OHSAA announces changes to football playoff format

COLUMBUS — Several significant changes highlight the 2025 Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoff regulations that were approved on June 12 by the OHSAA Board of Directors. The number of qualifiers per region will be 12 instead of 16, with the top four seeds in each region earning a first-round bye. In addition, the first three rounds of the postseason will be hosted by the higher seeded team instead of the first two rounds. From 1947-71, the Associated Press poll determined the state champion in three classes (A-AA-AAA), while the United Press International also put out a state poll from 1953-71. The first-ever playoff games were contested in 1972, which was just a four-team format in the three classes. That included Norwalk winning the Class AA championship in 1974. In 1980, the OHSAA changed from three classes to five divisions with four regions in each division. The playoffs expanded to a regional title game for an eight-team field per division. Further expansion took place in 1985, as the top four teams in each region made the playoffs, doubling the number of qualifying schools to 80. In 1994 a sixth division was created, adding 16 more schools to the playoffs. Finally, in 1999 the number of qualifying schools was again doubled with eight teams in each region, for a a total of 192 playoff qualifiers. The playoffs remained a five-week tournament through 2019, which saw St. Paul reach five state championship games in 1997, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. The Flyers won the Div. VI state title in 2009. In early 2020, the OHSAA approved a proposal from the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association to expand to 12 qualifiers per region, which added a week to the postseason. Shortly after that, the COVID pandemic greatly affected high school sports, and the OHSAA allowed every school to participate in the 2020 playoffs since schools played a varying number of games. The positive feedback from schools that season prompted the OHSAA to expand from 12 to 16 qualifiers per region from 2021-24. "For the last few years, we have been pleased that more schools experienced the football playoffs, and there were some lower seeds that won playoff games," said Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director. "But over the last year, we have received feedback from our schools, with a slight majority favoring 12 qualifiers per region, and we had many conversations with stakeholders around the state that led us to make this proposal to our board," Ute added. "We appreciate the feedback we received and will continue to gather comments moving forward. Like we do with all of our sports, we want to make sure the student-athletes are our No. 1 priority." With the top four seeds in each region receiving a first-round bye, the first-round parings include the No. 12 seed playing at the No. 5 seed, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 and No. 8. In the second round, the No. 1 seed will host the winner of No. 12 vs. No. 5, the No. 2 seed will host the winner of No. 11 vs. No. 6, the No. 3 seed will host the winner of No. 10 vs. No. 7, and the No. 4 seed will host the winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9. There are no changes to the 2025 divisional breakdowns and regional assignments announced by the OHSAA on May 1. ----------------------------- 2025 OHSAA Football CalendarSummer period: May 12-July 31 (13 practices and five days for acclimation)Practice begins: Aug. 1Regular season begins: week of Aug. 18 (first Friday is Aug. 22)Regular season ends: Oct. 25Playoff qualifiers announced: Oct. 26Regional first round: Oct. 31Regional quarterfinals: Nov. 7Regional semifinals: Nov. 14Regional championships (at neutral sites): Nov. 21State semifinals (at neutral sites): Nov. 28State championships: Dec. 4-6, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton