Ohio High School Football Playoffs: Division III state semifinal Matchups, Predictions, Brackets

The state semifinals of the OHSAA football playoffs are set for Nov. 28, see matchups and predictions for Division III

Toledo Central Catholic football coach Greg Dempsey smiles before the 2022 state championship game. / Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sport

The regionals are now done and we are down to the just four teams in each division of the Ohio high school football playoffs, with the state semifinals set for 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 III First Round Matchups, Predictions, Brackets

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

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

Ohio High School Football Playoffs: Division III Regional final 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 III.

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, with the state semifinals to be held at neutral sites as determined by the OHSAA on Nov. 28.

The state championship games will once again be at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton from Dec. 4-6, with the Division III state championship game on Friday, Dec. 5 at 3:00 p.m.

OHSAA Football Playoffs - Division IV State Semifinal Matchups and Predictions

Toledo Central Catholic (10-4) vs. Cuyahoga Falls CVCA (12-0) at Fostoria Memorial Stadium

Tipp City Tippecanoe (13-0) vs. Columbus Bishop Watterson (12-0) at Mason Tri-Health/Beacon Stadium

Predictions:

CVCA over Toledo Central Catholic
Bishop Watterson over Tippecanoe