Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

It is February and the start of prep football season is still half a year away.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to discuss on the football front.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association released its regular and postseason plan for the 2020 football season on Thursday following a special board of control meeting on Wednesday.

Along with the release of district groupings there were several changes announced for the upcoming season.

We take a look at five of the main takeaways in regards to area teams from the news on Thursday.

Tiers, Groups, RPI. Oh my.

The biggest class in the state is set to see the most changes starting next season.

In Class 4A districts have been replaced by a “success model” that features tiers and groups in an effort to address a concern of competitive balance.

Groups were determined based off results from the past four seasons using the IHSAA’s RPI formula and success in the playoffs.

Teams were placed into tiers. The most successful programs over the past four seasons based on the factors used by the IHSAA make up tier one.

Those teams are West High, West Des Moines Dowling, West Des Moines Valley, Cedar Falls, Ankeny Centennial, Waukee and Bettendorf.

The other six tiers were filled with teams using the same success factors.

Using those tiers and geography teams were put into groups.

Teams play three games against teams from their group, in most cases, and two games against teams from similar tiers in other groups.

Tier 5 and 6 teams will not play the tier 1 team in their group while tier 1 teams will face the tier 2,3 and 4 teams from its group and games against other tier 1 and 2 teams.

Make sense?

Here’s a short breakdown.

West High is the tier 1 team in group 4. The Trojans will play tier 2 Southeast Polk, tier 3 Cedar Rapids Washington and tier 4 City High in games against group opponents.

The Trojans were also assigned games against tier 2 Urbandale from group 1 and tier 1 Bettedorf from group 7.

As the tier 4 team in group 4 City High gets group games against tier 5 Des Moines Lincoln, tier 6 Des Moines North and West High as well as games against tier 4 Davenport Central from group 5 and tier 3 Pleasant Valley from group 7.

All 16 playoff qualifiers in Class 4A will be determined by the RPI formula introduced last season to determine at-large qualifiers.

No Changes to Playoff Size

Perhaps the biggest news for the non-4A classes from Thursday is that the playoff field is staying put at 16.

At least for now.

Everything released on Thursday is for a one-year cycle.

For 2020 playoff qualification remains the same for Class 3A down to 8-Player where district champions are automatically in. At large qualifiers will again be determined by RPI.

Liberty High Moves Up

Liberty took a big step in its second year of varsity action going from 3-6 in its debut season to 7-3 last year while reaching the postseason for the first time in program history.

The Lightning take a step up in competition this fall joining Class 4A for the first time.

Liberty High is the tier 3 team in group 2 and will face Des Moines East, Ankeny Centennial, Ankeny, Muscatine and Linn-Mar in its first season in 4A.

The rest of the schedules for all teams will be released next month.

Ankeny Centennial, Ankeny and Linn-Mar were all 4A playoff teams last season.

Regina, Solon Drop Down

A pair of perennial powers in the area will be dropping down a class in 2020 after ending the 2019 season in the UNI-Dome.

Solon and Regina are both moving to smaller classes following successful seasons and deep postseason runs last fall.

Defending 3A runner-up Solon will drop to Class 2A while Regina, a state semifinalist in 1A a year ago moves down to Class A.

Solon went 12-1 last season falling to Western Dubuque 37-17 in the 3A title game.

Solon joins WAMAC foes Center Point-Urbana, Mount Vernon, South Tama and Vinton-Shellsburg along with Union in 2A, District 6

Regina is paired with Columbus, Highland, Lisbon, North Cedar and Wapello in Class A District 6.

The Regals went 9-3 last season falling Van Meter 49-17 in the 1A semifinals.

New Competition For Clear Creek Amana

Clear Creek Amana wasn’t one of the area teams hit with big changes heading into next season.

The Clippers don’t face the new scheduling that are 4A teams will see and didn’t change classes like Regina or Solon.

That doesn’t mean Clear Creek Amana won’t see some change on its schedule in 2020.

The Clippers go west in Class 3A, District 6 and will see some fresh competition in district foes Benton Community (up from Class 2A), Grinnell, Newton, Oskaloosa and Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by becoming a member.