OHSAA to go to 12 playoff teams per Region

[fball43]

https://highlandcountypress.com/sports- ... #gsc.tab=0

Top 4 seeds get bye weeks. Seeds 5-12 will play each other round 1. It will be 5v12, 6v11, 7v10, 8v9. Looks like it will start this season. I am personally a huge fan of this change. What does everyone else think?

[NYBuckeye96]

I think it's a good thing. I remember some of those lower seeds didn't want to face off against the top seeds in the first round because they knew it would be ugly.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

Good start. Now bring back the Sat playoff game.

[RheaRipley]

It’s definitely a start. I favor 4 or no more than 8.

[OVC]

See, I used to be anti- 16 team playoff, but the more I thought about it, it meant teams could beef up the schedule a little more (like Wheelersburg last year) and still have a margin of error to make the playoffs. I do think 12 is a good cut off, but as you seen with the college football playoffs, the bye week can create trap games.

[RollCoal]

Glad to see this. It still gives teams that play a tougher schedule the opportunity to make the playoffs. And will help eliminate some ugly first round games.

[teach1coach2]

A little surprised no one has brought up round 2.
#1 hosts winner of #5-12 winner
#2 hosts winner of #6-11 winner
#3 hosts winner of #7-10 winner
#4 hosts winner of #8-9 winner

Really hoping "my team" finishes 4th, 8th or 9th. Best chance of getting to week 13.

I'm guessing it is this way to try to reduce blowouts that are more likely with #1 vs #8-9 winner instead of the way OHSAA went. But not fair to #1 and #2 seed.

[RJ71C71R]

A little surprised no one has brought up round 2.
#1 hosts winner of #5-12 winner
#2 hosts winner of #6-11 winner
#3 hosts winner of #7-10 winner
#4 hosts winner of #8-9 winner

Really hoping "my team" finishes 4th, 8th or 9th. Best chance of getting to week 13.

I'm guessing it is this way to try to reduce blowouts that are more likely with #1 vs #8-9 winner instead of the way OHSAA went. But not fair to #1 and #2 seed.

Yeah I seen the way they seeded and I was like this is very unusual, as the 1 and 2 seeds get screwed lol. I can hear the higher seeded teams whining already lol

[CuckooNest]

Have to give credit where it’s due. It was never going to go back to 8 teams, but this is much better than 16. Acknowledging the occasional outlier, if you’re not in the top 12 you have no business in the playoffs.

So if I read that right, the higher seed hosts the first three rounds? Home field advantage weeks 12-13 is going to be huge.

[gobucs20]

Good start. Now bring back the Sat playoff game.

With the o h s a a being about absolutely nothing but money it will never happen. They don't want to compete with college football mainly ohio state.

[91raider97bobcat]

A little surprised no one has brought up round 2.
#1 hosts winner of #5-12 winner
#2 hosts winner of #6-11 winner
#3 hosts winner of #7-10 winner
#4 hosts winner of #8-9 winner

Really hoping "my team" finishes 4th, 8th or 9th. Best chance of getting to week 13.

I'm guessing it is this way to try to reduce blowouts that are more likely with #1 vs #8-9 winner instead of the way OHSAA went. But not fair to #1 and #2 seed.

There was an error in the original release. It is traditional bracketing.
1 vs. 8/9
2 vs/ 7/10
3 vs. 6/11
4 vs. 5/12

[goUK]

16 is a lot, but now we are back to teams scheduling to get to 7 or 8 wins instead of the toughest possible schedule. Nothing wrong with either but 6-4 vs a difficult schedule and you are possibly out.

[smurray]

Way Way better than what it's been with 16.
Top 4 seeds with an extra week to rest/heal up.

8 proved to be the best and worked very well...

[Rolltanks]

16 was bad and imo 12 is horrible would love to see it back to 4

[BuckeyeBlood]

8 is the sweet spot imo. 4 wasn’t enough, 16 was too many, 12 is better but 8 was perfect imo. Anyone complaining about not having 16 didn’t witness These schools down 55-0 at halftime, kids getting hurt and so on against the top seeds. There were a few upsets, my own Alma mater Portsmouth as a 15 took down 2 seed Fairland. That Portsmouth team got better later in the year, but that’s why you should be ready in August. If you can’t make the top 12 you probably don’t deserve to make it anyways.

[RBH23]

8 is the sweet spot imo. 4 wasn’t enough, 16 was too many, 12 is better but 8 was perfect imo. Anyone complaining about not having 16 didn’t witness These schools down 55-0 at halftime, kids getting hurt and so on against the top seeds. There were a few upsets, my own Alma mater Portsmouth as a 15 took down 2 seed Fairland. That Portsmouth team got better later in the year, but that’s why you should be ready in August. If you can’t make the top 12 you probably don’t deserve to make it anyways.

Well said!!

[MoCoSportsGuy02]

Post by gobucs20 » Fri Jun 13, 2025 11:14 am

LICKING COUNTY FAN wrote: Thu Jun 12, 2025 5:11 pm
Good start. Now bring back the Sat playoff game.
With the o h s a a being about absolutely nothing but money it will never happen. They don't want to compete with college football mainly ohio state.

I was at a meeting where OHSAA football Administrator Beau Rugg spoke. He was asked about moving some games to Saturday. He said the football coaches in the state were the ones pushing for Friday games. For most schools, they keep the kids on the same routine/schedule as the regular season. The coaches were also concerned about one less day of preparation for the next week if they won.

[Pirate1745]

The 12 team format might be the sweet spot for the playoffs. There were often really good teams left out with the 8 team format especially in a competitive region. We all know the 16 team format wasn’t good because there were sub.500 teams that some area schools like to schedule making the playoffs.