Texas high school teams will have home-field advantage in first-round playoff games starting in the 2027-28 school year after the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Legislative Council approved the rule Oct. 19.

The change covers all team sports. It applies across all UIL conferences, according to the UIL's announcement. Prosper, Rock Hill, Walnut Grove and Celina programs that qualify for the postseason could host their opening playoff game under the new rule.

The council met Sunday, Oct. 18, and Monday, Oct. 19, in Austin to act on a slate of proposed rule changes.

Shot clock coming to basketball

The council also approved a 35-second shot clock for varsity boys and girls basketball, rolled out in three phases:

  • Conference 5A and 6A: no earlier than 2028-29
  • Conference 3A and 4A: no earlier than 2030-31
  • Conference 1A and 2A: no earlier than 2032-33

All four area high schools fall in the first wave. Prosper, Rock Hill and Walnut Grove compete in 6A, and Celina moved to 5A in the UIL's 2026 realignment, which NBC DFW reported. The UIL said each stage will be monitored and the schedule may be modified.

Girls flag football pilot

The Legislative Council approved the development of a girls flag football pilot program with no more than two classifications, starting no earlier than 2028-29. The UIL said it will gather additional rules and guidelines for the pilot and bring them to future council meetings.

Other changes

The council approved several additional measures:

  • Conference 4A girls cross country will increase to 5,000 meters beginning in 2028-29.
  • Junior high cross country meets may now start in the morning.
  • Conferences 1A and 2A may participate in Conference 4A team tennis beginning next school year. Conference 3A schools already had that option.
  • Linear football broadcasts on Friday nights during the regular season will be allowed when both schools agree.

What happens next

All rule changes passed by the Legislative Council require approval from the Texas Commissioner of Education before they take effect. The home-field advantage rule is set for the 2027-28 school year, and the shot clock and girls flag football pilot target 2028-29 at the earliest.