A guide to how the 2020 FHSAA Football State Series will work

After the FHSAA posted updated regions for the 2020 football season, there has been a lot of questions on how things will work this season after the FHSAA said that everyone that opted in would make the playoff field.

Well, I have some answers on how it will work for each region — pretty much call this a guide to how the 2020 FHSAA Football State Series will work.

First, the FHSAA has set the following dates for play-in games for the following classifications:

1A-4A: November 6
5A-8A: November 13

However, there is a small issue for Classes 5A-8A that needs to be addressed that was buried in the FHSAA documents when they released information regarding fall sports last month: If there are more than 16 teams in a region, November 6 will be used as the play-in date for those teams that are selected for those seeds that will need to play on November 6. This case will only apply to a few regions in this situation as you will see below.

Regional Quarterfinals will take place starting on November 13 for Classes 1A-4 and November 20 for Classes 5A-8A.

And one final note… all seeds will be selected via a blind draw by the FHSAA for this season and the home teams will be determined by a coin flip by the FHSAA as well.

MORE: Updated FHSAA classifications and regions for the 2020 season

CLASS 8A

Region 1
No. Teams: 11
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 3 – Play-In Games: No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 6 vs. No. 11

Only the first five seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

Region 2
No. Teams: 13
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 5 – Play-In Games: No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 6 vs. No. 11

Only the first three seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

Region 3
No. Teams: 13
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 5 – Play-In Games: No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 6 vs. No. 11

Only the first three seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

Region 4
No. Teams: 11
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 3 – Play-In Games: No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 6 vs. No. 11

Only the first five seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

CLASS 7A

Region 1
No. Teams: 13
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 5 – Play-In Games: No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 6 vs. No. 11

Only the first three seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

Region 2
No. Teams: 15
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 7 – Play-In Games: No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 2 vs. No. 15; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 vs. No. 14; No. 6 vs. No. 11

Only the first seed that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

Region 3
No. Teams: 16
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 8 – Play-In Games: No. 1 vs. No. 16; No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 2 vs. No. 15; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 vs. No. 14; No. 6 vs. No. 11

No seed will be guaranteed advancement to the regional quarterfinals.

Region 4
No. Teams: 11
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 3 – Play-In Games: No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 6 vs. No. 11

Only the first five seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

CLASS 6A

Region 1
No. Teams: 18
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 2 – Play-In Games: No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 15 vs. No. 18
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 8 – Play-In Games: No. 1 vs. Winner of No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 2 vs. Winner of No. 15 vs. No. 18; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 vs. No. 14; No. 6 vs. No. 11

No seed will be guaranteed advancement to the regional quarterfinals.

Region 2
No. Teams: 19
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 3 – Play-In Games: No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 15 vs. No. 18; No. 14 vs. No. 19
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 8 – Play-In Games: No. 1 vs. Winner of No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 2 vs. Winner of No. 15 vs. No. 18; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 vs. Winner of No. 14 vs. No. 19; No. 6 vs. No. 11

No seed will be guaranteed advancement to the regional quarterfinals.

Region 3
No. Teams: 19
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 3 – Play-In Games: No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 15 vs. No. 18; No. 14 vs. No. 19
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 8 – Play-In Games: No. 1 vs. Winner of No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 2 vs. Winner of No. 15 vs. No. 18; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 vs. Winner of No. 14 vs. No. 19; No. 6 vs. No. 11

No seed will be guaranteed advancement to the regional quarterfinals.

Region 4
No. Teams: 18
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 2 – Play-In Games: No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 15 vs. No. 18
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 8 – Play-In Games: No. 1 vs. Winner of No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 2 vs. Winner of No. 15 vs. No. 18; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 vs. No. 14; No. 6 vs. No. 11

No seed will be guaranteed advancement to the regional quarterfinals.

CLASS 5A

Region 1
No. Teams: 18
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 2 – Play-In Games: No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 15 vs. No. 18
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 8 – Play-In Games: No. 1 vs. Winner of No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 2 vs. Winner of No. 15 vs. No. 18; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 vs. No. 14; No. 6 vs. No. 11

No seed will be guaranteed advancement to the regional quarterfinals.

Region 2
No. Teams: 17
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 1 – Play-In Game: No. 16 vs. No. 17
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 8 – Play-In Games: No. 1 vs. Winner of No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 2 vs. No. 15; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 vs. No. 14; No. 6 vs. No. 11

No seed will be guaranteed advancement to the regional quarterfinals.

Region 3
No. Teams: 16
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 8 – Play-In Games: No. 1 vs. No. 16; No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 2 vs. No. 15; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 vs. No. 14; No. 6 vs. No. 11

No seed will be guaranteed advancement to the regional quarterfinals.

Region 4
No. Teams: 18
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 2 – Play-In Games: No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 15 vs. No. 18
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 13: 8 – Play-In Games: No. 1 vs. Winner of No. 16 vs. No. 17; No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 4 vs. No. 13; No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 2 vs. Winner of No. 15 vs. No. 18; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 vs. No. 14; No. 6 vs. No. 11

No seed will be guaranteed advancement to the regional quarterfinals.

CLASS 4A

Region 1
No. Teams: 7
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None

No team will have to play a Play-In Game in this region to advance to the regional quarterfinals. Instead, the No. 1 seed that is drawn out will automatically advance to the regional semifinals.

Region 2
No. Teams: 8
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None

No team will have to play a Play-In Game in this region to advance to the regional quarterfinals. All eight teams will get seeded from the regional quarterfinals.

Region 3
No. Teams: 8
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None

No team will have to play a Play-In Game in this region to advance to the regional quarterfinals. All eight teams will get seeded from the regional quarterfinals.

Region 4
No. Teams: 8
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None

No team will have to play a Play-In Game in this region to advance to the regional quarterfinals. All eight teams will get seeded from the regional quarterfinals.

CLASS 3A

Region 1
No. Teams: 10
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 2 – Play-In Games: No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 7 vs. No. 10

Only the first six seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

Region 2
No. Teams: 9
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 1 – Play-In Game: No. 8 vs. No. 9

Only the first seven seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

Region 3
No. Teams: 10
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 2 – Play-In Games: No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 7 vs. No. 10

Only the first six seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

Region 4
No. Teams: 11
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 3 – Play-In Games: No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 6 vs. No. 10

Only the first five seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

CLASS 2A

Region 1
No. Teams: 9
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 1 – Play-In Game: No. 8 vs. No. 9

Only the first seven seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

Region 2
No. Teams: 8
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None

No team will have to play a Play-In Game in this region to advance to the regional quarterfinals. All eight teams will get seeded from the regional quarterfinals.

Region 3
No. Teams: 8
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None

No team will have to play a Play-In Game in this region to advance to the regional quarterfinals. All eight teams will get seeded from the regional quarterfinals.

Region 2
No. Teams: 10
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 2 – Play-In Games: No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 7 vs. No. 10

Only the first six seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

CLASS 1A

Region 1
No. Teams: 8
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: None

No team will have to play a Play-In Game in this region to advance to the regional quarterfinals. All eight teams will get seeded from the regional quarterfinals.

Region 2
No. Teams: 9
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 1 – Play-In Game: No. 8 vs. No. 9

Only the first seven seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

Region 3
No. Teams: 9
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 1 – Play-In Game: No. 8 vs. No. 9

Only the first seven seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.

Region 4
No. Teams: 9
No. Play-in Games – Nov. 6: 1 – Play-In Game: No. 8 vs. No. 9

Only the first seven seeds that will be drawn out will be guaranteed advancement into the regional quarterfinals.