A Nashville school is pulling itself out of the Tennessee high school football playoffs for the next two seasons.
According to the Nashville Tennessean — part of the USA TODAY Network — Christ Presbyterian Academy put out a news release on Tuesday, Sept. 22, that the private school will play as an independent program for the next two seasons. The decision comes as the new TSSAA reclassification is set to begin in the 2027-28 school year.
As a result of the move, Christ Presbyterian will be allowed to make its own 10-game schedule for the next two seasons, but will not compete in region play, thus making it ineligible for the TSSAA postseason.
The move to an independent schedule for CPA comes after it was placed in Division II-AAA, the state's highest
classification for private schools.
According to the news release, the decision to play independent comes down to: "three foundational priorities: competitive integrity, mission accountability and student safety."
“Our highest priority is the educational mission of CPA,” head of school Nate Morrow said in the release. "Rather than following the gravitational pull of the current state of high school football, we are doubling down on our commitment to education-based, relationship-driven football that, above all, facilitates the authentic maturation of boys into men. We believe this path allows us to protect that purpose while continuing to compete at a high level. That is our responsibility to the students and families entrusted to us."
CPA is off to a 0-5 start to the 2026 high school football season. The program was 4-9 last season, but made a semifinal appearance in its first season in the new classification. The school has appeared in 12 TSSAA state championship games, winning seven titles, in Division II-AA, with the most recent coming in 2024.
The school plans to send its official decision to the TSSAA before the association's Sept. 29 deadline. However, if the TSSAA changes the rules for classification, the school said it would reserve the right to reconsider the decision to play independent.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seven-time Tennessee high school football champion to go independent in 2027-28
