CANTON, Ohio — Ohio's annual high school football state championships will remain at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton for another three years after the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) and the Pro Football Hall of Fame agreed to an extension of their partnership.
All seven of Ohio's high school football divisions will continue deciding champions at the site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame through 2026.
“We are excited to continue to grow this partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said. “They have been so good to work with and are just as excited as us to take the next steps with the finals in Canton and have people experience all that the Hall of Fame, the surrounding Hall of Fame Village, and Canton have to offer in addition to state championship football. We also thank Visit Canton for their support of the state championships and appreciate their support to host the games in Stark County.”
Ute announced the extension at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club in Canton on Monday.
“The Pro Football Hall of Fame is proud to partner with Visit Canton and the OHSAA to keep the seven state championship games in Canton for the next three years,” said Jim Porter, Hall of Fame president. “The Hall wants this relationship to continue long into the future. Our staff will look for additional ways to build the weekend into a full community celebration – making the experience even more special for the teams playing in Canton and creating memories that will last a lifetime.”
Canton has hosted the state's high school football championships since 2017, with the lone exception of 2020 when championship games were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The list of state football championships for the 2023 season can be seen below:
Thursday, Nov. 30
- 7 p.m. – Division II: Massillon Washington (15-0) vs. Akron Archbishop Hoban (13-1)
Friday, Dec. 1
- 10:30 a.m. – Division VI: Kirtland (14-1) vs. Versailles (13-2)
- 3 p.m. – Division III: Toledo Central Catholic (15-0) vs. Columbus Bishop Watterson (14-1)
- 7:30 p.m. – Division I: Lakewood St. Edward (13-1) vs. Springfield (10-5)
Saturday, Dec. 2
- 10:30 a.m. – Division VII: Dalton (13-1) vs. Maria Stein Marion Local (15-0)
- 3 p.m. – Division V: Lake County Perry (15-0) vs. Liberty Center (15-0)
- 7:30 p.m. – Division IV: Cleveland Glenville (12-2) vs. Kettering Archbishop Alter (12-3)
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