FHSAA merges Rural, 1A high school football classes for next two seasons

The Rural Class in Florida high school football took years to orchestrate. It has gone away in a flash, at least temporarily. The Florida High School Athletic Association voted Thursday, Jan. 29, to merge Rural and Class 1A for the 2026 and 2027 seasons during an emergency Board of Directors meeting. The decision only applies to football. The Rural Class will remain in place for all other sports. FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon called for the emergency meeting last week after a sudden shift of Rural schools to the Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA). The association, founded in 2008, has...