The number of Iowa high school state football playoff qualifiers has been cut in half, but the wait for the postseason pairings has been extended.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control announced in June its change to reduce the number of playoff qualifiers from 32 to 16 teams in each of six class, citing player safety and risk minimization as reasons for the revision.

The top two teams in each district of all six classes earn automatic playoff entry, while two “at-large” squads will be selected in Classes 3A, 2A, 1A and A.

Those qualifiers were not named until after press time Friday night.

The IHSAA also announced earlier this fall that it would release the playoff brackets in a new fashion this season, utilizing a live webcast selection show. That ‘Road to the Dome’ football playoff pairings show will be broadcast live online at IHSSN.com at 10 a.m. today.

The IHSSN is also responsible for televising and live-streaming all semifinal and final state football playoff games from the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.