The 2024-2025 Georgia high school football scene will be significantly different than recent years with some serious changes to region alignment, state championship playoff schedule, overtime rules, NIL, and even a staff change within the Georgia High School Association (GHSA).
Region alignment has changed with the planned dematerialization of the 7A classification finally occurring. Former 7A teams have been dispersed down to the lower classifications with 6A now containing the largest schools. Roswell itself is now to compete in region 7 of the 5A classification with Chattahoochee, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Lanier, Milton, and Seckinger. Region alignment for the 2024-2025 season can be viewed here.
In addition to changes in region alignment and classification, Georgia’s football state championship playoff schedule has been changed by about a week. Teams will have Thanksgiving week off for the first time since 1905, something that former GHSA executive director Robin Hines commented on saying that players, “[will get] To have a normal Thanksgiving for a change.” The schedule comes due to 2024 being a leap year. Therefore, the state championships will be held December 16-18, in th e usual venue of Mercedes-Benz stadium. These dates are almost a week past last years of December 11-13. The GHSA football state championship playoff schedule can be found here. The new dates happen to avoid conflict with the Georgia vs. Georgia Tech game, though Hines attributed the schedule change solely to this year being a leap year.
Overtime rules have also been revised for the upcoming season with changes to both the second and third overtime periods. To clarify, the first overtime period consists of each team getting one possession that starts at the fifteen-yard line. The first change occurs in the second overtime period where teams must attempt a two-point conversion after scoring a touchdown. Previously this mandatory two-point attempt would occur in the third period of overtime. The second change is to the third period of overtime, where teams will get a single two-point attempt from the three-yard line. This eliminates the previous rule of a drive from the fifteen where multiple plays were allowed. GHSA football overtime rules can be found here.
Rules surrounding NIL for Georgia high school athletes have been changed as well. In Robin Hines last meeting as GHSA executive director on July 18th, the GHSA board of trustees ruled that, “No student-athlete may be a member of nor receive compensation or any other benefit from a collective or NIL club.” NIL for GHSA athletes is now banned, and both players and schools are subject to punishment if found violating this. The GHSA Board of Trustee’s meeting agenda is available here.
Players themselves are subject to a loss of eligibility, while schools themselves are subject to fines, loss of opportunities to compete, and prohibition from GHSA post-season contests.
As mentioned throughout this article, Robin Hines is now the former GHSA executive director. Hines, who held the position since 2017, has retired and left the position to former superintendent of Dalton public schools, Dr. Tim Scott. Robin Hines is still set to be a liaison between the GHSA and Georgia legislature. More information on Dr. Tim Scott can be found here..
Roswell Football should be equipped to handle their new 5A region in stride, since the team saw success in both 6A and 7A in recent years. As mentioned previously, Roswell football players will be able to look forward to having thanksgiving break off and will have the opportunity to compete in state championship playoff games that take place on different dates. Roswell Athletic Director Ben Sutter spoke encouragingly about some of the new rule changes saying, “I think the overtime rules needed some revamping, all the levels, from high school up to the pros need to get on some similar footing with the rules, I mean, why not?” Sutter continued by referencing Roswell’s 2006 state championship game saying, “I was here the year Roswell played Peachtree Ridge in the state championship, and we tied because the rule was that a state championship game could not be decided by the overtime rules.” Sutter was also supportive of the new schedule for this season saying, “I think moving games out of the Thanksgiving week is a great change. It impacted Roswell the last few years, which obviously is a good thing because that means we made it that far in the playoffs, but playing games the day after Thanksgiving break has many problems, safety for the players being one, safety for the fans is another. Trying to staff a playoff football game on the holiday week is extremely difficult as we were stretched thin at the gates and with security. Moving the games another week helps us tremendously.” Roswell has many changes ahead of them to face, but most have been perceived as only positive so far.
Roswell’s football schedule can be found here.
