Florida high school sports will look significantly different beginning with the 2026-27 school year after the Florida High School Athletic Association approved the final structure and selection criteria for its new Open Division postseason format.
The Open Division, designed to bring together the state’s top-ranked programs regardless of classification, will debut in football and girls volleyball before expanding across several other sports. Under the approved model, the top eight teams in each participating sport will be separated from their traditional classifications and placed into a standalone championship bracket, creating a true statewide competition among Florida’s elite programs.
According to the FHSAA, the Open Division will be utilized in football, boys and girls basketball, girls volleyball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, lacrosse, and girls flag football. The move represents one of the most significant playoff format changes in Florida high school sports history and mirrors systems already used in states such as California.
For football, the selection process will rely entirely on MaxPreps rankings to determine the eight qualifying teams, eliminating any human committee involvement. Once selected, teams will be divided into two four-team pools. Pool A will consist of the No. 1, 4, 5, and 8 seeds, while Pool B will include the No. 2, 3, 6, and 7 seeds. Quarterfinal games will be hosted by the lower-seeded teams, allowing those schools to retain game revenue.
The new format could create marquee matchups earlier in the postseason between many of Florida’s perennial powers, including programs such as St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders, Miami Northwestern Bulls, Miami Central Rockets, and Chaminade-Madonna Lions.
Based on final MaxPreps rankings from the 2025 season, Miami Northwestern, Miami Central, Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, St. Thomas Aquinas, Chaminade-Madonna, Jacksonville Raines, Armwood, and Buchholz would have qualified for the inaugural football Open Division field.
The changes are especially relevant for South Florida, which has long been considered the epicenter of elite high school football talent. Broward and Miami-Dade counties routinely produce nationally ranked teams and major college prospects, making the Open Division a likely showcase for many of the state’s highest-profile programs.
FHSAA officials also discussed plans for the Open Division football state championship game to be played in Miami, further strengthening South Florida’s connection to the new format. Semifinal contests could potentially be hosted at facilities in The Villages, according to discussions during the board meeting.
The Open Division concept has generated strong interest from coaches, players, and fans who have long sought a postseason format that would determine a clear statewide champion among Florida’s top teams. Supporters believe the system will create more compelling matchups and elevate the profile of Florida high school athletics on a national stage.
While football and girls volleyball are among the first sports to implement the Open Division structure, athletes in baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, and flag football will eventually have the opportunity to compete for an Open Division title as well. The change adds another championship path while maintaining the traditional classification-based playoffs for schools that do not qualify for the elite eight-team field.
As Florida prepares for the 2026-27 school year, the Open Division era promises to reshape postseason competition and create some of the most anticipated playoff matchups the state has ever seen.
Photo by Jeff Klein/Power Play Photo
