The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association finds itself in a familiar predicament: Bishop Gorman’s football program is too dominant, and no one can agree on a fix.

After a short-lived overhaul that would have forced the Gaels into a 10-team open division with nine league games, the NIAA Board of Control reversed course in November following threatened legal action from the Archdiocese of Las Vegas. The reversal has left the state with a four-team open division tournament that almost certainly includes Bishop Gorman, a system that many believe is unsustainable.

“It’s becoming clear that the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association has a Bishop Gorman problem when it comes to football,” said Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The problem has reached a boiling point, with some schools threatening to withdraw from the NIAA.

The Gaels attract top talent from across the country, and their backups could likely win a state title. This leaves other programs in the open division with no realistic path to a championship, potentially incentivizing teams to tank to avoid the top four.

Several solutions have been proposed over the years. One idea is to create a two-team open division where the loser of the title game gets a first-round bye back into the 5A playoffs. Another, from colleague Alex Wright, suggests Gorman become an affiliate member and play any schedule, with the open division champion facing the Gaels in a bowl game for an ultimate state title. A long-standing pipe dream is for Gorman to join the Trinity League in Southern California, though logistical issues persist.

“It’s time to start thinking outside the box on this one,” Hill wrote. The NIAA must find a lasting compromise to avoid repeating this cycle every few years.