It’s going to be fascinating how many teams drop to 8 man over the next 2-4 years since many are against co-ops to stay 11 man. In a world I’d like to live in, I’d love to see these co-ops give it a go at C2 to help fill up the class again. Bump the C2 number up if we have to. (Most of these teams played 11 man in the last 20 years)

Bloomfield-Crofton
Plainview-Creighton
West Holt-Stuart
Shelby-Rising City-Osceola
Oakland-Craig-Lyons-Decatur
Pender-Bancroft-Rosalie
Elmwood-Murdock-Weeping Water
Hershey-Sutherland

Or we could have had a 9 man class for some of these schools and not a third 8 man class. Would have helped out a lot of schools in enrollment transition.

If schools aren’t willing to co-op, I’d like to see one Class of C, and take the top 10-12 in C1 and bump them to B. Wahoo, Ashland-Greenwood, Gross, Mt. Micheal, Aurora, Wayne, DC West, etc.

Have Class B go from 25 to 32 or 35.

Have C1 go from 35 to 45 and eliminate Class C2 football.

ACICOD said:

If they are under 55, I expect they will stay 8-man.

Click to expand...

Agreed.

If they are under 55, I expect they will stay 8-man.

Maybe I'm totally off on this. I thought I heard a while back that Crofton was planning to go back to 11 man. Of course that could have been before the cutoff changed. Anyone have knowledge of their situation?

If O-C goes 8 man, give me a Burt County co-op between O-C and Lyons-Decatur someday.

Oakland Craig potentially forfeiting this fall? Wow! Ponca has already decided to drop. Their JHigh is playing a 8 man schedule this fall and JV is playing some 8 and some 11 man games.

TwinsRRUs said:

This was called very inconsistently the last few years when I watched.

Some officials almost didn't call it at all while others called it a lot. Plenty of VB mother's hollering out "double touch!" when it was not called on the other team after it was already called against their team.

Definitely a big deal rule change.

Click to expand...

Agreed, called very inconsistent from ref to ref. Was the same on the club side. Again, it benefits the less skilled players.

ACICOD said:

The enrollment numbers used for classification in 2026-2027 will not be taken until October 1 of the upcoming school year. So the numbers you have might be close, but they are far from official.

Click to expand...

Great point. Forgot about that. I’ll edit original post

The enrollment numbers used for classification in 2026-2027 will not be taken until October 1 of the upcoming school year. So the numbers you have might be close, but they are far from official.

Mr. Irrelevent said:

It’s more like the double contact by the setter has been eliminated. No more judgement call on those type of hits. College did this 2 years ago.

Click to expand...

This was called very inconsistently the last few years when I watched.

Some officials almost didn't call it at all while others called it a lot. Plenty of VB mother's hollering out "double touch!" when it was not called on the other team after it was already called against their team.

Definitely a big deal rule change.

Alum-Ni said:

I've heard Oakland-Craig may declare 8-man next cycle.

Click to expand...

Edit: I posted enrollment numbers from this past winter. There will be new numbers pulled this fall for the next cycle. These numbers could change a little or a lot (maybe Bridgeport?)


Same here. I have heard rumors that OC is mulling over forfeiting this upcoming season and play a JV schedule due to potential roster rise in the mid teens. Then they’d drop to 8man next cycle.

Here is a look at the enrollment numbers that will be used for classification. I listed what class they have been playing this cycle. The new 8man number will drastically change the look of C2. But as you can see by the old cut line number 47, it looks like it was necessary. If I had to pick with my gut, I’d say all of those who can probably will drop. That means Hershey, Ponca, Valentine, Siperior, Gordon-Rushville, Amherst, Oakland-Craig, Cross County, Aquinas, and Hastings St. Cecicilia all drop. Not sure what some teams like Bridgeport (79), Freeman (64), Summerland (61) and Pender (57) will do. Looks like their exemption is gone and will still be over the new number.

Ogallala 70
Malcolm 68
Bishop Neumann 67
Doniphan-Trumbull 67
Omaha Brownell Talbot 66
Madison 65 (8man)
Ord 65
Freeman 64 (8man)
Gibbon 64
North Bend Central 64
Wood River 64
Fillmore Central 63
Summerland 61 (8man)
Tekamah-Herman 61
Cedar Catholic 60
Norfolk Catholic 60
Wakefield 59 (8man)
Centennial 57 (8man)
Pender 57 (8man)
Yutan 57
Archbishop Bergan 56
——-New 8man line——-
Hershey 55 (11man)
Ponca 55 (11man)
Tri County 55 (8man
Valentine 55 (11man)
West Holt 55 (8man)
Centura 54 (11man)
Crofton 54 (8man)
Thayer Central 54 (8man)
Elkhorn Valley 53 (8man)
Superior 52 (11man)
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 51 (8man)
Gordon-Rushville 50 (11man)
Kimball 49 (8man)
Shelby-Rising City 49 (8man)
Stanton 49 (8man)
Hemingford 48 (8man)
Sandy Creek 48 (8man)
——-Old 8man line——-
Alma 47 (8man)
Amherst 47 (11man)
Hartington-Newcastle 47
Twin River 47
Cedar Bluffs 46
Oakland-Craig 46 (11man)
Heartland 45
Dundy County Stratton 44
Elmwood-Murdock 44
Homer 44
Johnson-Brock 44
Sutton 44
Ainsworth 43
Perkins County 43
Aquinas Catholic 42 (11man)
Cross County 42 (11man)
Howells-Dodge 42
Fullerton 41
North Platte St. Patrick's 41
Ravenna 41
Boyd County 40
East Butler 40
Franklin 40
Morrill 40
Nebraska Christian 40
Palmer 40
Wisner-Pilger 40
Hitchcock County 39
Plainview 39
Arapahoe 38
Elm Creek 38
Hastings St. Cecilia 38 (11man)

northeastNebraska said:

I'd be pretty shocked if they went down to 8 man unless their numbers get really low or if Cattau steps aside years from now.

In my opinion Bergan, Cedar, Norfolk Catholic will stay 11 man. I don't think Aquinas will go 8 man with Mimick in charge.

Hastings St. Cecilia I could see it happening.

Cross County will be interesting. Not sure what their enrollment looks like 5-8 but they just went back to 11 man, would they drop back to 8 again? Seems like they are steadily growing and their location has them in a good spot being in the middle of Osceola, High Plains, and only 15 miles from York.

Click to expand...

Cedar already declared 11 man.

nenebskers said:

With the 8man cutoff raised, will be interesting to see if any schools opt up to C2. Guessing Cedar Catholic will be close, if not under, 55.

Click to expand...

I'd be pretty shocked if they went down to 8 man unless their numbers get really low or if Cattau steps aside years from now.

In my opinion Bergan, Cedar, Norfolk Catholic will stay 11 man. I don't think Aquinas will go 8 man with Mimick in charge.

Hastings St. Cecilia I could see it happening.

Cross County will be interesting. Not sure what their enrollment looks like 5-8 but they just went back to 11 man, would they drop back to 8 again? Seems like they are steadily growing and their location has them in a good spot being in the middle of Osceola, High Plains, and only 15 miles from York.

It's a good job with its proximity to Kearney.

He's stepping away from teaching and his new job doesn't think he'll have the time to keep coaching on the side.

nenebskers said:

With the 8man cutoff raised, will be interesting to see if any schools opt up to C2. Guessing Cedar Catholic will be close, if not under, 55.

Click to expand...

I've heard Oakland-Craig may declare 8-man next cycle.

Mr. Irrelevent said:

It’s more like the double contact by the setter has been eliminated. No more judgement call on those type of hits. College did this 2 years ago.

Click to expand...

That makes sense. Thanks

Alum-Ni said:

So am I interpreting this as in on a second hit if two players hit the ball at the same time, it is considered one hit?

Click to expand...

It’s more like the double contact by the setter has been eliminated. No more judgement call on those type of hits. College did this 2 years ago.

So am I interpreting this as in on a second hit if two players hit the ball at the same time, it is considered one hit?

nenebskers said:

9-4-8c is one of the bigger changes in a while. Gives advantage to less skilled players and teams IMO.

Click to expand...

Just following what the college game does.

9-4-8c is one of the bigger changes in a while. Gives advantage to less skilled players and teams IMO.

With the 8man cutoff raised, will be interesting to see if any schools opt up to C2. Guessing Cedar Catholic will be close, if not under, 55.