Ohio high school football playoffs 2023: Division II 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 II, 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 II, Region 5
Top Seeds: Archbishop Hoban, Walsh Jesuit, Hudson, Riverside
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 5 Nordonia
First round upset alert: No. 10 Austintown Fitch over No. 7 John Hay
Predicted region winner: Archbishop Hoban
Division II, Region 6
Top Seeds: Avon, Anthony Wayne, Medina Highland, Sylvania Southview
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 5 Olmsted Falls
First round upset alert: No. 10 Fremont Ross over No. 7 Avon Lake
Predicted region winner: Avon
Division II, Region 7
Top Seeds: Massillon, Canal Winchester, Green, Lake
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 5 Northland
First round upset alert: No. 11 Hoover over No. 6 Columbus St. Francis DeSales
Predicted region winner: Massillon
Division II, Region 8
Top Seeds: Anderson, Troy, Withrow, Northmont
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 6 Winton Woods
First round upset alert: No. 9 Kings over No. 8 Loveland
Predicted region winner: Troy
-- Ryan Isley | ryan@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveoh
(Feature photo: Archbishop Hoban defensive players celebrate after making a play against Akron East on September 9, 2023. photo credit: Jeff Harwell)
