| OHSAA Class & Divisions |
|---|
| Home | Opponents | Venues | Playoffs, etc | Alumni |
|---|
| Years | Classes / Divisions |
Number of Divisions |
Number of Regions per Division |
Total Number of Regions |
Teams per Region |
Teams per Division |
Total Number of Teams |
Number of Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre 1957 | A, B | |||||||
| 1957 - 1969 | AA, A | |||||||
| 1970 - 1971 | AAA, AA, A | |||||||
| 1972 - 1979 | AAA, AA, A | 3 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 2 |
| 1980 - 1984 | Div I - V | 5 | 4 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 40 | 3 |
| 1985 - 1993 | Div I - V | 5 | 4 | 20 | 4 | 16 | 80 | 4 |
| 1994 - 1998 | Div I - VI | 6 | 4 | 24 | 4 | 16 | 96 | 4 |
| 1999 - 2012 | Div I - VI | 6 | 4 | 24 | 8 | 32 | 192 | 5 |
| 2013 - 2015 | Div I - VII | 7 | Note (1) | 26 | Note (1) | 32 | 224 | 5 |
| 2016 - 2019 | Div I - VII | 7 | 4 | 28 | 8 | 32 | 224 | 5 |
| 2020 - 2020 | Div I - VII | 7 | 4 | 28 | Note (2) | 650 | 7 | |
| 2021 - | Div I - VII | 7 | 4 | 28 | 16 | 64 | 448 | 6 |
(1) With the 2013 expansion, Division I was split into 2 regions, instead of 4, with each region having 16 teams qualify instead of 8. Still the same total of 32 teams per division.
This experiment lasted only 3 years, and in 2016 Division I was returned to 4 Regions.
(2) In a May 2020 press release, OHSAA revealed plans to increase the playoff field from 8 teams per region to 12, beginning in 2021. In doing so they were extending the tournament
from 5 weeks to 6, with the top 4 seeds in each region now earning a first round bye.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 regular season was reduced to 6 games. As a result the playoffs were opened to all schools that chose to opt in. The acceptance rate was
over 98%, as 650 schools were included in the tournament. In Division I, 64 schools participated, which worked out to a 6 week postseason. The other Divisions (II - VII) had more
schools, anywhere from 92 to 100, so their schedules required 7 weeks to crown a champion. The top seeds in these lower divisions were awarded first round byes, although the nuber
of teams with byes varied by region. For instance, in a region where there were 25 participants, the top 7 schools received byes. The remaining 18 schools played first round games,
leaving 16 teams for round 2.
Building off of the success of the 2020 postseason, OHSAA announced in April of 2021 that they were adjusting the previously planned (May 2020) format. The 6 week duration remained
unchanged, however, the top 4 seeds per region would not receive the first round byes afterall. Instead OHSAA added 4 more teams per region, doubling the overall field to 448 in
comparison to the 224 which spanned from 2013 to 2019.
This site is not currently affiliated in any official capacity with WHS
All data herein was compiled by Jim Becker, WHS '81
Comments, corrections, contributions?
feedback@WayneWarriorsFootballHistory.com
Or, post feedback to our Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/WayneWarriorsFootballHistory/