A new era for Florida high school football
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has voted to create an Open Division playoff bracket that will pit the state’s eight strongest teams against each other, irrespective of class or size.
Selection will hinge on the final MaxPreps computer rankings compiled after the regular season, ensuring that only the top eight programs earn a spot in the showcase.
The eight qualifiers will be split into two pools — Pool A and Pool B — with seeding determined by their rankings. Pool A will feature the teams placed first, fourth, fifth and eighth, while Pool B will contain the second, third, sixth and seventh seeds.
Semifinal matchups are slated for The Villages, a central Florida venue, before the championship game travels to Miami, bringing the culmination of the season to a historic football market.
A milestone in national high school sports
Florida becomes the third state to adopt an Open Division format for football, following Arizona, which launched its eight‑team bracket in 2019, and California, where state officials determine the finalists.
The move reflects a growing desire to crown an undisputed state champion through a transparent, ranking‑based system, moving beyond traditional classification-based playoffs.
Alongside the football initiative, the FHSAA also approved an Open Division for girls’ flag football, expanding the innovative format to a spring sport and offering similar competitive opportunities for female athletes.
The new structure promises heightened excitement, greater visibility for top programs, and a clear pathway for teams to claim the state title based purely on performance metrics.