Coaches Confidential: What do you think of the IHSA football playoffs structure?

The Journal Star continues its new high school sports series called Coaches Confidential. This will feature answers from Peoria-area coaches regarding a variety of topics.

The twist? It’s totally anonymous. No responses are attached to any coach, allowing them an opportunity to speak freely.

Coaches Confidential: How do you handle the challenges of football season?

High school football coaches have a lot to handle once the playoffs hit. However, the goal to getting into the elusive field of 256 starts long before the season begins. Playoff points and seeding were two of the biggest pieces of feedback from coaches when asked about the current playoff format.

Here's what some Peoria area football coaches said about what they like, dislike or would change about the current Illinois High School Association football playoff format.

What the coaches like about the IHSA playoffs

• "I like the weight that playoff points hold with seeding — helps reward teams who schedule well/play in tough conferences. 256 is the perfect amount of teams that should be in. A few 4-5 teams sneaking in is OK since they played good teams all season."

• "I like how our playoff field is selected — by record and playoff points. I think we let in the right amount of teams, without it being too many."

• "I love that you have to earn your way in. Not everyone makes the playoffs. You have to meet a certain standard."

• "32 teams and eight classes. Even if it is watered down, so to speak."

IHSA football playoffs: The not-so-secret formula behind the Illinois prep football playoff process

What coaches would change about the IHSA playoffs

• "I'd change the north/south 1-16 and 1-16 seeding. The (Class) 2A bracket this year is a great example why — the north has nine teams with 8-1 or better records. The south has three teams with 8-1 or better records. They should do 1-32 seeding from 1A-8A — teams can travel on Saturdays if needed."

• "I have two. Re-install "football enrollment," where you are classified by the average enrollment of your opponents, or your own, whichever is highest. Second, seed all classes 1-32."

• "The current criteria for the multiplier to be assessed to non-boundary schools is not stringent enough. Look at the northern bracket Class 1A — six non-boundary schools."

• "I dislike that we do not seed 1-32 and the disparity of private versus public. Feel there still needs to be a better solution. They operate at a huge advantage."

• "A ranking of 1-32."

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria area high school football coaches confidential: IHSA playoffs