(IHSAA) The IHSAA Board of Control approved and accepted the lone recommendation out of recent meetings of the joint IHSAA and IGHSAU classification committee, adding one classification of football ahead of the 2021 season.

The new classification will be Class 5A, adding an 11-player group to reduce the disparity in enrollment in the IHSAA’s largest class of football, and to increase the number of participating teams and student-athletes in the postseason.

The board approved separate scheduling and playoff plans across the seven football classifications:

Class 5A, Class 4A, Class 3A: 36 teams, 9 regular season games, 16 playoff qualifiers.

Class 2A, Class 1A: 48 teams, 8 regular season games, 32 playoff qualifiers.

Class A: Remainder of 11-player teams, 8 regular season games, 32 playoff qualifiers.

Eight-Player: All 8-player teams, 8 regular season games, 32 playoff qualifiers.

Teams in 2A, 1A, A, and 8P will be permitted to play a ninth regular season contest should they not qualify for the postseason.

Additional information regarding playoff qualification and district assignments will be released at a later date.