Iowa State Football Playoffs
2023 IHSAA STATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
The IHSAA State Football Playoffs are presented by title sponsor, the Iowa Farm Bureau .
STATE FOOTBALL CENTRAL
The Iowa high school state football semifinals and finals are played at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
The UNI-Dome has been the host of the finals since 1976 and the semifinals since 1998.
Spectator Information
Tickets to the 2023 State Football Semifinals and Finals are being managed by UNI and are available online and at the UNI-Dome. Semifinal tickets are good for their entire day, as the facility will not be cleared between games.
Ticketing Information
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Tickets are $12.50 each for walk-up or online with promo codes: $10 ticket, $2 to UNI for parking, and $0.50 service fee from UNI.
- Promo codes have been provided to all participating schools.
- Online tickets without promo codes will have a $5 fee added to the overall order by UNI’s ticketing provider.
- Semifinal tickets are scheduled to go on sale at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5.
- The University of Northern Iowa and the IHSAA have a no re-entry policy. Spectators needing to leave the facility for any reason will need to purchase a ticket to gain entry back in.
- Gates open one hour prior to game time.
- Ticket prices are for adults and K-12. Children preschool age and younger are free.
- For more questions, contact the UNI Ticket Office: 319-273-4849.
Parking Information
- There is no additional charge for parking at the UNI-Dome. UNI has added a parking fee on to each ticket price.
- If parking on campus and not in specified UNI-Dome lots, please monitor and obey University of Northern Iowa signs and policies. Violators may be ticketed or towed.
UNI-Dome Rules & Recommendations
- Avoid bringing bags into the facility. All bags, purses, etc. are subject to search by security.
- No outside food or beverage may be brought into the facility.
- The Home team (higher-seeded) sits on the east side of the UNI-Dome. The Visiting team sits on the west side of the bleachers.
- No seating in the first row of bleachers.
- No artificial noisemakers.
- No signs or banners are to be used in the crowd.
- Towels or “Homer Hankies” (approximately 11 inches by 16 inches) are permissible, as are pom-poms that are not on a stick.
- Shirts and shoes are required. Body paint is not considered a shirt.
- Bring necessary clothing and personal items in with you to UNI-Dome before having your ticket scanned as there is a no re-entry policy.
- Smoking on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa is prohibited. Violators will be issued written citations with no warnings.
Traffic Information
Due to construction on Hudson Road during weekdays, please note the following:
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From the East:
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Take Highway 20 West to Hudson Road and turn right. The UNI-Dome will be on your left after several miles.
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Please allow for extra time as Hudson Road at Ashworth Road may be down to one lane for a quarter of a mile during weekdays only.
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From the West:
- Take Highway 20 East to Hudson Road and turn left. The UNI-Dome will be on your left after several miles.
- As an alternate route during weekdays, consider taking Hwy 20, exit 220 and turing left onto Grundy Road/University Avenue. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto Greenhill Road. Turn right onto W 27 th Street. Turn left onto Panther/Playoff Parkway.
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From the South:
- Take Interstate 380 or Interstate 35 north to Highway 20. Take Highway 20 towards Cedar Falls to Hudson Road and turn north. Travel approximately 5 miles and the UNI-Dome will be on your left.
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From the North:
- Take Highway 218 and proceed south to Highway 57. Take Highway 57 W and travel west approximately 3 miles. Turn left on Hudson Road. Travel approximately 3 miles and the UNI-Dome will be on your right.
The construction zone on Hudson Road will be removed on weekends and evenings when no work is underway.
CEDAR FALLS TOURISM
Thanks to our partners at Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitors Bureau for their support in welcoming the 2023 IHSAA Football Championships at the UNI-Dome.
2023 PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
First Round (2A, 1A, A, 8P)
Friday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m.
First Round (5A, 4A, 3A) & Second Round (2A, 1A, A, 8P)
Friday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Quarterfinal Round (8P)
Thursday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Quarterfinal Round (5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A, A)
Friday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Semifinal Round (All classes, all games at UNI-Dome)
| Date | Class | Time |
| Wednesday, November 8 | 8P | 10 a.m., Game 1 |
| 8P | 1 p.m., Game 2 | |
| Thursday, November 9 | A | 10 a.m., Game 1 |
| A | 1 p.m., Game 2 | |
| 4A | 4 p.m., Game 3 | |
| 4A | 7 p.m., Game 4 | |
| Friday, November 10 | 1A | 10 a.m., Game 1 |
| 1A | 1 p.m., Game 2 | |
| 5A | 4 p.m., Game 3 | |
| 5A | 7 p.m., Game 4 | |
| Saturday, November 11 | 2A | 10 a.m., Game 1 |
| 2A | 1 p.m., Game 2 | |
| 3A | 4 p.m., Game 3 | |
| 3A | 7 p.m., Game 4 |
Final Round ( All classes, all games at UNI-Dome)
Thursday, November 16
Eight-Player: 9:30 a.m.
Class A: 1:00 p.m.
Class 1A: 4:00 p.m.
Class 4A: 7:00 p.m.
Friday, November 17
Class 2A: 10:00 a.m.
Class 3A: 1:00 p.m.
Class 5A: 7:00 p.m.
Iowa High School Sports Network
The Iowa High School Sports Network (IHSSN) is the current rights holder of select IHSAA championship events and will produce and broadcast all games from the UNI-Dome.
Details from below are from IHSSN:
Television: The Semifinals (November 8-11) will air on the IHSSN Cable Network , including Mediacom (MC22), Aureon affiliates , Premier Communications and The Community Agency (TCA). The Championship games (November 16-17) will air on the IHSSN Broadcast Network , including NPTH (Sioux City), NPTM (Council Bluffs – Omaha), KDSM (Des Moines), KFXA (Cedar Rapids), KXLT (Mason City – Rochester) and WQAD (Moline – Quad Cities). Check local listings for details.
Streaming: In addition, all games can be streamed at IHSSN.com and the Watch IHSSN App by purchasing either a Game Pass or Tournament Pass.
Playoff Information
Tickets for the first round ($8), second round ($8), and quarterfinal games ($8) will be sold through the IHSAA Tickets page and utilize digital ticketing via HomeTown Ticketing. Tickets for semifinals and finals will be sold through UNI Athletics.
First round games in 2A, 1A, A, and 8P are set individually. Then, the round of 16 in all classes features four four-team pods, with the winners of those pods advancing to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls for the state semifinals and finals.
District standings and qualifiers for 2A, 1A, A, and 8P are released following Week 8 games, with district placement determining first round hosts. Qualifiers will be released on Friday, October 13. Those first round matchups will be released at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 14.
Qualifiers and RPI for 5A, 4A, and 3A will be released on Friday, October 20. Round of 16 matchups for all classes will be released at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 21.
For complete qualifying and assignment instructions, please view the Postseason Manual.
FINALS
All games at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls
THURSDAY, NOV. 16
EIGHT-PLAYER
Bishop Garrigan, Algona 39, Bedford 30
CLASS A
West Hancock 30, Woodbury Central 28
CLASS 1A
Grundy Center 42, MFL MarMac 0
CLASS 4A
Lewis Central 40, Western Dubuque 21
FRIDAY, NOV. 17
CLASS 2A
Van Meter 24, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 21
CLASS 3A
Williamsburg 20, Bishop Heelan, Sioux City 0
CLASS 5A
SEMIFINALS
All games at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 8
EIGHT-PLAYER
Bishop Garrigan, Algona 34, Winfield-Mount Union 20
Bedford 31, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 30
THURSDAY, NOV. 9
CLASS A
Woodbury Central 28, East Buchanan 20
CLASS 4A
Lewis Central 31, North Polk 5
Western Dubuque 28, Bondurant-Farrar 21
FRIDAY, NOV. 10
CLASS 1A
Grundy Center 42, Columbus Catholic, Waterloo 7
CLASS 5A
Southeast Polk 30, Valley, W.D.M. 27 (OT)
Ankeny 10, Ankeny Centennial 7
SATURDAY, NOV. 11
CLASS 2A
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 28, Spirit Lake 14
CLASS 3A
Bishop Heelan, Sioux City 16, Creston 13
Quarterfinals
8-Player: 7 p.m., Thursday, November 2
11-Player: 7 p.m., Friday, November 3
CLASS 5A
POD A
Southeast Polk 21, Cedar Falls 20
POD B
Ankeny 14, Dowling Catholic, W.D.M. 7
POD C
Valley, W.D.M. 20, Waukee 7
POD D
Ankeny Centennial 41, Bettendorf 14
CLASS 4A
POD A
Western Dubuque 21, North Scott 7
POD B
Lewis Central 32, ADM 21
POD C
Bondurant-Farrar 31, Glenwood 21
POD D
North Polk 17, Xavier, Cedar Rapids 14
CLASS 3A
POD A
Creston 50, Webster City 27
POD B
Solon 36, West Delaware 35
POD C
Williamsburg 38, Mount Vernon 35
POD D
Bishop Heelan, Sioux City 27, Sioux Center 26 (3 Overtime)
CLASS 2A
POD A
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 48, Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 27
POD B
Van Meter 31, PCM 21
POD C
Spirit Lake 20, West Lyon 19
POD D
Monticello 34, Mediapolis 28
CLASS 1A
POD A
Grundy Center 40, Dike-New Hartford 0
POD B
Underwood 43, OABCIG 8
POD C
Columbus Catholic, Waterloo 35, Sumner-Fredericksburg 14
POD D
MFL MarMac 22, Regina, Iowa City 7
CLASS A
POD A
East Buchanan 30, Saint Ansgar 16
POD B
Woodbury Central 35, Logan-Magnolia 0
POD C
West Hancock 44, Wapsie Valley 22
POD D
Madrid 21, ACGC 14
EIGHT-PLAYER
POD A
Winfield-Mount Union 34, Don Bosco, Gilbertville 29
POD B
Bedford 36, Lenox 24
POD C
Bishop Garrigan, Algona 26, CAM, Anita 16
POD D
Gladbrook-Reinbeck 32, Clarksville 20
ROUND OF 16
7 p.m., Friday, October 27
CLASS 5A
POD A
Southeast Polk 49, Linn-Mar, Marion 9
Cedar Falls 30, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy 26
POD B
Dowling Catholic, W.D.M. 45, Sioux City, East 0
Ankeny 21, Johnston 9
POD C
Valley, W.D.M. 31, Pleasant Valley 21
Waukee 21, Prairie 10
POD D
Ankeny Centennial 35, Waukee Northwest 7
Bettendorf 32, Iowa City, City High 21
CLASS 4A
POD A
Western Dubuque 41, Newton 2
North Scott 35, Decorah 7
POD B
Lewis Central 42, LeMars 10
ADM 42, Denison-Schleswig 0
POD C
Glenwood 21, Norwalk 0
Bondurant-Farrar 23, Pella 6
POD D
North Polk 17, Ballard 14
Xavier, Cedar Rapids 17, Indianola 10
CLASS 3A
POD A
Creston 35, Harlan 27
Webster City 27, Nevada 7
POD B
Solon 50, Fort Madison 7
West Delaware 58, Assumption, Davenport 45
POD C
Williamsburg 23, Humboldt 0
Mount Vernon 50, Independence 6
POD D
Sioux Center 28, Algona 21
Bishop Heelan, Sioux City 22, Clear Lake 19
CLASS 2A
POD A
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 49, Roland-Story 0
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 43, Clarinda 8
POD B
Van Meter 56, Union, LaPorte City 0
PCM 36, Mid-Prairie, Wellman 0
POD C
West Lyon 29, Western Christian, Hull 20
Spirit Lake 48, New Hampton 6
POD D
Monticello 45, Jesup 0
Mediapolis 27, Camanche 0
CLASS 1A
POD A
Grundy Center 35, Pella Christian 12
Dike-New Hartford 28, Sigourney/Keota 18
POD B
Underwood 42, 0 AHSTW 0
OABCIG 35, Treynor 14
POD C
Sumner-Fredericksburg 9, Emmetsburg 7
Columbus Catholic, Waterloo 35, South Hamilton 24
POD D
MFL MarMac 21, West Branch 0
Regina, Iowa City 33, Wilton 18
CLASS A
POD A
Saint Ansgar 33, Lake Mills 0
East Buchanan 38, Lisbon 7
POD B
Woodbury Central 35, MMCRU 28
Logan-Magnolia 22, Akron-Westfield 16
POD C
West Hancock 49, Starmont 10
Wapsie Valley 26, Maquoketa Valley 0
POD D
Madrid 42, Central Decatur 0
ACGC 29, Lynnville-Sully 8
EIGHT-PLAYER
POD A
Winfield-Mount Union 34, Moravia 6
Don Bosco, Gilbertville 28, WACO 20
POD B
Bedford 44, Exira-EHK 28
Lenox 33, Audubon 8
POD C
CAM, Anita 36, West Bend-Mallard 34
Bishop Garrigan, Algona 21, St. Mary’s, Remsen 18
POD D
Clarksville 50, Iowa Valley 8
Gladbrook-Reinbeck 36, Central City 12
FIRST ROUND
CLASSES 2A, 1A, A, 8P
Kickoffs: 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20
CLASS 2A
4 th Place at 1st Place
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 42, Okoboji 7
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 47, Cherokee 18
Mediapolis 28, Anamosa 21
Monticello 42, North Fayette Valley 13
PCM 42, Interstate 35, Truro 0
Spirit Lake 49, Southeast Valley 0
Van Meter 56, Albia 7
Union, LaPorte City 21, Waukon 7
3 rd Place at 2 nd Place
Camanche 42, West Burlington/Notre Dame 14
Clarinda 56, Des Moines Christian 28
Western Christian, Hull 26, Estherville Lincoln Central 14
Jesup 20, Crestwood 14
Mid-Prairie 49, Northeast 18
New Hampton 41, West Marshall 21
Roland-Story 42, Clarke, Osceola 7
West Lyon 50, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 0
CLASS 1A
4 th Place at 1st Place
Emmetsburg 20, Ridge View 8
Grundy Center 50, Cascade 14
MFL MarMac 55, Hudson 3
OABCIG 49, Shenandoah 14
Regina, Iowa City 48, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 20
Sigourney/Keota 52, West Central Valley 7
South Hamilton 24, Denver 8
Underwood 44, East Sac County 6
3 rd Place at 2nd Place
Columbus Catholic, Waterloo 47, Pocahontas Area 6
AHSTW 21, Hinton 0
Dike-New Hartford 51, Manson NW Webster 6
Pella Christian 43, Ogden 0
Sumner-Fredericksburg 31, South Hardin 26
Treynor 31, West Sioux, Hawarden 13
West Branch 35, Pleasantville 20
Wilton 49, Woodward-Granger 21
CLASS A
4 th Place at 1st Place
ACGC 34, Mount Ayr 18
Akron-Westfield 35, Tri-Center, Neola 0
Lisbon 14, North Linn 6
Madrid 45, IKM-Manning 7
Saint Ansgar 23, Sibley-Ocheyedan 6
Starmont 17, North Butler 0
Wapsie Valley 43, Danville 6
Woodbury Central 51, North Union 13
3 rd Place at 2nd Place
Maquoketa Valley 57, Columbus Community 21
Central Decatur 14, Earlham 13
East Buchanan 46, South Winneshiek 3
Logan-Magnolia 26, South Central Calhoun 20 (OT)
Lynnville-Sully 28, Pekin 6
MMCRU 50, Kingsley-Pierson 14
Lake Mills 21, Nashua-Plainfield 14
West Hancock 38, Gehlen Catholic, LeMars 22
EIGHT-PLAYER
At-Large at 1 st Place
Clarksville 68, Turkey Valley 26
Winfield-Mount Union 64, Belle Plaine 8
3 rd Place at 1st Place
Audubon 30, Boyer Valley 6
Bishop Garrigan, Algona 63, Janesville 6
Bedford 65, Fremont-Mills 14
Iowa Valley 78, BGM, Brooklyn 77
CAM, Anita 75, Southeast Warren 12
Central City 52, Kee, Lansing 28
Don Bosco, Gilbertville 62, Edgewood-Colesburg 22
St. Mary’s, Remsen 52, Harris-Lake Park 23
3 rd Place at 2nd Place (host by point +/-)
Gladbrook-Reinbeck 64, Montezuma 18
WACO 55, Baxter 20
2 nd Place at 2nd Place (host by point +/-)
Exira-EHK 30, Glidden-Ralston 16
Lenox 60, Woodbine 28
Moravia 45, Lone Tree 33
West Bend-Mallard 64, Riceville 26
2023 PLAYOFF QUALIFYING
CLASSES 5A, 4A, 3A
PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS: RATINGS PERCENTAGE INDEX & STANDINGS
Notes: * indicates flip due to head-to-head; # indicates automatic qualifier due to district finish
CLASSES 2A, 1A, A, 8P
Postseason Video
The IHSAA partners with NFHS Network and NFHS Network School Broadcast Programs for postseason lead-up event video and livestreams.
Independent outlets (schools, media, individuals) may also apply for video access and provide video and livestreaming from IHSAA postseason lead-up events.
Videos from these events are not produced by the IHSAA. Commentary does not represent views or coverage from the IHSAA.
Updated: 2:30 p.m., Oct. 29
Video broadcasts or streams from the sites above have been approved by the host schools and IHSAA.
Videos from these events are not produced by the IHSAA and commentary does not represent views or coverage from the IHSAA.
Any interested outlets may apply for video access at IHSAA postseason lead-up events. Access is subject to application, fees, and policies of the IHSAA.
Media Information
All media members interested in covering the 2022 IHSAA State Football Playoffs must register or possess an all-tournament pass for each game they intend to cover.
The IHSAA credential registration link is closed.
Media Information
Apply for State Football Media Credentials
The IHSAA kindly requests that all media members from newspaper, TV, or digital outlets planning to attend the state semifinals and finals register through the form below.
The purple 2021-22 state tournament credential will be accepted and will streamline entry at the UNI-Dome.
School Media: Schools will be allowed up to 2 students or 1 adult as a school media representative. Ticket and school letter required. No pre-registration necessary.
Radio: Apply for credentials and access through Iowa High School Sports Network. No IHSAA registration.
Freelance: Applications not accepted. Must have assigning editor/director from approved outlets apply for confirmation.
FINALS MEDIA GUIDES
Thursday, November 21
Eight-Player
10:00—#1 Audubon vs. #3 Don Bosco, Gilbertville
Class A
1:30—#1 West Hancock, Britt vs. #5 Grundy Center
Class 3A
7:00—#1 Solon vs. #2 Epworth, Western Dubuque
Friday, November 22
Class 1A
10:00—#1 Van Meter vs. #5 West Lyon, Inwood
Class 2A
Class 4A
7:00—#1 Valley, W.D.M. vs. #3 Dowling Catholic, W.D.M.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023 STATE CHAMPIONS
5A
Southeast Polk
4A
Lewis Central
3A
Williamsburg
Waukon
2A
Van Meter
Waukon
1A
Grundy Center
A
West Hancock
Eight-Player
Bishop Garrigan, Algona