In the heart of Ohio, a buzz is building among high school football fans as the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has announced significant changes to the football playoff format for the 2025 season. Starting this fall, the top 12 teams in each region will qualify for the playoffs, marking a return to a more competitive and streamlined postseason.

Gone are the days of 16 teams per region, a format that was in place from 2021 to 2024. Instead, the OHSAA is reverting to a 12-team per region structure, similar to what was implemented briefly in 2020. This change is designed to enhance competition and is based on feedback from member schools who favored a more selective playoff field.

Here’s what you need to know: the top four seeds in each region will earn a coveted first-round bye, giving them a week to rest and prepare for the challenges ahead. Additionally, the first three rounds of the postseason will be hosted by the higher-seeded teams, a shift from the previous format where only the first two rounds were hosted by the higher seeds.

This new setup is a nod to the past, when from 1999 to 2019, only eight schools per region qualified for the playoffs. The expansion to 12 teams in 2020 was a response to a proposal from the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association, and it added an extra week to the postseason. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented season in 2020 where every school was allowed to participate, resulting in positive feedback and a temporary expansion to 16 teams per region from 2021 to 2024.

Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director, reflected on the decision, noting that while more schools experiencing the playoffs was a positive, the feedback from schools indicated a preference for the 12-team format.

The 2025 season kicks off on August 18, with the postseason beginning on October 31. This new format promises to bring more intensity and excitement to the gridiron, as teams will need to be at their best to secure a spot in the playoffs. Buckle up, Ohio high school football fans – the 2025 season is shaping up to be one for the books

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI