COLUMBUS – The governing body for high school sports in Ohio has released the new regional assignments for the upcoming football playoffs.
Under the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s plan for carrying out a season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, all schools that field a team for the regular season are eligible for postseason play.
Acting on the recommendations of Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health, the OHSAA shortened the football season to six regular-season games.
The association says 664 schools have opted in for the for the playoffs. In a normal season, 224 schools qualify, with eight schools from each of 28 regions earning a bid through a computer ratings system that has been abandoned for this year, communications director Tim Stried said.
Originally, Stried says there were 709 schools that indicated they planned to contend for a playoff bid but the pandemic caused some schools to start their seasons later or end early. Based on the recommendation from Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health,
On September 29 and 30, head coaches in each region will vote to seed the teams in their region and the OHSAA will place teams on brackets on Oct. 1. Playoff games will be held on Friday and Saturday nights beginning Oct. 9-10 with many of the higher-seeded teams being granted first-round byes in most regions, Stried said.
Divisions, I, II, III and VII will play on Friday nights and Divisions IV, V and VI will play on Saturday nights.
The top teams on the brackets of specific games will have the first opportunity to host games throughout the regional playoffs.
The OHSAA will determine sites for the state semifinals and state championships.
If a team is unable to play a playoff game on the assigned day according to the bracket, it forfeits and its opponent will advance.
Schools eliminated from the playoffs or that choose not to enter have the option to schedule additional regular season contests through Nov. 14. A maximum of 10 regular season contests is allowed.