No level of sports seems safe from sweeping changes in the name of modernization, and Florida high schools have become the most recent victim.
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) board unanimously voted 10-0 in favor of an “Open Division” playoff format, according to The Gainesville Sun. The sports included in the Open Division are football, flag football, lacrosse, softball, baseball, soccer, basketball, and girls volleyball.
The new playoff format places the top eight teams in the state in a tournament to crown an undisputed state champion. Under the new format, a 6A school with an enrollment of 2,500 students could play a 1A school with an enrollment of fewer than 500 students — with both of their seasons on the line, Stateline Sports Network reported.
In football, the top eight teams will be selected by MaxPreps’ computer-generated ranking of every team in Florida at the end of the regular season, according to MaxPreps. (Related: NBA Shifting To Artificial Intelligence In Refereeing, Commissioner Adam Silver Says)
“Florida has always had the best athletes in the country, but now we’re putting our elite teams, the quality of those matchups with some of those teams that can be seen on a national level,” FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon told The Gainesville Sun.
A new era is coming to Florida high school sports. 👀
The FHSAA has approved Open Division playoffs for football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and flag football. 📈
Full story ⬇️https://t.co/sBJ5hliHYM pic.twitter.com/XOQ3aVQXzO
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) June 9, 2026
Florida will classify football teams from rural to 6A throughout the regular season, and teams will still compete in their classification-based postseason tournament unless they are selected as one of the top eight teams in the state, according to Stateline Sports Network.
Teams ranked 1, 4, 5, and 8 will be placed in Pool A, while teams 2, 3, 6, and 7 will be placed in Pool B. The winners of each pool will play for the Open Division state championship.
The new format will be in place for the 2026–2027 season.