June 20, 2025 • 2 mins
In the heart of Ohio, high school football is gearing up for some exciting changes, and the 2025 season is shaping up to be one for the books. The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has just announced a slew of significant modifications to the football playoff format, and these updates are set to revamp the competitive landscape.
First off, the number of teams qualifying for the playoffs in each region is being trimmed down from 16 to 12. This change means that only the top 12 teams in each region will get a shot at the championship, making every game count even more. But here’s the twist: the top four seeds in each region will earn a coveted first-round bye, giving them a well-deserved break before diving into the intense playoff action[3][4].
Another key change is in the hosting of playoff games. Unlike previous years where only the first two rounds were hosted by the higher-seeded teams, the 2025 format will see the higher-seeded teams hosting the first three rounds. This shift is expected to add an extra layer of home-field advantage, potentially influencing the outcomes of these crucial games[3].
To put this into perspective, Ohio high school football has seen its fair share of format adjustments. From 1999 to 2019, only eight schools per region made the cut for the playoffs. In 2020, the OHSAA expanded this to 12 qualifiers per region, adding an extra week to the postseason. Following positive feedback and the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number was further increased to 16 qualifiers from 2021 to 2024. Now, the OHSAA is refining this system to ensure a more competitive and balanced playoff experience[3].
These changes are not just about numbers; they reflect a broader effort to enhance the high school football experience in Ohio. The feedback from schools over the past few years has been overwhelmingly positive, with lower seeds occasionally pulling off upset victories. OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute emphasized the joy of seeing more schools participate and the excitement of unexpected wins, which has driven these latest adjustments[3].
As the 2025 season kicks off, fans in Columbus and across Ohio can look forward to a more streamlined, competitive, and thrilling playoff run. With top teams earning byes and home-field advantages playing a larger role, every game will be a battle for supremacy. Get ready for the gridiron action to heat up this fall
First off, the number of teams qualifying for the playoffs in each region is being trimmed down from 16 to 12. This change means that only the top 12 teams in each region will get a shot at the championship, making every game count even more. But here’s the twist: the top four seeds in each region will earn a coveted first-round bye, giving them a well-deserved break before diving into the intense playoff action[3][4].
Another key change is in the hosting of playoff games. Unlike previous years where only the first two rounds were hosted by the higher-seeded teams, the 2025 format will see the higher-seeded teams hosting the first three rounds. This shift is expected to add an extra layer of home-field advantage, potentially influencing the outcomes of these crucial games[3].
To put this into perspective, Ohio high school football has seen its fair share of format adjustments. From 1999 to 2019, only eight schools per region made the cut for the playoffs. In 2020, the OHSAA expanded this to 12 qualifiers per region, adding an extra week to the postseason. Following positive feedback and the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number was further increased to 16 qualifiers from 2021 to 2024. Now, the OHSAA is refining this system to ensure a more competitive and balanced playoff experience[3].
These changes are not just about numbers; they reflect a broader effort to enhance the high school football experience in Ohio. The feedback from schools over the past few years has been overwhelmingly positive, with lower seeds occasionally pulling off upset victories. OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute emphasized the joy of seeing more schools participate and the excitement of unexpected wins, which has driven these latest adjustments[3].
As the 2025 season kicks off, fans in Columbus and across Ohio can look forward to a more streamlined, competitive, and thrilling playoff run. With top teams earning byes and home-field advantages playing a larger role, every game will be a battle for supremacy. Get ready for the gridiron action to heat up this fall
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is your high school football news for Columbus Ohio
podcast in the heart of Ohio. High school football is
gearing up for some exciting changes, and the twenty twenty
five season is shaping up to be won for the books.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association OHSAA has just announced
a slew of significant modifications to the football playoff format,
(00:22):
and these updates are set to revamp the competitive landscape.
First off, the number of teams qualifying for the playoffs
in each region is being trimmed down from sixteen to twelve.
This change means that only the top twelve teams in
each region will get a shot at the championship, making
every game count even more. But here's the twist. The
(00:43):
top four seeds in each region will earn a coveted
first round by giving them a well deserved break before
diving into the intense playoff action. Four. Another key change
is in the hosting of playoff games. Unlike previous years,
where only the first two rounds were hosted by the
higher seeded teams, the twenty twenty five format will see
(01:05):
the higher seeded teams hosting the first three rounds. This
shift is expected to add an extra layer of home
field advantage, potentially influencing the outcomes of these crucial games.
To put this into perspective, Ohio high school football has
seen its fair share of format adjustments. From nineteen ninety
nine to twenty nineteen, only eight schools per region made
(01:29):
the cut for the playoffs. In twenty twenty, the OHSAA
expanded this to twelve qualifiers per region, adding an extra
week to the postseason. Following positive feedback and the unique
circumstances of the COVID nineteen pandemic, the number was further
increased to sixteen qualifiers from twenty twenty one to twenty
twenty four. Now, the OHSAA is refining this system to
(01:53):
ensure a more competitive and balanced playoff experience. These changes
are not just about numbers. They reflect a broader effort
to enhance the high school football experience in Ohio. The
feedback from schools over the past few years has been
overwhelmingly positive, with lower seeds occasionally pulling off upset victories.
(02:13):
OSHA Executive director Doug Yute emphasize the joy of seeing
more schools participate and the excitement of unexpected wins, which
has driven these latest adjustments. As the twenty twenty five
season kicks off, fans in Columbus and across Ohio can
look forward to a more streamlined, competitive and thrilling playoff run.
(02:34):
With top teams earning buys and home field advantages playing
a larger role. Every game will be a battle for supremacy.
Get ready for the gridiron action to heat up this fall.
And that is it. We are headed to the locker
room for today. Hit the subscribe button and never miss out.
Thanks for listening.
This is your high school football news for Columbus Ohio
podcast in the heart of Ohio. High school football is
gearing up for some exciting changes, and the twenty twenty
five season is shaping up to be won for the books.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association OHSAA has just announced
a slew of significant modifications to the football playoff format,
(00:22):
and these updates are set to revamp the competitive landscape.
First off, the number of teams qualifying for the playoffs
in each region is being trimmed down from sixteen to twelve.
This change means that only the top twelve teams in
each region will get a shot at the championship, making
every game count even more. But here's the twist. The
(00:43):
top four seeds in each region will earn a coveted
first round by giving them a well deserved break before
diving into the intense playoff action. Four. Another key change
is in the hosting of playoff games. Unlike previous years,
where only the first two rounds were hosted by the
higher seeded teams, the twenty twenty five format will see
(01:05):
the higher seeded teams hosting the first three rounds. This
shift is expected to add an extra layer of home
field advantage, potentially influencing the outcomes of these crucial games.
To put this into perspective, Ohio high school football has
seen its fair share of format adjustments. From nineteen ninety
nine to twenty nineteen, only eight schools per region made
(01:29):
the cut for the playoffs. In twenty twenty, the OHSAA
expanded this to twelve qualifiers per region, adding an extra
week to the postseason. Following positive feedback and the unique
circumstances of the COVID nineteen pandemic, the number was further
increased to sixteen qualifiers from twenty twenty one to twenty
twenty four. Now, the OHSAA is refining this system to
(01:53):
ensure a more competitive and balanced playoff experience. These changes
are not just about numbers. They reflect a broader effort
to enhance the high school football experience in Ohio. The
feedback from schools over the past few years has been
overwhelmingly positive, with lower seeds occasionally pulling off upset victories.
(02:13):
OSHA Executive director Doug Yute emphasize the joy of seeing
more schools participate and the excitement of unexpected wins, which
has driven these latest adjustments. As the twenty twenty five
season kicks off, fans in Columbus and across Ohio can
look forward to a more streamlined, competitive and thrilling playoff run.
(02:34):
With top teams earning buys and home field advantages playing
a larger role. Every game will be a battle for supremacy.
Get ready for the gridiron action to heat up this fall.
And that is it. We are headed to the locker
room for today. Hit the subscribe button and never miss out.
Thanks for listening.
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