News Release – Ohio High School Athletic Association
Executive Director Doug Ute
For Immediate Release – June 22, 2026
Eight Schools Opt Up to OHSAA Division I Football
Movement results in several changes to Division I regional assignments; no changes to Divisions III through VII
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Eight schools have opted up to Division I for the 2026 Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs, which has resulted in a number of shifts to Division I regional assignments that were initially announced on April 23.
All eight schools that opted up to Division I had been initially assigned to Division II. There are no changes to Divisions III through VII. The OHSAA does not move schools up a division to replace schools that opt up to Division I. The changes increase Division I to 80 schools (from 72), while decreasing Division II to 98 schools (from 106).
Five of the schools that opted up to Division I have been assigned to Region 1, including Austintown-Fitch, Cleveland Heights, Elyria, Euclid and Hudson. The remaining three schools that opted up to Division I have been assigned to Region 2, including Clayton Northmont, Dublin Scioto and Toledo St. John’s Jesuit.
Perrysburg and Toledo Whitmer have been reassigned from Region 1 to Region 2. Lebanon, Middletown and Springboro have been have reassigned from Region 3 to Region 4. Upper Arlington has been reassigned from Region 2 to Region 3.
New Division I (regional assignment changes noted above):
New Division II (no regional assignment changes to remaining schools in Division II):
As noted in the initial divisional breakdowns announcement on April 23, school consolidations are anticipated this summer within Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Youngstown City School District, which will result in some schools within those districts being reclassified into higher divisions. The OHSAA annually sets September 10 as the date to collect enrollment data from new schools and schools that have consolidations.
The remaining fall sports divisional breakdowns will be announced later this week, while the winter sports divisional breakdowns will be announced next week.
2026 OHSAA Football Divisional Breakdowns
Division Adjusted Enrollment Number of Teams
I 601 and more 80 as of June 18 (had been 72)
II 356 to 600 98 as of June 18 (had been 106)
III 257 to 355 106
IV 197 to 256 104
V 150 to 195 105
VI 107 to 149 107
VII 106 and less 108
Total Teams 708
2026 OHSAA Football Calendar
Summer Period: May 15 through July 31 (13 practices permitted, plus five days for acclimation)
Practice Begins – August 1
Regular-Season Begins – Week of August 17 (first Friday is August 21)
Regular-Season Ends – Saturday night, October 24
Playoff Qualifiers Announced – Sunday, October 25
Regional First Round – Friday, October 30
Regional Quarterfinals - Friday, November 6
Regional Semifinals – Friday, November 13
Regional Finals – Friday, November 20
State Semifinals – Friday, November 27
State Championships – December 3-5, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton
### OHSAA ###