OSSAA approves independent football schedules, denies 5 schools

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The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association approved nine high schools to play an independent football schedule for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, but denied five other schools' requests. Playing an independent schedule means a school won't be eligible for the playoffs since it won't be playing a district schedule. All of the approved schools were winless in 2025.

Why it matters

The OSSAA's decision highlights the challenges some struggling high school football programs face in remaining competitive and qualifying for the playoffs. Playing an independent schedule allows schools to create their own schedule, but at the cost of playoff ineligibility.

The details

The schools approved for an independent schedule were 6AI Enid (0-9 in 2025), 6AII Capitol Hill (0-10), AI Caney Valley (0-9), and AII Cordell (0-10). The five schools denied were 5A Guymon (5-5), 4A John Marshall (2-8), 6AII Northwest Classen (2-9), 5A Classen SAS (0-10), and 6AII U.S. Grant (3-7).

• The OSSAA approved the independent schedules during its monthly board meeting in February 2026.
• The approved schools will play their independent schedules in the 2026 and 2027 football seasons.