The new playoff format will begin with fall sports

By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com

The playoffs for basketball, baseball, soccer, softball and volleyball will look a lot different this fall.

The UIL Legislative Council on Tuesday approved a proposal that will split the playoffs into two divisions per classification, much like the Class 6A football playoffs. The new playoff format goes into effect for the 2024-25 school year.

Under the new rule, the top four teams in each district will make the playoffs. The two schools with the highest enrollments will compete in the Division I playoffs, while the two schools with the smallest enrollment will complete in the Division II playoffs.

For example, the District 26-6A softball playoff teams would have been split with Bowie and Lake Travis going to Division I since they had the highest enrollments, while Dripping Springs and Buda Johnson being in Division II.

The new playoff format will award two state champions per classification.

Under the new playoff format, the number of games will be reduced. For basketball and soccer, the new playoff format eliminates the regional quarterfinal round. For volleyball, baseball and softball, the area round will be eliminated.

There is a chance the state tournaments for each sport could only include state championship games and not the state semifinals, which would be played at a neutral site one week before the championship games.

For baseball and softball, state semifinals could change from a one-game playoff to a best-of-three series, much like the other rounds.

If the state semifinals stayed as part of the state tournament, the number of teams participating would increase to 48 from 24 and the number of games would increase to 36 from 18 for basketball and soccer, and 33 from 18 for softball, baseball and volleyball.

The Class 1A playoff format for volleyball, baseball and softball will not change under this proposal. However, Class 1A basketball will follow the new format.