Bishop Watterson Secures Top Seed in Division II Region 7 Football Playoffs
The undefeated Eagles earned an opening-round bye and will host a regional quarterfinal Nov. 6.
Columbus Bishop Watterson claimed the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in Region 7 for the Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs, following an Oct. 25 announcement by the state association. The Eagles completed an undefeated 9-0 regular season in Division II under head coach Brian Kennedy.
Regional first-round games are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30. Regional quarterfinal games will follow on Friday, Nov. 6, according to the OHSAA tournament schedule. As the top seed, Bishop Watterson will host the winner of the opening-round game between eighth-seeded Whitehall-Yearling and ninth-seeded Columbus Hamilton Township. Under OHSAA tournament rules, the higher-seeded team hosts through the first three rounds of the regional playoffs.
According to regular-season game results, the Eagles shut out four opponents, defeating Anthony Wayne 35-0, Pickerington Central 28-0, St Francis DeSales 32-0 and Walsh Jesuit 21-0. Bishop Watterson closed the regular season on Oct. 23 with a 48-3 win over St Charles.
Under Kennedy, Bishop Watterson recorded undefeated records of 16-0 in 2024 and 14-0 in 2025 in Division III. In Region 7, second-seeded Sunbury Big Walnut, third-seeded Massillon Washington and fourth-seeded New Albany also received first-round byes.
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https://www.ohsaa.org/news-media/articles/ohsaa-football-regional-first-round-playoff-pairings
Supporting evidence (7)
Columbus Bishop Watterson claimed the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in Region 7 for the Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs, following an Oct. 25 announcement by the state association.
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No. 1 Columbus Bishop Watterson (9-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9
Columbus Bishop Watterson claimed the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in Region 7 for the Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs, following an Oct. 25 announcement by the state association.
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For Immediate Release – October 25, 2026
Regional first-round games are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30.
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Unless otherwise noted, all regional first-round games will be played on Friday, October 30, with kickoffs set for 7 p.m.
Regional quarterfinal games will follow on Friday, Nov. 6, according to the OHSAA tournament schedule.
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Regional Quarterfinal (second-round) games will be played on Friday, November 6
As the top seed, Bishop Watterson will host the winner of the opening-round game between eighth-seeded Whitehall-Yearling and ninth-seeded Columbus Hamilton Township.
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Region 7 No. 1 Columbus Bishop Watterson (9-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9 No. 2 Sunbury Big Walnut (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10 No. 3 Massillon Washington (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11 No. 4 New Albany (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12 No. 12 Ashland (6-4) at No. 5 Canal Winchester (7-3) No. 11 Pataskala Watkins Memorial (6-4) at No. 6 Columbus St. Francis DeSales (7-3) No. 10 North Canton Hoover (5-5) at No. 7 Louisville (8-2) No. 9 Columbus Hamilton Township (7-3) at No. 8 Whitehall-Yearling (8-2)
Under OHSAA tournament rules, the higher-seeded team hosts through the first three rounds of the regional playoffs.
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The better seeded team will serve as the host through the first three rounds of the playoffs.
In Region 7, second-seeded Sunbury Big Walnut, third-seeded Massillon Washington and fourth-seeded New Albany also received first-round byes.
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Region 7 No. 1 Columbus Bishop Watterson (9-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9 No. 2 Sunbury Big Walnut (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10 No. 3 Massillon Washington (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11 No. 4 New Albany (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12
https://joeeitel.com/hsfoot/teams.jsp?teamID=224&year=2026
Supporting evidence (3)
The Eagles completed an undefeated 9-0 regular season in Division II under head coach Brian Kennedy.
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Bishop Watterson Eagles Columbus, OH Franklin County 2026 Bishop Watterson Football (9-0) Coach: Brian Kennedy Division II, Region 7
According to regular-season game results, the Eagles shut out four opponents, defeating Anthony Wayne 35-0, Pickerington Central 28-0, St Francis DeSales 32-0 and Walsh Jesuit 21-0.
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8/21 A Anthony Wayne (4-6) [II:6] W 35-0 8/28 H Pickerington Central (7-3) [I:3] W 28-0 9/5 A Ursuline (6-4) [III:9] W 41-10 9/11 H Glenville (8-2) [III:9] W 35-13 9/18 H Harvest Prep (4-6) [VI:23] W 50-6 9/25 H St Francis DeSales (7-3) [II:7] W 32-0 10/9 A Bishop Hartley (2-7) [III:11] W 63-7 10/16 A Walsh Jesuit (7-2) [II:5] W 21-0
Bishop Watterson closed the regular season on Oct. 23 with a 48-3 win over St Charles.
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10/23 H St Charles (8-2) [I:3] W 48-3
https://joeeitel.com/hsfoot/teams.jsp?teamID=224&year=2024
Supporting evidence (1)
Under Kennedy, Bishop Watterson recorded undefeated records of 16-0 in 2024 and 14-0 in 2025 in Division III.
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2024 Bishop Watterson Football (16-0) Coach: Brian Kennedy Division III, Region 11
https://joeeitel.com/hsfoot/teams.jsp?teamID=224&year=2025
Supporting evidence (1)
Under Kennedy, Bishop Watterson recorded undefeated records of 16-0 in 2024 and 14-0 in 2025 in Division III.
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2025 Bishop Watterson Football (14-0) Coach: Brian Kennedy Division III, Region 11