Decision Day looms for the TSSAA and it's Division II-AAA football programs.
After the TSSAA released its preliminary classifications on Sept. 22, seven programs from its Division II classification announced their intent to opt for an independent, non-region schedule for the next two years, removing themselves from the TSSAA football playoffs for the 2027 and 2028 seasons: Christ Presbyterian Academy, Father Ryan, Memphis University School, Christian Brothers, Chattanooga Christian, Mt. Juliet Christian and Clarksville Academy.
As of Sept. 29, Briarcrest Christian is the only DII program that has publicly announced it'll remain in DII-AAA for the 2027-29 cycle.
The final day that schools can notify the TSSAA if they'd like to move up in classification
or withdraw from TSSAA competition for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years is Oct. 2. The TSSAA Board of Control has scheduled an emergency meeting on Oct. 1 to address the situation in Division II-AAA.
TSSAA executive director Mark Reeves said on Sept. 24, after CPA's exit, that he was aware of the "rumors" that DII-AAA teams were seeking independency in the next cycle, but he wouldn't speculate.
"We'll release however many schools have declared to play non-region schedule at the time," Reeves said. "We wouldn't disclose that news without their blessing."
The TSSAA's Board of Control members had a different approach. Donelson Christian Academy AD Dennis Goodwin and Warren County Director of Schools Grant Swallows, who both serve on the board, weren't sure what would happen as the Sept. 22 release approached. Swallows, the Board of Control president, said he was surprised when conversations about DII-AAA looking to separate began.
"I think that schools have to do what's best for their program," Goodwin said. "All of us go through ups and downs, especially in independent schools, as enrollment is always an issue. I don't know what's going to happen."
How TSSAA football is being affected in Division II-AAA
When considering who competed in Division II-AAA, the state association first asked Division II schools to declare if they planned to compete in DII-AAA. The remainder of the class was determined by enrollment size to fill out to 12 schools per the TSSAA's current bylaws.
Chattanooga Christian was the smallest school in DII-AAA chosen by enrollment after Brentwood Academy and Lipscomb Academy declared it would play up to DII-AAA. The Chargers went 1-9 last season in DII-AA and are currently 2-3 in the same classification. CCS publicly said it would play an independent schedule on Sept. 29. However, a Board of Control special called meeting on Oct. 1 includes a Chattanooga Christian request for a classification appeal. It's not clear what it will do if it wins it's appeal.
If the TSSAA is looking to DII-AA's largest schools to fill gaps in the next-highest division, the next programs to move up would be Pope John Paul II (481), Knoxville Webb (474), Notre Dame (424) and Silverdale Baptist (415).
"Let's say they asked Webb to move up to AAA. How are we going to play with McCallie, Baylor and Lipscomb," Webb coach George Quarles said. "That's unfair to our kids. If that were to happen, we might go independent."
What DII-AAA football looks like now
Here are the schools currently in DII-AAA for football after schools have declared they will play an independent schedule.
- Baylor
- Brentwood Academy
- Briarcrest
- Ensworth
- Knoxville Catholic
- Lipscomb Academy
- McCallie
- Montgomery Bell Academy
Will the TSSAA move four teams to have 12 total, or will it decide to change its rules?
"The board meeting will have to center on how you move forward," Reeves said. "Do you move schools up the same way Division I does, or do you do it a different way? That's a decision that they (the board) will have to make."
What is the problem in Division II-AAA?
At issue for teams that have chosen to compete in an independent schedule over DII-AAA is the rise of the super team era, where FBS recruits move-in to those DII-AAA schools to finish their high school careers. The TSSAA has adopted a one-time transfer rule, its residency rule was dropped and NIL is allowed in high school athletics. However, Reeves has said NIL can't be used to entice an athlete to move to a school.
"Our schools and league must answer a question, individually and collectively: should the essence of high school football be about preparation of elite athletes for SEC and Power Four schools, or should it be primarily an opportunity for many student athletes to have a meaningful football experience in a league that is excellent and generally equitable? McCallie embraces the latter," McCallie head of school Lee Burns said.
Quarles, who won 11 state championships at Maryville in 18 years, acknowledged there is a disparity from the best of Division II-AAA and the rest of the state.
"At the top of the AAA level, I think it's just a different game," Quarles said. "You've got schools that are able to board, you got schools that are able to go get them from Canada and other countries and all over the country. And then you got schools that are playing with local kids. We couldn't compete at that level."
Reach The Tennessean's high school writer, Jack Williams at jackwilliams@theleafchronicle.com and on the X platform @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What you need to know about TSSAA football's Division II as some go independent
