28 teams advance to OHSAA state semifinal matchups
PUBLISHED Nov 22, 2025, 1:40 AM ET
Read, Watch or Listen
Canton, Ohio — The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced state semifinal football pairings following regional finals on Friday, Nov. 21, with 28 teams advancing to semifinals on Friday, Nov. 28 at sites announced Nov. 23. State championships will be held Dec. 4–6 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The playoffs began Oct. 31 with 336 teams qualifying under a revised format advancing top 12 teams per region. Quarterfinal results advancing notable programs included Walsh Jesuit, Avon, Big Walnut, Cincinnati St. Xavier, St. Edward, CVCA, Toledo Central Catholic and Columbus Watterson. Based on 5 articles reviewed and supporting research.
By Emily Rhodes | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- Playoffs began Oct. 31, 2025, with 336 teams qualifying under a top-12 regional format.
- Regional finals were contested on Friday, Nov. 21, producing 28 teams advancing to semifinals.
- OHSAA announced neutral-site semifinal locations on Sunday, Nov. 23.
- State semifinal games were scheduled for Friday, Nov. 28 at neutral sites.
- State championship games are scheduled Dec. 4–6 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
- Articles Published:
- 5
- Right Leaning:
- 0
- Left Leaning:
- 0
- Neutral:
- 5
- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%
High school programs advancing to semifinals received increased visibility, potential revenue, and recruitment exposure through postseason competition.
Teams eliminated in regional finals lost opportunities for state-title contention, postseason exposure, and additional competitive revenue.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
No left-leaning sources found for this story.
From Center
28 teams advance to OHSAA state semifinal matchups
Canton Repository Massillon Independent Cincinnati The Repository ClevelandFrom Right
No right-leaning sources found for this story.
Comments