OSSAA board members voted to use October attendance numbers to reclassify high school football teams and change upcoming schedules to comply with a recent court ruling.

However last week, a judge prohibited the association from enforcing amendments to a rule that would elevate private school classification based on postseason achievement instead of enrollment.

“We’re basically using the same process, we’re just using a different set of numbers this time,” OSSAA Executive Director David Jackson said. “Being up against a time component where we are starting to play football in August and schools will need to make schedules, that becomes the biggest issue for us right now.”

Oklahoma County District Judge Richard Ogden ruled in a lawsuit brought by five Oklahoma City-area private schools that amendments to Rule 14 adopted before the 2023-24 school year must be voided effective July 1.

Rule 14 places private schools in higher classifications than they would normally be placed based on enrollment if they have extended postseason success in an effort to achieve competitive balance.

In December, the five private schools — Crossings Christian, Heritage Hall, Bishop McGuinness, Oklahoma Christian School and Mount St. Mary — filed a lawsuit claiming that the rule is unconstitutional.

After meeting in executive session, the OSSAA issued this statement, “In consultation with the attorneys for the OSSAA, the OSSAA Board of Directors approved the formation of an ad hoc committee today. The committee will include OSSAA Board Members, Executive Director David Jackson, Assistant Director Grant Gower and OSSAA attorneys. The committee will explore a resolution of the pending litigation and what Rule 14 will look like going forward.”

As a result of the judge’s ruling, classification and district alignments in several sports will likely need to be adjusted. Currently many schools, especially those below 5A, don’t know for sure who they’ll be playing in their season openers, or on any week during the season.