2025 SSAA Teams & Schedule Questions

[LAZ]

Does anyone have a complete list of 11 man SSAA teams and their conferences/divisions? Also, it appears they may begin their regular season one week earlier while everyone else is playing kick off classics. Can anyone in the know verify this?

[gbrown977]

The regular season is weeks 0-10, and the playoffs begin week 11.

There are 50 teams in the private school/charter school division. This season, the top two brackets have 16 teams instead of 8, so the playoffs have been extended. North and South will be out soon, as there have been additions, and one team is not fielding a football team now. 

The Atlantic League has 20 schools, growing from 4 to 20 in its fourth season. It will also be a top 16 bracket, with 8 from the North and 8 from the South.

8-man has 29 teams in 6 districts, with 16 teams making the state championship bracket.

99 teams competing in the SSAA for the 2025-2026 season.

[nolebull813]

I love the SSAA simply for creating a place for teams who have zero percent chance to win a championship in the FHSAA playoffs. But the amount of teams they allow in their own playoffs is kinda cringy. It waters down the competition that is already at the lowest for its level. 
 

I hope more teams from the FHSAA move over soon. 

[gbrown977]

Only the top bracket is the State Championship bracket of each classification (11-man, 8-man, and Atlantic League). The other brackets allow teams and student athletes to compete against teams having the same type of season (good or bad). They aren't winning a state championship, but getting an opportunity to compete in a bracket against like-minded schools that are equal to them for that season. The model works. 

[nolebull813]

12 hours ago, gbrown977 said:

Only the top bracket is the State Championship bracket of each classification (11-man, 8-man, and Atlantic League). The other brackets allow teams and student athletes to compete against teams having the same type of season (good or bad). They aren't winning a state championship, but getting an opportunity to compete in a bracket against like-minded schools that are equal to them for that season. The model works. 

I just look at it from a standpoint of not being able to grow if you don’t raise the difficulty level up a little bit. If it works then it works. I’m glad the SSAA exists. It creates a competitive advantage for every team in the state. We all know the D1 transfer factories will win something every year, but not all 600 teams in the state can sustain that. It’s good to have options for the rest which seems like it will keep young kids interested in high school football 

[gbrown977]

In 2020-2021, there were 57 teams between 8-man and 11-man, and now there will be 99. It's growing. A private/charter school association that has started a public school division, which doesn't accept everyone who calls, is still getting close to doubling in those few years.

[nolebull813]

1 hour ago, gbrown977 said:

In 2020-2021, there were 57 teams between 8-man and 11-man, and now there will be 99. It's growing. A private/charter school association that has started a public school division, which doesn't accept everyone who calls, is still getting close to doubling in those few years.

Love it. My hope is it eventually grows to half the teams in the state. Approximately 250-300

[Hwy17]

On 6/18/2025 at 9:30 PM, nolebull813 said:

I love the SSAA simply for creating a place for teams who have zero percent chance to win a championship in the FHSAA playoffs. But the amount of teams they allow in their own playoffs is kinda cringy. It waters down the competition that is already at the lowest for its level. 
 

I hope more teams from the FHSAA move over soon. 

 

On 6/19/2025 at 11:58 AM, nolebull813 said:

Love it. My hope is it eventually grows to half the teams in the state. Approximately 250-300

I hope it grows too. To about 500 members! Some of the SSAA teams were or would be playoff teams in FHSAA.  You are correct, they have zero chance of winning a championship in FHSAA.  Some are figured that out. About 400 or so need to come to the same conclusion. 

[nolebull813]

51 minutes ago, Hwy17 said:

 

I hope it grows too. To about 500 members! Some of the SSAA teams were or would be playoff teams in FHSAA.  You are correct, they have zero chance of winning a championship in FHSAA.  Some are figured that out. About 400 or so need to come to the same conclusion. 

Agree. Everything could be avoided if they did what i said. Consolidate classes down to 4, and force teams who have a set number of transfers participate in an open division. Come up with a number. 5 transfers per year. Whatever number seems right. That way the all star transfer factories can duke it out for one title, and the other 4 playoff brackets will at least be a respectable. 
 

If they create the open division with 7-8 classes next year, every bracket is gonna be beyond embarrassing and make Florida the mockery of the country. You will have glorified 2nd round losers being called state champions 

[Hwy17]

4 hours ago, nolebull813 said:

Agree. Everything could be avoided if they did what i said. Consolidate classes down to 4, and force teams who have a set number of transfers participate in an open division. Come up with a number. 5 transfers per year. Whatever number seems right. That way the all star transfer factories can duke it out for one title, and the other 4 playoff brackets will at least be a respectable. 
 

If they create the open division with 7-8 classes next year, every bracket is gonna be beyond embarrassing and make Florida the mockery of the country. You will have glorified 2nd round losers being called state champions 

Can't count on FHSAA to do what's right or makes sense so we have to look elsewhere.  I'm still learning about SSAA and I still have questions concerning their bylaws. It's a growing league and I think it will soon surpass FHSAA in membership.