from your end would simply be not to watch...

Yes, after watching numerous 8-man games I no longer have the desire to do so. 

33 minutes ago, wabashalwaysfights said:

It seems that @hhpatriot04 has the best idea here: sanction both 8-man and co-ops and let the "marketplace of ideas" sort it out...

I'm generally ok with that.  

[Coach Nowlin]

10 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

I understand that you don't like anybody other than tackle football coaching professionals with a sufficient amount of knowledge opining THEIR views on the GID.  That's ok, just stick to your navel-gazing IFCA cohorts and let others put forward alternate workable solutions in the face of declining enrollments and waning tackle football interests in primarily rural areas of our state.  

 

Oh, that view hasn't changed.  Tackle football is still a dangerous activity that should be played by adults, not children.  Statistics back this up. 

But I'm also a pragmatist who realizes most parents don't have an issue with putting their children in such a harm's way.  Are there peer-reviewed studies out their showing that 8-man tackle football is objectively safer than 11-man tackle football? 

See I was in the meeting... where CO OP were talked about and discussed at length.....  I have been in same meetings where 8 man has been.   Sorry your opinion of CO OP failed so miserably at the level of IHSAA executive board, I believe the vote was 19-0 in favor or NO CO OP  from the IHSAA executive board.....  Your axe is with them it seems not me nor iFCA who has been successfully for now going on I believe the 4th year of 8 man in our state, could be 3rd year.   

 

[Coach Nowlin]

EDIT:    a few years ago:  as written the proposal was shot down:  19-0:   The latest CO-OP was  6 yes to 12 Nos'. 

 

Quote

 

In other news, a proposed item submitted by Union High School Principal Ryan Chiddister failed to receive enough support for passage by a 6-12 count. It would have been an addition to Rule 9 which outlined the conditions under which member schools can form cooperative agreements for team sports, enrollment limits, proximity requirements, and application processes.

Co-op sports teams have long been utilized in Illinois and several other states.

 

This was for full sports not specifically to football.   

[hhpatriot04]

Are students -- without transferring -- currently allowed to play a sport at a different school if that sport is not offered at their school?

[CoachDurham]

3 hours ago, Muda69 said:

Thank you for the information.

I do hope co-ops get traction in Indiana, as they have in Illinois.  Finding ways for youth to play 11-man tackle football instead of 8-man tackle football should be the goal of the IHSAA and IFCA.   I have watched a number of high school 8-man tackle football games via youtube, and it is pretty much Arena Football played outside.  Blech.

Sports

 

 

 

You bring up Illinois for Co-Op but Illinois also has 8 man football. Even with some schools that Co-Op to have an 8 man football team.

[Muda69]

20 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

EDIT:    a few years ago:  as written the proposal was shot down:  19-0:   The latest CO-OP was  6 yes to 12 Nos'. 

 

This was for full sports not specifically to football.   

May 4, 2026 IHSAA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes:  https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/05.04.2026 Board of Directors.pdf

Quote

Motion:  Motion moved by Jim Brown and motion seconded by Tim Grove. Failed 8-10. 

Getting closer to passage.  Only a matter of time. 

 

[Muda69]

2 minutes ago, CoachDurham said:

You bring up Illinois for Co-Op but Illinois also has 8 man football. Even with some schools that Co-Op to have an 8 man football team.

Good for them, I guess:

 

[Coach Nowlin]

24 minutes ago, hhpatriot04 said:

Are students -- without transferring -- currently allowed to play a sport at a different school if that sport is not offered at their school?

Only Sport I know that has allowed it is Girls Gymnastics.    There have been individuals who have been granted an opportunity to join say Valpo from Rensselaer but rep Rensselaer under Valpo program and competes under Rensselaer name but thru Valpo Gymnastics program.     

25 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

May 4, 2026 IHSAA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes:  https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/05.04.2026 Board of Directors.pdf

Getting closer to passage.  Only a matter of time. 

 

Proposal submitted by Ryan Chiddister, Principal, Union High School.

9-6.1 Cooperative Agreements Page 42

9-6.1 Cooperative Agreements

With the approval of the IHSAA Board of Directors, students from two (2) Member

Schools may be combined to cooperatively sponsor interscholastic activities provided

such is necessary to either have a sufficient number of students to support a program

or will result in increased opportunities for students to participate. The following terms

and conditions govern all high school cooperative sponsorships:

a. The IHSAA Board of Directors may approve the establishment of a cooperative

agreement if both Member Schools can demonstrate a need. Need includes, but is

not limited to:

(1.) Insufficient enrollment numbers;

(2.) Insufficient staff;

(3.) Absence of a program at one or both schools; and

(4.) Absence of facilities.

b. Member Schools may only form a cooperative agreement (co-op) for team sports.

c. A Member School with an enrollment of fewer than 300 students may form a

cooperative agreement.

d. At the time of the application, one of the participating Member Schools shall

be designated to administer the program. Students shall participate and

compete only as representatives of the Member School that administers the

athletic program or sponsors the team sport.

e. The Member Schools must be proximate or adjacent to form a cooperative

agreement.

f. When a non-public school seeks to partner with a public school, the boundaries of

the public school will be used to assess the contiguity necessary for a cooperative

agreement with the non-public school. Non-contiguous or non-adjoining Member

Schools that are isolated from a specific team sport may request approval from the

IHSAA Board of Directors to form a cooperative agreement if it will increase the

opportunities for students to participate.Page 7 of 35g. The cooperative agreement must be for two (2) years, running concurrently with

the reclassification cycle for team sports. The cooperative agreement may be

voided at any time by mutual agreement of all co-oping Member Schools with

the approval of the IHSAA Board of Directors. No other cooperative agreement

in the same team sport may be entered into with another Member School until the

original two-year period elapses.

h. A Member School may not have a cooperative agreement with one school

in a particular team sport and with another school in a different team sport.

i. In multi-school districts, the school board must designate the school(s) that

may request permission to cooperatively sponsor programs in a particular

team sport.

j. If a Member School (a contiguous public school or a non-public school)

wishes to co-op with a school in a multi-school district, the superintendent

of that multi-school district will determine which of his/her schools will

form the co-op with the non- district school. When co-oping in this manner,

all team sports must be cooperatively sponsored with the same school.

k. Applications for a cooperative agreement must be made jointly by the boards of

education of the involved Member Schools, signed by the board president,

superintendent, and principal, and submitted to the IHSAA by September 1 of a

reclassification year.

l. Member Schools in a cooperative agreement shall be classified and re-classified

according to rule 2, including:

(1.) The determination on whether the team sport(s) shall have Two (2), Three

(3), or Four (4) classes under rule 2-1;

(2.) The division of participating Member Schools into Classes under Rule 2-2;

(3.) The enrollment figures and optional move-up elections under rule 2-3;

(4.) The sport-by-sport reclassification cycle under rule 2-4; and

(5.) The success factor under rule 2-5.

Proposed Addition of section 9-6.1 to the Contests rule, rule 9, which outlines the

conditions under which member schools can form cooperative agreements for team

sports, including enrollment limits, proximity requirements, and application processes.

Motion:

Motion moved by Jim Brown and motion seconded by Tim Grove. Failed 8-10.

[Coach Nowlin]

25 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

May 4, 2026 IHSAA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes:  https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/05.04.2026 Board of Directors.pdf

Getting closer to passage.  Only a matter of time. 

 

I am not against CO OP     I am against the proposol that would create a new classification for the school accepting said CO OP students as outlined many times by me.   

SOuth Newton:   Less than 300 students:  I think around 230.    We have 440 I think this year right now.   If we took on lets say 5 SN Football players:   That would push our enrollment as it was originally proposed to another class, up to 3A when we are closer to 1a then 3a in last year's classifications cycle.    That is what I would Vehemently argue against 

[Frozen Tundra]

@Muda69 I’ve got a question for you. As a lifelong fan of professional wrestling, I’m curious about something. Are you a gimmick? Specifically, are you a schtick whose whole purpose for being on this site is to be a contrarian and challenge the status quo/groupthink, or do you really believe the things you say on here? I’ll hang up and listen.

[CoachDurham]

33 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

Good for them, I guess:

 

From their Actual IHSA website. There are 35 Teams

F

[CoachDurham]

8 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

I am not against CO OP     I am against the proposol that would create a new classification for the school accepting said CO OP students as outlined many times by me.   

Highschool memorabilia

 

SOuth Newton:   Less than 300 students:  I think around 230.    We have 440 I think this year right now.   If we took on lets say 5 SN Football players:   That would push our enrollment as it was originally proposed to another class, up to 3A when we are closer to 1a then 3a in last year's classifications cycle.    That is what I would Vehemently argue against 

In this situation or any. What is the incentive to agreeing to Co-Op with us?

Even if you took South Newton and say Tri-County. 2 Struggling 1A schools enrollment and roster size. You would get an enrollment similar to Rensselaer and become 2A. and have 30 kids total if everyone played.

[hhpatriot04]

15 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Only Sport I know that has allowed it is Girls Gymnastics.    There have been individuals who have been granted an opportunity to join say Valpo from Rensselaer but rep Rensselaer under Valpo program and competes under Rensselaer name but thru Valpo Gymnastics program.     

Maybe someone from Tell City can explain how the agreement has worked with Cannelton in which student athletes from Cannelton have been allowed to play football at Tell City? Perhaps they all had some sort of residence exemption, but I thought it was a pretty common practice there.

2 minutes ago, CoachDurham said:

In this situation or any. What is the incentive to agreeing to Co-Op with us?

Even if you took South Newton and say Tri-County. 2 Struggling 1A schools enrollment and roster size. You would get an enrollment similar to Rensselaer and become 2A. and have 30 kids total if everyone played.

I'd be in favor of a 0.75 multiplier for co-op classifications.

(School 1 Enrollment + School 2 Enrollment) * 0.75