Indiana High School Football Rankings: IHSAA Data, Polls, Grit

I’ve lived inside this weird little world of indiana high school football rankings for more than ten years, and I’ve got the scar tissue to prove it. Friday night lights. IHSAA classes from 1A to 6A. AP poll chatter. Coaches poll gripes. Computer ratings. Sectional battles that make people lose their minds. In my experience, the whole thing is part math, part gossip, and part “my uncle swears this team is better.” And yes, I track strength of schedule, point differential, and those gritty conference games in the MIC, HCC, DAC, SAC, and NIC. That’s the stew. It smells like popcorn and damp sidelines.

How I actually build a ranking (and why your grandma’s Facebook take doesn’t help)

Let me be clear: I don’t throw darts at a wall. I’ve done the film. I’ve stood in cold rain. I’ve watched a guard pull and a safety bite on play-action and thought, yep, that’s the game right there. My method pulls from a few places:

• Human polls like AP and coaches lists
• Computer stuff like Sagarin-style ratings and simple ELO
• Context: injuries, weather, travel miles, short weeks
• Conference clues: MIC vs HCC vs DAC, SAC punch, NIC grit
• Playoff history and coaching stability

For official schedules and class info, I always peek at the IHSAA football page. If you care about rules, dates, and tournament layouts, the source lives here: IHSAA football. And if you want to get nerdy about ratings and numbers, I’ve got a soft spot for the old-school math hero types. The rabbit hole starts fast: Jeff Sagarin. Fair warning: the numbers don’t care about your feelings. Or mine.

My core checklist for each team

• Who did you beat? (Real teams. On real fields.)
• Where did you beat them? Road wins count extra for me.
• How did it look? One-score edge or a four-touchdown cruise?
• Did your QB leave in the second quarter with a wrapped ankle? That matters.
• Turnovers, penalties, special teams. Yes, I watch that stuff.

Why computers and polls both lie to you, sometimes

Computers love big wins and clean math. They hate nuance. Human polls love tradition and brand names. They hate change. I’ve always found that blending both makes the least-bad mess. Think of it like chili. You don’t want only beans. You don’t want only spice. You want a little burn and a little bite, and you want to stir it. A lot.

Class-by-class vibes (6A down to 1A)

I don’t need to tell you 6A is a different animal. It is. Big lines. Deep rosters. Freshman backups who would start at smaller schools. But 1A and 2A? Those games hit different. You can feel the whole town on the sideline, and a single two-way star can tilt a season. Here’s how I talk to myself about each class when I build out a top 25 board and smaller class rankings.

6A: The heavy trucks on the interstate

MIC and HCC power. Long, mean lines. Quarterbacks who can spin. If a 6A team drops a game in Week 2, I don’t punish them like I do in 3A. Why? Their schedule is a meat grinder. Brownsburg, Center Grove, Ben Davis, Warren Central, Carmel (when applicable), Hamilton Southeastern—these programs play grown-man ball. Strength of schedule—huge here.

5A: The middle tier with a punch

5A can feel chaotic. A top 5A can clip a mid 6A team if the matchup is right. I watch 5A lines and special teams closely. The gap between 6A and 5A is not as big as some folks think. In my notebook, 5A “travel wins” are gold.

4A and 3A: Trap zone and misdirection alley

In 4A and 3A, coaching matter hits harder. Schemes get quirky. One smart DC can steal a game. I’ve seen a 3A team punch above its class by simply owning field position for four quarters. It’s beautiful and annoying. For me, a 4A or 3A team that beats bigger schools—even once—gets a bump.

2A and 1A: Razor margins and folk heroes

2A and 1A run on heart, health, and one or two stars who never come off the field. If a team loses a two-way linebacker/RB in Week 6? That can swing the whole bracket. I weigh late-season health more in these classes. Also, weather games in October mess with these teams more. Wind can eat a passing team alive.

Sample snapshot table (don’t tattoo this on your arm)

I’m not saying this is the gospel. I’m saying this is how a midseason snapshot might look on my board. I update and shuffle weekly. It’s opinion plus data, not a court ruling.

Class	Team (example)	Why they’re up this week	SOS Bump
6A	Brownsburg	Road win vs a top defense, clean in the red zone	High
6A	Center Grove	Front seven bullied an HCC line, zero turnovers	High
6A	Ben Davis	Explosive plays on special teams, depth showed late	Medium
5A	Fort Wayne Snider	Balanced offense, controlled tempo on the road	Medium
5A	Valparaiso	Red zone defense bailed them out twice	Medium
4A	East Central	Methodical, surgical, zero wasted drives	Medium
4A	New Palestine	Dominant line play, wore down opponent in 2nd half	Low
3A	Chatard	Coaching clinic on third-and-short	Low
2A	Mater Dei	QB stayed clean all night, smart play-calling	Low
1A	Lutheran	Explosive early, then sat on the ball like pros	Low

Again, this is a sample. One Friday later, everything shifts. I once had a No. 2 fall to No. 9 in a week. People sent me emails in ALL CAPS. I drank bad press box coffee and moved on.

The little things that swing a ranking

Strength of Schedule (SOS)

Big one. Beating three average teams by 40 means less to me than a hard-fought win over a top-15. The Duneland Athletic Conference will eat you alive if you’re soft. Same for the MIC and HCC. If your best win is a .500 team, I’m not sold.

Injuries, especially QB and LT

Lose your QB? That’s a two-slot slide, minimum. Lose your left tackle? Watch your run game drop ten points of efficiency. I’m not punishing kids for getting banged up. I’m just being honest about outcomes.

Travel and weather

Long bus ride, cheap pizza, stiff legs. I add a little cushion for tough road wins. Cold wind in late October? Passing teams, beware. I’ve seen a ten-point favorite turn into a dogfight because of a sideways wind.

Film tells you the truth

Numbers miss the “almost.” Film shows it. A team that is a yard away from two more scores? That matters. I’ve always found that a team on the cusp of big plays is a week away from blowing someone out.

A quick word about “official” versus “media” stuff

Some folks think the IHSAA votes on these rankings. Nope. The IHSAA runs the sport, sets classes, schedules the tournament. They don’t tell me who is No. 1. If you want the broad picture on how the association works, here’s the explainer: IHSAA football. You can also learn about the association’s history here if you’re bored on a Tuesday: Indiana High School Athletic Association.

Conferences that shape my board

• MIC: Big bodies, big noise. If you survive, you’re battle-tested.
• HCC: Brownsburg, HSE, Fishers, Zionsville. Speed and depth.
• DAC: Northwest steel. Merrillville, Valpo, Crown Point bring heat.
• SAC: Fort Wayne schools that punch above their weight in November.
• NIC: Penn and friends. Old-school defense. Cold weather reps.

Common myths I hear every season

• “Undefeated means you’re top five.” Not if you dodged anyone with a pulse.
• “Margin of victory is everything.” Nope. Style points lie.
• “Rankings don’t change after Week 4.” Mine do. Every week.
• “Small schools can’t hang.” Tell that to the right 2A team with a mean front seven.
• “Computer rankings are rigged.” The algorithm doesn’t know your mascot.

My weekly ritual (no candles, just coffee and hoods)

Thursday night, I stack schedules and notes. Friday, I’m at a game with a pen, a hoodie, and a bad seat under a light. Saturday morning, it’s huddle clips, box scores, a quick look at any AP poll chatter, then a pass through a basic ELO I coded like a gremlin in 2016 and never fully cleaned up. If something feels off—like a big injury that hit late—I’ll rewatch the fourth quarter. I’m not a robot. I adjust.

The simple ranking recipe I tell friends to try

• Give every team a base rating of 1500.
• Add 30 for a road win vs a winning team. Add 15 for a home win vs a winning team.
• Subtract 10 if you turn it over 3+ times. Add 10 if you win the turnover battle by 2+.
• Add 5 for special teams scores (max +10).
• Bonus +15 if the opponent is top 15 on your board.

Example weighting table (keep it simple)

Factor	Weight	Notes
Win/Loss	High	Winning matters. Shocking, I know.
Strength of Schedule	High	Beating good teams beats clobbering cupcakes.
Turnovers	Medium	Ball security shows up in November.
Injuries	Medium	QB/LT injuries hit score more.
Special Teams	Low	Matters, but noisy week-to-week.

Why the playoffs always blow up October boards

Regular season rankings are fun. They are also a trap. Once the sectional draw drops, we get bracket chaos. A so-so team with a stingy defense can ride a friendly sectional to a regional. Weather shrinks the game. Special teams swings it. By semistate, you’re at Lucas Oil dreams level, and seedings don’t save anyone. If your line can’t handle four quarters, you’re done.

How to read a ranking without losing your cool

• Look for who teams beat. Not just how many.
• Check the last three games. Momentum matters.
• Ask if the schedule was heavy. Conferences tell the truth.
• Watch 10 minutes of film. Your eyes learn fast.
• Remember: these are kids. Keep it in perspective.

About complaints, typos, and my inbox at 1 a.m.

I get messages like, “You hate our school.” I don’t. I like good line play and clean tackling. If your team has that, I probably like your team. Also, if you send me a rant in all caps, I will read it. Then I’ll watch the film anyway. By the way, if you ever wonder about how I protect this little corner of the internet (or what I won’t post), here are my terms and conditions. Riveting stuff. Almost as thrilling as punting stats.

Real vs. hype: the coaching edge

Coaching matters. Adjustments matter. I’ve watched a staff switch to inside zone on every first down in the second half, and the game flipped. You can see it at the 4A and 3A level a lot. In 6A, you’ll see more depth-based changes. Rotations. Packages. That stuff pushes teams up my list.

Recruiting noise and why I tune most of it out

Recruiting chatter is fun. But it’s a smoke machine. One star player can carry a night, sure. But Friday wins are still team wins. Blocking angles still beat Twitter clips. I look for linemen who stay low and backs who fall forward. That travels in November.

Why I still love this (yes, even after freezing in Fort Wayne in 2014)

I remember that night. Wind cut like a butter knife made of ice. I could barely write in my notebook. But the last drive was perfect: a nine-play march, two third-down keeps, a kick that barely cleared the bar. That team moved up two spots on my board the next morning. Not because I was warm and fuzzy. Because it was earned. That’s what I chase when I post a new set of numbers.

If you’re a parent or player, here’s how to use rankings without going nuts

• See it as a map. Not a trophy.
• Use it to spot tough weeks. Not to brag in the group chat.
• Care more about your footwork than your number next to a name.
• Let your tape speak. Coaches watch film. Always.

The evergreen argument: “Indy bias” and “north bias”

I hear both. Sometimes in the same week. Do teams around Indianapolis get more eyes? Yes. More cameras. More chatter. But DAC teams up north and SAC squads in Fort Wayne crash the party all the time. Penn, Merrillville, Snider—those programs don’t ask permission. They just show up. If anything, I probably overcorrect. I try to schedule my Fridays to bounce around. Evansville one week, Crown Point the next. Gas bills hate me.

How many times do I say “rankings” and mean “educated guess”?

Most of them. Let’s be honest. We build models, we watch, we weigh the AP poll and coaches poll, we peek at computer ratings, we stir in strength of schedule and something that looks a lot like common sense. Then we press publish. And then someone’s kicker hits from 44 in a crosswind and my mentions catch fire. That’s the job.

Little glossary, so we’re on the same page

• AP poll: Media panel ranking. Has history. Has blind spots.
• Coaches poll: Coaches vote. They’re busy. They don’t watch everyone.
• SOS: Strength of Schedule. Who you played and how good they are.
• ELO: A simple rating system that moves teams up or down based on results.
• Semistate: One step from Lucas Oil Stadium. Big-boy week.

The search question I get DMs about

I see people search “indiana high school football rankings” and ask me which list is “right.” None. That’s the joke. The only list that is always right is the bracket in November, and even that breaks hearts. If you want a fast answer, look at quality wins, road wins, and turnovers. Does your team win those three categories? Then you’re fine. You’ll be fine when the leaves turn.

What I change late in the season

• Less weight on Week 2 blowouts. More on last three weeks.
• More on health and depth. November exposes thin teams.
• More on special teams. Field position becomes a monster.

My quick postseason bump guide

• Win a sectional on the road against a top-15? +2 spots minimum.
• Shutout in a regional? +1 spot plus a sticky note for next week.
• Semistate thriller vs a higher class? I’ll move mountains for that.

Random notes from my sideline notebook

• If your punt team can’t protect the edge, you’ll drop in my book. Sorry.
• Teams that win the middle eight minutes (last 4 of second, first 4 of third) climb.
• One missed tackle isn’t doom. Four missed tackles in a row? We have a trend.
• Third-and-2 tells me more about you than first-and-10.

Yes, I look at other lists too

I keep tabs on national and state coverage. I read recap blurbs, especially on Saturdays. I don’t live in a cave. I’ll glance at wire stuff from places like the AP if I’m checking a detail, but I still trust the tape over the headline. If you want a steady feed of national high school football blurbs and recaps, this wire hub is useful: AP high school football. Use it as a quick news check. Then go watch the game.

Little rant about “power rankings” vs “state rankings”

Words get messy. “Power rankings” usually mean a fluid, week-to-week who-wins-on-a-neutral-field vibe. “State rankings” sometimes follow record and class more. I use power logic midseason. I slide teams up for road wins, down for turnovers. In the playoffs, I tend to lock in more to actual bracket results. You win, you move. You lose, you drop. Simple.

Stuff I got wrong (because that matters too)

• Once loved a team with a flashy passing game. Wind made them mortal in October. Dropped too late. My fault.
• Ignored a 2A team with a boring offense. They never turned it over. Won three straight on the road. Oops.
• Trusted brand name over line play once. Learned fast. Never again.

Final thought before the next Friday kicks off

Rankings are a map. The road is Friday night. I try to keep the map honest. I rewatch the tape. I walk the sideline. I listen for the clack of pads and the quiet of a defense that knows it has the call. If you read me, cool. If you yell at me, also cool. I’ll be at the 35 with a pen anyway.

FAQs

• Do blowouts always mean a team should jump? No. If you blew out a tired team with a losing record, I shrug. Beat a good team on the road? That’s a jump.
• Why did my team drop after a win? Because the teams around you beat better opponents. A win isn’t a shield. Context matters.
• How much do injuries matter in your list? A lot. QB and LT injuries move the needle most. I watch for return timelines too.
• Do you rank teams across classes together or separate? Both. I keep class lists and an overall top board. Different jobs. Different weights.
• What if I think your list is trash? Send me your case with film and facts. I’ll look. I promise. No all-caps, please. My eyes hurt.

Anyway. It’s almost kickoff again. I should grab a hoodie and get moving.