South Dakota Changes – Football

2026 South Dakota Changes, Clarifications & Reminders

Current Language: “If it is mutually agreed to cancel a game, no points will be figured. however, if a
forfeiture takes place, it will be treated as a win and a loss with a score of 1-0 recorded (NFHS
Rule).” B. 11, pg. 10 of the Football Handbook
- Add the following to South Dakota Football Playoffs, B. 11: “The team requesting to forfeit will be awarded the minimum number of seed points allowed for a loss according to the currently approved seed points metrics.”
- Add the following as South Dakota Football Playoffs, B. 11: “If multiple teams within a class have opponents forfeit a contest during the same week of the regular season, the SDHSAA may, with the mutual agreement of the non-forfeiting teams, adjust the schedule of the non-forfeiting teams to allow for a contest between these teams. If this occurs, the SDHSAA shall also adjust the schedule of the teams forfeiting to
  create a contest between the forfeiting teams. This contest shall then be scored as a mutual forfeit.”
- Add the following as South Dakota Football Playoffs, B. 12: “If a team forfeits more than one contest during the regular season, that team is disqualified from potential playoff qualification.”
Tiebreaker cleanup language in Handbook (South Dakota Football Playoffs, B. Selection Method, pg. 13)

New Seed Points System for Class 11B and All 9-Man Classes

Seed points to determine postseason seeding will be awarded based upon the opponent’s win percentage as shown in the chart below. Win Percentage = number of varsity wins divided by the number of varsity contests played.

Opponent’s Win Percentage	Points for Win	Points for Loss
.875 – 1.00	51.5	39
.750 – .874	50	37.5
.625 – .749	48.5	36
.500 – .624	47	34.5
.375 – .499	45.5	33
.250 – .374	44	31.5
.125 – .249	42.5	30
.000 – .124	41	28.5

Finanicial Report Profit/Loss
- The finances of each sub-state game will be kept separate. The host schools for all sub-state games are to
  pay all expenses out of the gate receipts, including the percentage to the SDHSAA and the fee and mileage
  for the game officials. The participating schools will each receive 50% of the profit. In the event a loss occurs, the SDHSAA will reimburse the host school for the loss. The maximum amount of reimbursement
  will be either 50% of the mileage paid to the traveling team or 50% of the total loss, whichever is less.
- NEW ADDED LANGUAGE: In the event of a loss, participating schools will share the loss 50/50, minus the reimbursement from the SDHSAA of 50% of the mileage or 50% of the loss, whichever is less.
  - Example = $800 loss, $500 paid in mileage. Home school will receive $250 in reimbursement from the
    SDHSAA, which brings the shared loss from $800 ($400/school) to $550 ($275/school).
    Home school can send $500 in mileage to visiting school and request $275 back or they can subtract $275 out of the $500 for mileage and send the visiting school a check for the net of $225.