Divisional Shake-Up Promises Exciting 2025 Ohio High School Football Season

The 2025 high school football season in Ohio is gearing up to be an exciting one, especially for teams in and around Columbus. The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has just announced the divisional breakdowns for the upcoming season, and there are some significant changes to note.

First off, a total of 706 schools across the state will be participating in 11-man football, with the regular season kicking off the week of August 18. This year’s divisions have been determined based on factors such as male student enrollment and the OHSAA’s competitive balance formula, which ensures that schools are matched against opponents of similar competitive levels.

In Central Ohio, several teams are experiencing changes in their divisions. For instance, the Badin Rams are moving back to Division III after a stint in Division II last season, due to enrollment changes. Purcell Marian is stepping up to Division V from Division VI, thanks to competitive balance considerations. Meanwhile, Cincinnati Country Day is dropping down to Division VII following a decrease in enrollment.

Locally, Winton Woods is making a significant jump, transitioning up to Division I from Division II. La Salle, however, will remain in Division II for another season. Indian Hill and CHCA will stay put in Division IV, despite having the option to compete in a lower division.

These changes promise to shake up the dynamics of local rivalries and competitions, adding an extra layer of excitement to the season. The stability and shifts in divisions ensure that teams will face new challenges and opportunities, keeping the competition fresh and engaging.

Aside from the divisional changes, the region’s top athletes had a chance to showcase their skills at the 2025 Under Armour Next Football Camp Series held at Pickerington High School North. This camp provided a platform for players to hone their on-field skills and compete against other top athletes. Four athletes from the Class of 2026 earned invitations to the 2026 Under Armour Next All-America Game, including LB Cincere Johnson from Glenville and LB Chris “CJ” Sanna from Olentangy.

As the season approaches, fans in Columbus and across Ohio are eagerly anticipating the kickoff, ready to support their local teams through the ups and downs of the new divisional alignments. With fresh matchups and renewed rivalries, the 2025 high school football season is set to be one for the books.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is your high School Football News for Columbus Ohio podcast.
The twenty twenty five high school football season in Ohio
is gearing up to be an exciting one, especially for
teams in and around Columbus. The Ohio High School Athletic
Association OSA has just announced the divisional breakdowns for the
upcoming season, and there are some significant changes to note.

(00:23):
First off, a total of seven hundred and six schools
across the state will be participating in eleven man football,
with the regular season kicking off the week of August eighteen.
This year's divisions have been determined based on factors such
as male student enrollment and the ohsaa's competitive balance formula,
which ensures that schools are matched against opponents of similar

(00:46):
competitive levels. In Central Ohio, several teams are experiencing changes
in their divisions. For instance, the bat and Rams are
moving back to Division three after a stint in Division
two last season due to enrollment change. Purcell Marian is
stepping up to Division five from Division six thanks to
competitive balance considerations. Meanwhile, Cincinnati Country Day is dropping down

(01:10):
to Division seven following a decrease in enrollment. Locally, Winton
Woods is making a significant jump transitioning up to Division
one from Division two. LaSalle, however, will remain in Division
two for another season. Indian Hill and CHCA will stay
put in Division four despite having the option to compete

(01:30):
in a lower division. These changes promise to shake up
the dynamics of local rivalries and competitions, adding an extra
layer of excitement to the season. The stability in shifts
in divisions ensure that teams will face new challenges and opportunities,
keeping the competition fresh and engaging. Aside from the divisional changes,

(01:51):
the region's top athletes had a chance to showcase their
skills at the twenty twenty five Under Armour Next Football
Camp series held at Pickerington High School. This camp provided
a platform for players to hone their on field skills
and compete against other top athletes. Four athletes from the
class of twenty twenty six earned invitations to the twenty

(02:12):
twenty six under Armour Next All America Game, including LB
Sincere Johnson from Glenville and LB Chris c. J. Sanna
from all in Tangy. As the season approaches, fans in
Columbus and across Ohio are eagerly anticipating the kickoff ready
to support their local teams through the ups and downs
of the new divisional alignments. With fresh matchups and renewed rivalries,

(02:37):
the twoenty twenty five high school football season is set
to be won for the books. And that is it.
We are headed to the locker room for today. Hit
the subscribe button and never miss out. Thanks for listening.