Tenn. to crown nine football state champs beginning in 2017-18

Tennessee has approved changes to its high school football classifications, and beginning with the 2017-18 season it will crown nine state champions.

The changes were approved this week by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s (TSSAA) Board of Control. The association added a third class to Division 2, increasing the number of state title winners from eight to nine.

The TSSAA also voted to abandon its 32-team 6A division — implemented two years ago — instead evenly dividing schools amongst the division’s six classifications.

One high school principal told The Commercial Appeal that safety concerns were partly responsible for the change. He said schools in the state’s largest class were having difficulties competing against some of the top private school programs.

Safety is important, but the change could draw criticism from those who believe nine state champions is far too many. This is an issue Coach & Athletic Director has previously tackled, with readers saying too many state champions diminishes the significance of such an accomplishment.

Click here to read one of our previous columns on this topic.