Honestly, walking into Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium this past December felt different. Usually, by the time the state finals roll around in Canton, the air is thick with the same old "private vs. public" debates or complaints about the bracket being too bloated. But the Ohio state hs football playoffs just went through a massive facelift.
People were worried. The OHSAA decided to trim the field from 16 teams per region down to 12. Coaches were split. Some loved the idea of a first-round bye for the top four seeds, while others feared the "rust factor."
Guess what? The rust never showed up.
The Bye Week Gamble Paid Off
For years, the 16-team format felt like a bit of a participation trophy for the 1-9 teams that somehow snuck in. In 2025, that changed. By giving the top four seeds a week off, the OHSAA basically told everyone: "Earn your rest."
It worked.
Take a look at Lewis Center Olentangy Orange. They were the No. 1 seed in Division I, Region 3. They took that bye, rested their stars, and then absolutely tore through the bracket. They didn't just win; they dominated. They finished a perfect 15-0, capped off by a 28-14 win over Cincinnati St. Xavier in the final.
Levi Davis, their quarterback and an Ohio University commit, looked fresh. He didn't look like a kid who had just played 14 straight weeks of smash-mouth football. He had his legs under him, rushing for 93 yards and a score while throwing for two more. If they’d played a Week 11 game against a 16-seed, would he have been that sharp in December? Maybe. But the extra week of recovery certainly didn't hurt.
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Northeast Ohio Still Owns the Trophy Case
If you're from the 216 or the 330, you're probably feeling pretty smug right now. Northeast Ohio basically treated the state championships like a local invitational.
Avon is becoming a problem for the rest of the state. And by "problem," I mean they are a machine. They took down Cincinnati Anderson 37-20 to secure back-to-back Division II titles. Blake Elder, their senior QB, tied a state record with four touchdown passes in that game.
Then you have Cleveland Glenville. Ted Ginn Sr. has that program at a level where "rebuilding" isn't a word they recognize. They blew the doors off Shelby 45-7. Jaquan Gibson's 92-yard punt return was the kind of play that makes you realize some of these kids are just playing a different game than everyone else. It was the longest punt return in state final history.
And we can't talk about dominance without mentioning Kirtland. Tiger LaVerde won his eighth state title. Read that again. Eight. They beat Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 41-6. John Silvestro ran for 255 yards. Kirtland makes high school football look like a choreographed drill.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Ohio State HS Football Playoffs
The biggest misconception is that "the best teams always win." In a single-elimination tournament, that's a lie. One bad snap, one flu outbreak in the locker room, or one soggy field can ruin a season.
This year, the "home-field through the first three rounds" rule change was a massive factor. Before, higher seeds only hosted for two weeks. In 2025, if you were a top seed, you stayed in your own locker room until the regional finals.
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That matters more than people think.
- Routine: Sleeping in your own bed.
- Crowds: Having 5,000 neighbors screaming for you.
- The Field: Knowing exactly where the soft spots are on your own grass.
For a team like Columbus Bishop Watterson, that consistency was huge. They rolled through the playoffs and shut out Toledo Central Catholic 30-0 in the Division III final. They played like a team that was never rattled, mostly because they spent the first month of the postseason in familiar territory.
The Surprising Storylines
Most people expected the blue bloods to cruise. And while many did, the Division I title game was a bit of a shocker for the traditionalists.
Olentangy Orange winning its first-ever state title in its first-ever trip to the finals? That doesn't happen often in Division I. Usually, that trophy is reserved for the St. Edwards, Ignatiuses, or St. Xaviers of the world.
St. Xavier's path was a grind. They had to beat Elder 42-34 in a regional final at Paycor Stadium in front of over 22,000 people. That's a pro-level atmosphere. By the time they hit the turf in Canton to face Orange, you have to wonder if they had anything left in the tank. They fought hard, but Orange's defense, led by Zane Konczak (who had a massive interception on the third play of the game), was just too much.
2025 State Champions at a Glance:
- Division I: Olentangy Orange (def. St. Xavier 28-14)
- Division II: Avon (def. Cincinnati Anderson 37-20)
- Division III: Bishop Watterson (def. Toledo Central Catholic 30-0)
- Division IV: Glenville (def. Shelby 45-7)
- Division V: Liberty Center (def. Wheelersburg 35-3)
- Division VI: Kirtland (def. Hopewell-Loudon 41-6)
- Division VII: St. Henry (def. Jeromesville Hillsdale 37-3)
Looking Ahead: What This Means for 2026
If you’re a coach or a player looking at the Ohio state hs football playoffs for next season, the blueprint has changed. The "win now" mentality of the regular season is more intense because of those top-four seeds.
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Scheduling matters more than ever. You can’t just play cupcakes and hope to coast. The Harbin points system is brutal, and if you want that bye week, you have to beat quality opponents.
We saw teams like Middletown and Troy benefit from high seeds this year, proving that the parity in Ohio football is actually growing, even if the trophies keep heading back to the same few regions.
How to Prepare for Next Season
If you're a fan or a parent trying to keep up, start tracking the computer ratings earlier. The OHSAA releases these weekly starting around Week 4 or 5.
- Watch the "Bubble" Teams: With only 12 teams making it per region now, the fight for those #11 and #12 spots in Week 10 is going to be a bloodbath.
- Focus on Strength of Schedule: If your local team is 8-0 but playing winless opponents, they might still be lower in the rankings than a 6-2 team playing a gauntlet.
- Plan for Canton Early: The atmosphere at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium is unmatched. Tickets usually go on sale in November. If you wait until the week of the finals, the best seats are gone.
The 2025 season proved that shrinking the field didn't "ruin" the playoffs. It made the regular season more meaningful and the postseason more elite. Ohio remains the gold standard for high school football for a reason.
Whether it's the legendary coaching of Tiger LaVerde or the emerging powerhouse at Olentangy Orange, the road to Canton is still the hardest path in sports.
Get your calendars out. August will be here before you know it.
Next Steps for Fans: Check the final 2025 Harbin ratings on the OHSAA website to see how close your team was to a bye. Then, look at the 2026 schedules—many schools are already looking to add "Point Cow" opponents to ensure they don't get left out of the new 12-team format.