COLUMBUS — Eight schools have opted up to the Division I designation for the 2026 Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs, causing several shifts to Division I regional assignments that were initially announced April 23, according to a press release from the OHSAA.
Those changes do not include any Clermont County schools.
Schools making the change to Division I include Austintown-Fitch, Cleveland Heights, Elyria, Euclid, Hudson, Clayton Northmont, Dublin Scioto and Toledo St. John’s Jesuit.
Five schools are now in Region 1, including Austintown-Fitch, Cleveland Heights, Elyria, Euclid and Hudson. The other three schools — Northmont, Dublin Scioto and Toledo St. John’s Jesuit — are in Region 2.
Those moves result in regional changes for existing Division I teams.
Perrysburg and Toledo Whitmer moved from Region 1 to Region 2. Eastern Cincinnati Conference school Lebanon, as well as Middletown and Springboro, shifted from Region 2 to Region 4. Upper Arlington moved from Region 2 to Region 3.
The eight schools that opted up to Division I were first assigned to Division II. There are no changes to Divisions III through VII, according to the press release. In addition, the OHSAA stated it does not move schools up to replace those that opt up to Division I. These changes increase Division I to 80 schools, which includes Clermont County schools Milford and West Clermont, up from 72. Division II drops from 106 to 98 schools.
The 2026 football divisions and regions are posted at: ohsaa.org/Sports-Tournaments/Football/Football-2026
As noted in the original announcement on April 23, school consolidations are expected this summer in the Cleveland Metropolitan and Youngstown City School Districts. Some schools in those districts will be reclassified into higher divisions. The OHSAA has set Sept. 10 as the date to collect enrollment data from new and consolidated schools each year.