Iowa high schools cancel football seasons amid participation concerns

Eight Iowa high schools have canceled their varsity football seasons due to low player participation and athlete safety concerns. The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) identifies the affected schools as Davis County, Central Decatur, New London, Exira-EHK, Mormon Trail, Rockford, Siouxland Christian, and Lone Tree.

Some programs are attempting to mitigate the loss of football by transitioning to junior varsity schedules or seeking cooperative arrangements with other schools. For instance, Davis County is moving to a junior varsity-only schedule, and Siouxland Christian is pursuing a partnership with Remsen St. Mary’s.

As the season begins, preseason rankings have been released across various classes. In Class 5A, Dowling Catholic enters the season as the defending champion. In Class 4A, Cedar Rapids Xavier is ranked highly following an unbeaten 2025 season. Other notable mentions include Clear Lake in Class 3A and Kuemper Catholic in Class 2A.