IHSAA releases football districts; leaves postseason unchanged

After extended consideration, the Iowa High School Athletic Association's Board of Control decided Wednesday to move to a one-year scheduling cycle, adjust 4A's regular-season format and deny a recommendation for football playoff changes in all non-4A classes.

The IHSAA also released district pairings for all classes, which currently will only apply to the 2020 season.

Class 1A District 3

(Four non-district games, nine automatic qualifiers (district champions), seven at-large berths)

Dike-New Hartford

Aplington-Parkersburg

East Marshall

Hudson

South Hamilton

South Hardin

Class A District 7

(Four non-district games, 10 automatic qualifiers (district champions), six at-large berths)

BCLUW

Grundy Center

Belle Plaine

Lynnville-Sully

North Mahaska

North Tama

8-Man District 2

(One non-district game, eight automatic qualifiers (district champions), eight at-large berths)

AGWSR

Clarksville

Janesville

Northwood-Kensett

North Iowa

Riceville

Rockford

Tripoli

Turkey Valley

8-Man District 5

(One non-district game, eight automatic qualiiers (district champions), eight at-large berths)

Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Baxter

BGM

Collins-Maxwell

Colo-NESCO

GMG

HLV

Iowa Valley

Meskwaki Settlement

Teams will play nine regular-season games in 2020, with 16 teams reaching the playoffs in all six classes. At-large qualifiers will be determined by the Ratings Percentage Index as in recent years, with no changes to the RPI format. The Board of Control denied a recommendation from the IHSAA's football advisory committee to shorten the regular season to eight games and expand to 32 playoff qualifiers in 3A, 2A, 1A, A and 8-player.

Complete team schedules will be released in March.