Eight schools opt up to Division I in football

COLUMBUS — Eight schools have opted up to Division I for the upcoming 2026 OHSAA football playoffs. All five — Austintown Fitch, Cleveland Heights, Elyria, Euclid and Hudson — will compete in Region 1, which has been won by St. Edward for the last five seasons. The other three to move up are Clayton Northmont, Dublin Scioto and Toledo St. John's Jesuit, which will compete in Region 2. The OHSAA announced the opt-ups on Monday, noting that there will not be any adjustments to Divisions III through VII from the moves. The state's governing body for high school sports has reassigned Division I teams to new regions, including moving Perrysburg and Toledo Whitmer from Region 1 to Region 2. The eight schools that are moving up had initially been slotted in Division II when the OHSAA posted updated enrollment figures and competitive balance multipliers in April. With Monday's update, there will be 80 schools competing for the playoffs in Division I. Division II decreases to 98 schools, but it is expected to be loaded at the top with state-title contenders. In addition to two-time defending Division II state champion Avon, the team it beat the last two years in Cincinnati Anderson is expected to bring back most of its team. That includes All-Ohio quarterback Owen Scalf, running back Jordan Davis and receiver Tysin Weaver, along with edge rusher Antwoine Wiggins and cornerback Ace Alston, who are among the state's top college prospects. Sunbury Big Walnut, which lost to Anderson in the state semifinals, added five-star Ohio State recruit Jamier Brown to join Michigan State-bound quarterback Eli Stumpf and All-Ohio co-Offensive Player of the Year Nolan Buirley. Then there's Massillon, which lost to Big Walnut in the regional finals but returns Michigan State recruit Savior Owens at running back, Ohio State-bound Deontay Malone and a slew of additional college prospects. The Tigers bolstered their roster this spring with the transfers of Brayton and Brydon Feister from Akron Hoban, plus Euclid's DaShun Williams. This is the third year the OHSAA has permitted schools to opt up to Division I in most sports. The eight to opt up this year in football is a notable increase after only one school, Westerville Central, made the move in 2024. No schools moved up last year for football when given the opportunity. Additionally, the OHSAA reaffirmed Monday that it plans to gather new enrollment data Sept. 10 from Glenville and Youngstown after those schools' consolidations within their districts. In Cleveland, Collinwood closed and will merge with Glenville, while Chaney and East will consolidate in Youngstown. The OHSAA could adjust all of its divisions again based on where it slots Glenville and Youngstown, but director of media relations Tim Stried said last month no decision had been made on that front. The OHSAA plans to announce divisional breakdowns for fall sports other than football later this week and winter sports next week. Football teams are currently permitted to have summer activities, including 7-on-7 competitions through July 31. Official practices begin Aug. 1 with the regular season beginning on Aug. 21 for area teams. -----------------------------------2026 OHSAA football calendarMay 15-July 31: Summer period (13 practices permitted, plus five days for acclimation)Aug. 1: Practice beginsAug. 17-22: Regular season beginsOct. 24: Regular season endsOct. 25: Playoff qualifiers announcedOct. 30: Playoffs begin (first round)Nov. 6: Playoffs (second round)Nov. 13: Regional semifinalsNov. 20: Regional finalsNov. 27: State semifinalsDec. 3-5: Stat championships (Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton)