The Ivy Division, a football‑only league created by the Super Football Conference, has grown to 18 teams for its seventh season, making it the largest high school football league in the country.
A New Lease on Life for Struggling Programs
When the league debuted in 2020 amid the pandemic, it was designed to give struggling programs a chance to play a full schedule, develop talent and gain experience before returning to traditional competition.
Executive director Tom Mullahey of Clifton said he is pleased to see schools using the Ivy Division as a rebuilding tool, noting that the league was born out of the need to keep participation numbers up and excitement alive.
Coaches such as Tom Mandile of Cliffside Park/Ridgefield stress that the focus is on the kids, preparing them for each game and giving them a chance to compete at a higher level.
The schedule is more competitive than many mainstream options, yet teams remain ineligible for the NJSIAA sectional playoffs, a trade‑off that many programs accept as they work toward future success.
Schools must meet criteria around participation numbers and performance to join, and the league’s three geographic divisions help match teams of similar competitive balance.
Recent success stories include Glen Ridge and Dumont, which have returned to mainstream play, while Indian Hills and Fair Lawn are the latest hopefuls looking to follow suit.
Mullahey acknowledges that some schools may stay in the Ivy Division indefinitely, depending on demographics, but the league continues to provide a valuable platform for growth.