Ohio high school football playoffs 2023: Division I brackets, predictions, upset alerts
As the end of October nears, it is time for the Ohio high school football postseason to begin.
All seven divisions will begin the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 27 with all games being played on Friday nights throughout the state semifinals (unless circumstances force a game to be moved to Saturday).
>> Ohio high school football playoff brackets 2023 <<
The first two rounds will be played at the home site of the higher seed, with all games in later rounds at a neutral site to be determined by the OHSAA. The state semifinal pairings will be announced following the regional finals.
The seven OHSAA football State championship games will be played in Canton at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium from Nov. 30-Dec. 2.
But before anyone can make it to Canton, they must first get through their region.
Here, we will take a look at the top four seeds in each region of Division I, along with a team to watch outside the top four, an upset alert for the first round and ultimately, a prediction on who will win each region.
Stay with SBLive Ohio for all of the matchups, game times and scores throughout the 2023 OHSAA football playoffs.
Division I, Region 1
Top Seeds: St. Edward, Cleveland Heights, Wadsworth, Canton McKinley
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 6 Medina
First round upset alert: No. 12 St. Ignatius over No. 5 Mentor
Predicted region winner: St. Edward
Division I, Region 2
Top Seeds: Olentangy, Olentangy Berlin, Findlay, Centerville
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 12 Springfield
First round upset alert: No. 12 Springfield over No. 5 Wayne
Predicted region winner: Olentangy Berlin
Division I, Region 3
Top Seeds: Gahanna Lincoln, Hilliard Bradley, Pickerington North, Upper Arlington
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 7 Westerville North
First round upset alert: No. 11 Groveport Madison over No. 6 Hilliard Darby
Predicted region winner: Gahanna Lincoln
Division I, Region 4
Top Seeds: Milford, Princeton, Lakota West, St. Xavier
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 5 Archbishop Moeller
First round upset alert: No. 10 Sycamore over No. 7 Hamilton
Predicted region winner: Moeller
-- Ryan Isley | ryan@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveoh
(Feature photo: St. Edward enters the playing field before the 2022 Division I state championship game. photo credit: Jeff Harwell)
