Ohio High School Football Playoffs: Division I Regional final Matchups, Predictions, Brackets - Nov. 17, 2025

The regional finals of the OHSAA football playoffs are set for Nov. 21, see matchups and predictions for Division I

St. Edward takes the field before a football game in 2023, led by head coach Tom Lombardo. / Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sports

And just like that, we are down to the final eight teams in each divisions of the Ohio high school football, as the top two teams in each region compete in the regional finals on Friday, Nov. 21.

With that in mind, we at High School on SI Ohio have decided to post the matchups for each division in each round, while also making predictions for each and every game.

Ohio High School Football Playoffs 2025: Division I First Round Matchups, Predictions, Brackets

Ohio High School Football Playoffs 2025: Division I Second Round Matchups, Predictions, Brackets

Ohio High School Football Playoffs: Division I Regional Semifinal Matchups, Predictions, Brackets

As a reminder, the OHSAA has once again changed the format for the playoffs.

The change that was made by the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the postseason this year is a reduction in teams making the playoffs and we posted a story at the midway point of the season as to what the playoffs would look like at that point in Division I.

Starting in 2021, the OHSAA went to a format that saw the top 16 teams in each region qualify for postseason play. But starting in 2025, only 12 will make the playoffs with the top four seeds in each region earning a bye in the first round.

Also, the first three rounds of the postseason will be hosted by the higher seeded team instead of the first two rounds. 

With the top four teams earning a bye, the first-round games will be the following:

No. 12 at No. 5
No. 11 at No. 6
No. 10 at No. 7
No. 9 at No. 8

In round two, the No. 1 seed will host the winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9, the No. 2 seed will host the winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10, the No. 3 seed will host the winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11, and the No. 4 seed will host the winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12. 

As has been the case over the last several years, all playoff games until the state championships will be played on Friday night.

The playoffs began on Oct. 31, the regional finals are on Nov. 21 and the state semifinals are on Nov. 28. The regional finals and state semifinals will all be held at neutral sites as determined by the OHSAA.

The state championship games will once again be at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton from Dec. 4-6, with the Division I state championship game on Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

OHSAA Football Playoffs - Division I Regional final Matchups and Predictions, Brackets

Region 1

No. 1 Lakewood St. Edward (10-2) vs. No. 2 Mentor (12-0) at Parma Byers Field at Robert Boulton Stadium

Region 2

No. 1 Middletown (10-2) vs. No. 6 Huber Heights Wayne (9-4) at Trotwood-Madison High School Attorney Michael L. Wright SportsPlex

Region 3

No. 1 Lewis Center Olentangy Orange (12-0) vs. No. 2 Pickerington Central (11-1) at Columbus Historic Crew Stadium

Region 4

No. 1 Cincinnati Elder (12-0) vs. No. 3 Cincinnati St. Xavier (9-2) at Mason High School Tri-Health/Beacon Stadium

Predictions:

 St. Edward over Mentor
Wayne over Middletown
Olentangy Orange over Pickerington Central
Elder over St. Xavier

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