We are four weeks into the most unusual high school football season that most fans can remember and it is time for the next step.

We have seen limited admission to games, only home team bands playing at halftime and various other anti-COVID protocols during games, including less handling of the ball by game officials.

Perhaps the most drastic change is that every school is eligible for the state playoffs, though they are not forced to participate. That factor came into play this weekend when the Ohio High School Athletic Association released the regional lineups for all seven divisions of play (see Page C2).

Five schools in the Vindicator / Tribune Chronicle circulation areas — East Palestine, Mathews, Sebring, Chalker and Windham — opted out of participation in the playoffs. Schools that are listed on the initial list of participants still have until 11:59 p.m. Thursday to withdraw without penalty.

The OHSAA will begin the playoffs on the weekend of Oct. 9-10 (Week 7) with first-round games. Divisions I, II, III and VII will play on Friday nights and Divisions IV, V and VI will go on Saturdays. The schedule will take five weeks to determine regional champions — regional finals will be played the weekend of Nov. 6-7. State semifinals are the next week and the state finals will be Nov. 20-21.

Of course, as teams are eliminated from the playoffs, they are permitted to schedule and play regular season games — a maximum of 10 and only until Nov. 13-14.

As far as the playoff teams, their coaches must enter information about their team to the OHSAA next Sunday and Monday and then coaches will vote for seeding in their region next week on Tuesday and Wednesday (Sept. 29-30).

The OHSAA will announce pairings on the afternoon of Oct. 1.

Higher-seeded teams will host all playoff games at least through the regional semifinals.