Upper Arlington — Upper Arlington should send a Christmas card to the OHSAA office this December.
Last week, the OHSAA released Division I’s new regional alignment following the promotion of several programs into Ohio’s top division. As part of the shuffle, Upper Arlington was moved into Region 2 alongside Grove City and Central Crossing after previously competing in Region 3.
That turned out to be a gift for the Golden Bears, who were pulled out of a region loaded with Central Ohio heavyweights like Olentangy and Pickerington.
Instead, Upper Arlington now joins a regional field featuring nearby programs from Hilliard, Dublin, Grove City, and Marysville alongside a plethora of Western Ohio schools from the Dayton region.
In three of the past four seasons, Upper Arlington’s playoff runs have been ended by current Region 3 teams: Pickerington Central, Olentangy Liberty, and New Albany.
While the path isn’t cupcake, it also isn’t the Region 3 gauntlet Upper Arlington has repeatedly faced in recent years.
The Golden Bears’ new placement gives them a clearer shot at a deep playoff run and a chance to build on the success of one of Central Ohio’s established football programs.
In the meantime, the Golden Bears will remain in the OCC-Central Division alongside Dublin Coffman, Hilliard Bradley, Hilliard Davidson, Olentangy Liberty, and Olentangy Orange through the next conference realignment cycle.
After years of running into Central Ohio’s toughest walls, Upper Arlington now finds itself on a road that finally opens up a little, offering a different map and a clearer path forward.
The Golden Bears 2026 season kicks off on August 21st against Olentangy at the Marv.
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