HISTORY
Photo used courtesy of The Cedar Rapids Gazette
Cedar Rapids Jefferson J-Hawks - 1972 Class 4-A State Champions.
Defeated Dowling Catholic 6 to 0 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City
Defeated Dowling Catholic 6 to 0 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City
History of Iowa High School Football Playoffs
(Information provided by the Iowa High School Athletic Association - IHSAA)
1972 Iowa first state to adopt an overtime procedure in case of ties.
1972 IHSAA initiates football playoffs (4 classes; 4 qualifiers in each class).
1972-75 Championship games played at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City;
Clyde Williams Field & Jack Trice Field in Ames;
and at member school neutral sites.
1975 Playoff qualifiers in each class increased to eight.
1976 Playoff Championship Games in the UNI-Dome at Cedar Falls.
1981 Class A added to the playoff system.
1984 8 qualifiers in Class 4A; other classes expanded to 16 playoff qualifiers.
1986 Class 4A moves to 16 playoff qualifiers.
1992 Start of District Football; 50 point "Mercy Rule" adopted.
1998 Semifinals of playoffs go to the UNI-Dome;
8-player football revived - dropped in the late 1950s.
2000 8-player added to the playoff system (4 qualifiers).
2002 8-player qualifiers increased to 8.
2004 50 point "Mercy Rule" replaced by 35 point differential "Running Clock"
2006 8-player qualifiers increased to 16; Semifinals in 8-player in the UNI-Dome.
2008 Post season play adds a round of substate games for 32 teams in each class.
2010 Sub-state designation dropped; 32 qualifiers in each of the six classes.
2012 Teams in Class 3A, 2A, 1A set at 56 teams thus expanding Class A
2018 RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) implemented to help determine Playoff qualifiers.
2020 Because of Covid 19, regular season schedules adjusted;
ALL teams qualify for the post season.
2021 Class 5A added; other classes adjusted. 5A & 4A have 16 playoff qualifiers;
other classes have 32 qualifiers.
(Information provided by the Iowa High School Athletic Association - IHSAA)
1972 Iowa first state to adopt an overtime procedure in case of ties.
1972 IHSAA initiates football playoffs (4 classes; 4 qualifiers in each class).
1972-75 Championship games played at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City;
Clyde Williams Field & Jack Trice Field in Ames;
and at member school neutral sites.
1975 Playoff qualifiers in each class increased to eight.
1976 Playoff Championship Games in the UNI-Dome at Cedar Falls.
1981 Class A added to the playoff system.
1984 8 qualifiers in Class 4A; other classes expanded to 16 playoff qualifiers.
1986 Class 4A moves to 16 playoff qualifiers.
1992 Start of District Football; 50 point "Mercy Rule" adopted.
1998 Semifinals of playoffs go to the UNI-Dome;
8-player football revived - dropped in the late 1950s.
2000 8-player added to the playoff system (4 qualifiers).
2002 8-player qualifiers increased to 8.
2004 50 point "Mercy Rule" replaced by 35 point differential "Running Clock"
2006 8-player qualifiers increased to 16; Semifinals in 8-player in the UNI-Dome.
2008 Post season play adds a round of substate games for 32 teams in each class.
2010 Sub-state designation dropped; 32 qualifiers in each of the six classes.
2012 Teams in Class 3A, 2A, 1A set at 56 teams thus expanding Class A
2018 RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) implemented to help determine Playoff qualifiers.
2020 Because of Covid 19, regular season schedules adjusted;
ALL teams qualify for the post season.
2021 Class 5A added; other classes adjusted. 5A & 4A have 16 playoff qualifiers;
other classes have 32 qualifiers.
Photo used courtesy of the IHSAA
Original UNI-Dome
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The UNI-Dome opened February 7, 1976. It serves as a venue for sporting events, community events, concerts and other purposes.
The original air-inflated roof of the UNI-Dome, collapsed December 7, 1994. The roof was replaced in 1998 with a rigid, fixed roof. The new roof consists of a series of arched beams with a central skylight. The Iowa high school football playoffs first used the UNI-Dome for the 1976 Championship games. Semifinal and Final games for all classes are now played in the UNI-Dome. |
Photo used courtesy of the IHSAA
Present UNI-Dome
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