New Playoff System

[PrideOrDie30]

Haven't seen much talk about it yet but now that it's all said and done, what are your thoughts on how the new playoff system worked out this year? Is it here to stay?

 

[EastIowaHawk]

From what I could see, the best teams won in most classes. I think the system was fair-- more than fair, actually, since some teams got in with losing records. In 4A, I think that there is so much football strength in central Iowa that some good teams end up playing each other earlier than they might if they were in a different part of the state. But that was this year; maybe next year will be a different mix. 3A got it right. Pella just seemed to me to be head and shoulders above everybody else. (And they are from Central Iowa.)

This post was edited on 11/24 6:41 PM by EastIowaHawk

 

[PNation]

Pella returns quite a few key pieces, it'll be interesting if they are able to repeat

 

[EHS1505]

In 4A I think they need to consider cross state semifinal match-ups. I think the west had the top 3 teams this year, only one got to play for the title. Other than that, it seemed to be about right in the end.... although some of the travel was actually worse in some of the classes...

 

[jen44]

I loved the way they set up the playoffs this year. No team knew who they were going to play, so it made things very interesting.

 

[NWIAFan19]

Except for in the West where is was district rematches. I understand the travel rule, but it was still boring to watch the same teams that just beat up on each other a few weeks before play each other again.

 

[fmclonefan]

With either system, rematches will be inevitable to some degree. This system is tougher on NW Iowa because of the travel restrictions. Is tough to get 3A matchups for that district because of lack of proximity of other schools in other districts. But, rematches occured in central Iowa as well. Pella had two rematches (Newton, Washington) on the way to the dome. I think this year's system is here to stay as it did limit travel in first round. I do like that part of it. In 2012 and 2013 Pella Christian had to go to Council Bluffs St. Albert on a Wednesday night (3 hours each way) for first round game. That just isn't a good situation on a school night. If the state would be able to get all the playoff games on Friday nights, then wouldn't be as big of a deal, the brackets would work fine.

It certainly did make more intrigue as each team didn't know who they would play till announced after each round. I guess I didn't mind the new system.

 

[NWIAFan19]

If only the state would go back to 2 teams from each district, then they could play on Friday's. I know it won't happen due to the money flow, but then you get the top 2 teams that truly deserve to keep playing. If they would do that maybe they could seed the teams I-35 West on one side and I-35 East on the other side, top 2 teams from each side are in the Dome and then have the west schools playing the east schools in the semifinals. Then you could have those schools that are closest to I-35 go one way or the other depending on which side needs schools to balance it out. This would never fly, just throwing an idea out there. I am not a fan of playing a team in the first round of playoffs that you just played a couple weeks before.