UIL Texas high school basketball format change: What are split division playoffs?
The Texas high school basketball playoffs are here, and the University Interscholastic League is utilizing a new split-division format.
How will this change the basketball postseason?
The split division format introduces division I and division II brackets for every classification. Similar to the previous format, the top four teams in a district earn a spot in the postseason.
Those four teams are separated into the division I and division II brackets based on enrollment.
For example, a school can earn its district top seed in the division I bracket with a second-place finish if the district champion has a smaller enrollment than two other playoff teams. Split division does not separate schools based on enrollment but separates the “big schools” and “small schools” from the four playoff teams.
If all four playoff teams have a higher average enrollment, the two smaller schools will still play in the division II bracket. The district competition that makes the playoffs, depending on enrollment, can change whether schools are bound for division I or division II.
With two brackets per classification, there are double the state championships up for grabs. In the 2023-24 season, the UIL crowned six state champions in both boys and girls basketball. Now, there will be 12.
With twice as many state championship games, changes were made to the state format at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Instead of having state semifinals and finals, there are now only championship games.
In general, winning a state championship is objectively easier than in years past. Due to the split, championship teams have to win six playoff games compared to seven. In addition, the division split may separate the states’ best competition, which means there is no guarantee that Texas’ best teams will face off.
Although Division I is Texas basketball’s largest classification, it doesn’t necessarily include the state’s top teams.
For example, the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ top four ranked girls’ basketball teams (Converse Judson, Boswell, Cypress Springs, Lancaster) are all in the division II bracket.
Having twice as many titles will affect the history books, which could be a hard adjustment for longtime fans. Although the path is technically easier, it’s incredibly difficult to defeat six high-quality basketball teams in a single elimination basketball game.
The addition of state titles creates more opportunities for high school athletes to call themselves state champions.
The girl’s bi-district round starts on Monday, Feb. 10, while the boys start one week later on Monday, Feb. 11.
At the Alamodome, girls basketball state championships will be from Feb. 27 to March 1. The boys basketball title games will start on March 6.
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