US EditionOHSAA Reduces Football Playoff Field to 12 Teams per Region
- On June 12, 2025, the OHSAA board approved a change to the football playoff format, reducing the number of teams advancing from each of the 28 regions across seven divisions from sixteen to twelve.
- This change followed years of expanded qualifiers since 2021, when 16 teams per region were allowed after a prior 12-team proposal and increased feedback favoring fewer qualifiers.
- Recent playoff formats led to widespread criticism due to uneven matchups, with seeds winning by large margins and many low-win teams qualifying under the 16-team system.
- OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute noted that in recent years, a greater number of schools have participated in the football postseason, including some lower-ranked teams achieving victories, but recent feedback indicates a narrow majority support reducing qualifiers to 12 teams per region.
- The new format, effective in 2025, reduces first-round games by 56 and includes first-round byes for the top four seeds, aiming to balance competitiveness and postseason value.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Circleville Herald
OHSAA Announces Changes to Football Playoff Format
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Several significant changes highlight the 2025 Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoff regulations that were approved Thursday by the OHSAA Board of Directors. The number of qualifiers per region will be 12 instead of 16, with…
Football playoffs reduced from 16 teams to 12 per region
The high school football playoffs will have a different setup moving forward. On Thursday, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced that the playoffs will shrink from 16 teams to 12 in each region. The change came after a vote by the OHSAA Board of Directors. Under the new format, the playoffs will have 12 teams advance in each region and the top-four seeds will earn a first-round bye. Additionally, the first three rounds will be held…
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