A Look Back at Michigan’s High School Football Championships and Playoff Evolution

In the fall of 1975, Michigan’s high school football landscape experienced a pivotal change with the first official Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state championship games. This marked the beginning of structured playoffs in Michigan, allowing high school football teams to compete for a recognized state title. Before this formal system, high school championships were often deemed unofficial. Rankings and championships based largely on the opinions of sports writers. With the advent of these playoffs, Michigan established a fair and competitive method to crown state champions across multiple classifications.

The Inaugural MHSAA Football Championships of 1975

The first MHSAA state championship games were played on November 22, 1975. They spotlighted teams from across Michigan. Each classification crowned its champion. The first winners were:

Class A: Livonia Franklin
Class B: Dearborn Divine Child
Class C: Ishpeming
Class D: Crystal Falls

By introducing a formal playoff system, MHSAA created an exciting, structured way to determine a high school football champion across various school sizes. This system leveled the playing field. It allowed schools with similar student enrollments to compete. This increased both the accessibility and excitement of the game. Over time, this initial format evolved and expanded, becoming the foundation for today’s extensive championship structure.

How Teams Qualify for the MHSAA Playoffs

The playoff qualification process is rigorous and based on a unique point system. This system ensures that the top 32 teams earn their spot in the postseason. This system awards points not just for wins. It also looks at the strength of a team’s schedule and its opponents’ performances. Here’s how it works:

Each win by an opponent that Team A defeats earns Team A 8 points.
Each win by an opponent that Team A was defeated by earns Team A 1 point.
Team A accumulates points for each opponent’s victories, regardless of whether Team A won or lost that matchup.

This points-based approach incentivizes competitive scheduling and fair play. The point system encourages teams to challenge themselves throughout the season. It rewards those who compete well against strong opponents.

The Evolution of Michigan’s High School Football Playoffs

Michigan high school football has been played for over a century, but the MHSAA’s 1975 playoff system was a transformative step. Since then, the playoff structure has continued to evolve. Today, the MHSAA champions are awarded in nine divisions. The divisions covers both 11-player and 8-player formats to accommodate varying school sizes and football programs.

The MHSAA’s commitment to fair and competitive play has made Michigan’s high school football playoffs a cherished tradition. From its humble beginnings in 1975, the playoffs have grown to become a vital part of Michigan’s sports culture, celebrating dedication, athleticism, and school spirit across the state.

Marisa Fancy along with her husband and four children dreamt of moving “Up North”. They had vacationed for years in northern Michigan and in 1995 they finally made the move.

The family was always out exploring, but with 4 kids there was some limitations on what they could do. Marisa discovered the amazing network of trails in Northern Michigan after Steve died and she would walk for miles. The trails provided her with peace, comfort and solitude at a difficult time in her life. Later, after meeting Guy who would become her second husband, she learned to golf and found another passion she could enjoy in beautiful Northern Michigan.

Marisa has been the family historian, writer, and poet for as long as she can remember. She has always loved to write and has now found a creative outlet for it other than family. You can read her articles in Adventures in Northern Michigan, Northern Michigan History and Golf Up North.