The Iowa High School Athletic Association Board of Control decided on Wednesday to keep the Iowa High School Football playoffs at 16 teams in each class in 2018. The announcement comes after it was previously announced that changes will be made to the size of each class. As previously noted the top 42 schools by BEDS numbers will be in Class 4A, the next 54 schools in 3A, the next 54 in 2A, the next 54 in 1A, and the remainder of 11-player schools in Class A.

The district format will also be changing to 9 six-team districts in classes 3A/2A/1A. That would provide for 5 district games and 4 non-district games each year. In Class A there will be 8 districts of 6 teams and 2 districts of 7 teams. 8-Player will have 7 districts of 8 teams and 1 district of 9 teams. Class 4A will have 7 districts of 6 teams. Districts are expected to be released by the state on Thursday.

Qualification for the playoffs will also change with the implementation of an RPI. District champions and those that tie for a district title will be automatic qualifiers for the playoffs. The RPI will then decide qualifiers, rankings, or both. The official statement on RPI use can be seen here: 1.24-RPI-Football-FAQs

The Board of Control also approved cross-state games for non-district games. So teams can now schedule opponents from Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Illinois if they would like.

We’ll have more on these changes as the district assignments are released.