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Mississippi Athletic Conference Teams to Start Playoffs

Four teams from the Mississippi Athletic Conference head on the road to begin the IHSAA football playoffs on October 30, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Football

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Four teams from the Mississippi Athletic Conference travel for their opening round IHSAA state football playoff games on October 30, 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Four Mississippi Athletic Conference football teams are set to compete in the IHSAA state playoffs starting October 30, 2026. Each of these teams will play their opening round matches on the road as part of 16-team brackets.

Why it matters

The playoff field is determined by RPI rankings, which dictate the path for schools competing in the Classes 3A, 4A, and 5A brackets. Success in these opening rounds is necessary for teams to keep their seasons alive.

Bettendorf and Davenport Assumption enter with 6-3 records, while Pleasant Valley and Davenport North hold 7-2 records. The playoff field features 16 teams in each of the 3A, 4A, and 5A classifications.

The players

Bettendorf

This high school football program enters the state tournament with a 6-3 record.

Pleasant Valley

This school holds a 7-2 record and is one of the teams representing the Mississippi Athletic Conference in the playoffs.

Davenport North

The team enters the postseason with a 7-2 record.

Davenport Assumption

This program enters the playoffs with a 6-3 record and a history of facing West Delaware.

West Delaware

The program holds a 7-2 record and is scheduled to host Assumption in the first round.

The details

Teams such as Assumption will travel to face West Delaware, while others head to Des Moines and Johnston for their opening contests. Playoff positions were determined using RPI rankings to populate the 16-team brackets for the tournament.

Timeline

  1. 2016: Assumption and West Delaware met for the first time.

  2. 2018: Dowling defeated Bettendorf 41-34.

  3. 2023: West Delaware defeated Assumption 58-45.

  4. October 24, 2026: Assumption lost 21-7 to Mount Vernon.

  5. October 30, 2026: First-round football playoff games occur.

Season Trajectory

The use of the IHSAA RPI rankings system to select the 16-team playoff field ensures that qualification is based on competitive performance throughout the season. These opening road games determine which teams maintain their position in the bracket toward the state finals.

All four Mississippi Athletic Conference teams must secure road victories on October 30 to keep their championship hopes alive. Bracket success determines if teams like Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley eventually meet at the UNI-Dome in three weeks.

The takeaway

Teams must adapt quickly to the pressure of road environments in the opening round of the state tournament. Success in the postseason requires maintaining the consistency shown during the regular season to advance through the bracket.

Further reading

For more on the state tournament, visit Iowa Football.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Dispatch Argus.

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