WHAT IF: Area sectional matchups if they were seeded, 2026 edition

One of the biggest talking points every year around this time is seeding the sectional draw for football. 

Those who like to push that plan point to doing it by overall record, some sort of analytical metric or by head-to-head records (when applicable). 

Outside the Huddle has put together a “what if” scenario in which the IHSAA adopts the Sagarin Ratings to seed the sectionals. The metric, developed by Jeff Sagarin, is used in numerous sports to rate teams based on a mathematical formula.

Below is what the area playoffs would look like based on Sagarin Ratings at the end of the regular season…

NOTE: This hypothetical also grants home-field advantage to the higher seed in all rounds.

CLASS 6A

Sectional 4

#4 Northrop (4-4) at #1 Carroll (8-1)
#3 Noblesville (2-7) at #2 Homestead (3-6)

CLASS 5A

Sectional 11

#4 Wayne (1-8) at #1 Warsaw (8-1)
#3 South Side (3-6) at #2 Snider (5-4)

Sectional 12

#4 Anderson (0-9) at #1 Lafayette Jeff (7-2)
#3 McCutcheon (5-4) at #2 Huntington North (5-4)

CLASS 4A

Sectional 19

#8 Wawasee (1-8) at #1 East Noble (9-0)
#5 Leo (5-4) at #4 DeKalb (5-4)
#6 North Side (5-4) at #3 Bishop Dwenger (8-1)
#7 New Haven (2-7) at #2 Columbia City (7-2)

Sectional 20

#8 Marion (1-8) at #1 Logansport (9-0)
#5 Kokomo (4-5) at #4 Muncie Central (6-3)
#6 Delta (4-5) at #3 Bishop Luers (2-7)
#7 Jay County (3-6) at #2 Yorktown (5-4)

CLASS 3A

Sectional 26

#8 South Bend Washington (0-9) at #1 West Noble (8-1)
#5 Fairfield (5-4) at #4 Jimtown (6-3)
#6 Mishawaka Marian (3-6) at #3 Tippecanoe Valley (8-1)
#7 Glenn (1-8) at #2 Angola (6-3)

Sectional 27

#8 Woodlan (3-6) at #1 Bluffton (9-0)
#5 Concordia (3-6) at #4 Heritage (6-3)
#6 Garrett (3-6) at #3 Norwell (4-5)
#7 Bellmont (0-9) at #2 Adams Central (6-3)

CLASS 2A

Sectional 34

#1 Eastside (9-0) bye
#5 Prairie Heights (1-8) at #4 Rochester (4-5)
#6 Manchester (3-6) at #3 Lakeland (2-7)
#7 Central Noble (1-8) at #2 Bremen (6-3)

CLASS 1A

Sectional 44

#8 Whitko (0-8) at #1 South Adams (7-2)
#5 Blackhawk Christian (3-6) at #4 Northfield (5-4)
#6 Southwood (2-7) at #3 Churubusco (3-6)
#7 Southern Wells (1-8) at #2 Fremont (6-3)