A definitive answer to the age-old question of who truly has the best high school football team in the state may actually be settled this year, as the Florida High School Athletic Association announced a new Open Division this past week.
While the format of holding state championship games in seven (now six) classes in the major team sports plus a “Rural” championship remains, the FHSAA has agreed on a new bracket in which the top eight ranked teams across the state and all classifications in the MaxPreps rankings will play in their own tournament.
Under the agreement those eight teams would play a round robin within two four-team pools, to guarantee each team three playoff games with at least one at home. The two pool winners would square off for the Open State Championship.
The Open division would apply to football, girls volleyball, boys and girls basketball, soccer and lacrosse, baseball, softball and flag football.
FHSAA Board of Directors discussion began for an open championship back in 2024, with final approval voted on at the June 9 board meeting. There is no “opt out” option for the Open Division.
“This is an exciting step forward for high school athletics in the state of Florida,” said FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon. “This has been in the works for the past few years, and after Board approval, we are excited to officially share it with everyone and look forward to seeing these teams compete in the Open Division Championships.”
Reaction from Osceola County coaches was both interesting and decidedly mixed.
“Not sure they are not trying to come up with a solution to a problem that really doesn’t exist,” Osceola High football coach Eric Pinellas said. “I think there a conception that the same three or four teams are winning state championships every year and that’s not really the case, nor are the same eight teams going to qualify for the open division every year.
“I can see some positives and negatives both ways, until it really affects your school, I’m not sure the subject is even worth worrying about.”
Pinellas went on to say another recently passed rule will have a lot more to do with the balance of power.
“The state says if you are now home schooled or going to a charter school without sports, you can no longer transfer to a school outside your county of residence to play sports. That to me is a much bigger game changer.”
“The way it is set up, it arguably would give you an overall state champion,” veteran Gateway football coach Marlin Roberts said. “By the same token, it you were ranked eighth for the Open Championship but would have been the number one seed in your classification, which tournament would you rather play in? It’s going to be a lot easier to win a state title as the number one seed in your classification as opposed to being seventh or eighth in the Open class. Also, will this Open division take away any of the prestige for winning a state title in a regular classification?”
Had the new system been in place in previous years, both Osceola High’s boys basketball and girls volleyball teams could have been affected.
“There are too many factors to say for sure, but my initial reaction is I’m not sure it’s a good thing.” Lady Kowboys volleyball coach Carrie Palmi said. “Last year, five of the top teams in the state were in Class 7A, so it probably wouldn’t have mattered much to us, but I’m still a traditionalist. I like the system the way it was.”
Retired Kowboys basketball coach Steve Mason said the Open Division didn’t make a lot of sense to him.
“They keep trying to fix something without tackling the real issue, which is public versus private schools, which have other built-in advantages. For example, they can limit their enrollment to make sure their athletic teams can play in a certain classification. To me the biggest issue has always been private versus public.”
Mason added that the new format could create another problem the NBA currently experiences — the process of tanking.
“You are ranked seventh or eighth towards the end of the regular season and you really don’t want to play in the open classification, but you know you are a lock for regionals. Are those guys going to rest their starters and throw away a game or two to fall out of the top right overall?”
Harmony baseball coach Heath Williams met the news with a shrug of his shoulders.
“At least in baseball, I believe the rankings are fairly accurate so it could determine the best team in the state. One thing for certain – the state isn’t afraid to change formats if they feel it isn’t right. This will be the third different baseball format in three years so they could change it the following year if they feel it isn’t working.”
Paul Strauch, who coached Harmony — a top eight team in the state according to the FHSAA’s rankings in 2026 — to a Final Four in Flag Football this past season, had mixed feelings.
“For teams that have won multiple state championships I could see where an open championship would be appealing,” the veteran coach said. “For others who have never won a state title, I’m not so sure. I think there’s a lot of logistical stuff that could be a nightmare. If you are going to do pool play is it going to be a neutral site over a couple of days or is there a chance you would have to travel to Miami one week and Pensacola the next? Not saying I am opposed to the idea, just think there are a lot of question marks that need answered.”
