Unofficial (but pretty much official) playoff football matchups for area teams

It isn’t officially official until the Ohio High School Athletic Association releases its official playoff matchups, but the writing is on the wall.

According to joeeitel.com, the website the OHSAA uses to determine playoff matchups by using computer points systems, the area will have seven teams playing playoff football in 2026.

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The Ontario Warriors (9-1) earned the No. 2 see in the Division III Region 10 playoffs and will have a first-round bye. They will face the winner of No. 7 Tiffin Columbian (7-3) and No. 10 Midview (5-5) at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the regional quarterfinals.

The Shelby Whippets (10-0) earned the No. 2 seed in the Division IV Region 14 playoffs and will also have a first-round bye. The Whippets will host the winner of No. 7 Firelands (6-4) and No. 10 Rossford (5-5) at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the regional quarterfinals.

The Clear Fork Colts (8-2) earned the No. 4 seed in the Division IV Region 14 playoffs and was awarded a first-round bye. The Colts will host the winner of No. 5 Otsego (7-3) and No. 12 Van Wert (5-5) at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the regional quarterfinals.

The Lucas Cubs (5-5) earned the No. 10 seed in the Division VII Region 27 playoffs and will travel to Beaver Eastern (7-3) for a Week 11 matchup. This is the 13th straight season the Cubs will play in the playoffs. A win would send the Cubs to No. 3 Toronto (9-1) for a regional quarterfinal matchup.

The Ashland Arrows earned the No. 12 seed in the Division II Region 7 playoffs and will travel to No. 5 Canal Winchester (7-3) for a first-round game. The winner will then play at No. 4 New Albany (8-2) at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the regional quarterfinals.

The Hillsdale Falcons (9-1) earned the No. 4 seed in the Division VI Region 21 playoffs and earned a first-round bye. They will host the winner of No. 5 Mineral Ridge (9-1) and No. 12 Wickliffe (8-2) at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the regional quarterfinals.

The Fredericktown Freddies (8-2) punched their ticket to the postseason earning the No. 8 overall seed in the Division VI Region 23 playoffs and will host No. 9 Newark Catholic (7-3) for a first-round matchup. The winner travels to No. 1 Hannibal River (10-0) in the regional quarterfinals.

In 8-man football, a non-OHSAA sanctioned sport, the Plymouth Big Red (5-5) will travel to Fremont St. Joseph (9-1) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 for a state semifinal matchup. The winner plays the winner of Sandusky St. Mary’s Central Catholic (10-0) and Chalker (5-5) on Nov. 7 at Carey High School for the 8-man football state championship.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Unofficial (but pretty much official) playoff football matchups for area teams