Tracking TSSAA football’s Division II-AAA programs that will play independent

By /

The TSSAA’s Division II-Class AAA football teams are nearing a critical deadline.

After the TSSAA released classifications for the 2027-2029 cycle on Sept. 22, multiple Division II-AAA football programs announced their intent to play an independent, non-region schedule for the next two seasons. Those schools will be ineligible for TSSAA playoffs starting next season.

Advertisement

Oct. 2 is the final day TSSAA teams can petition their initial classification assignment, either by moving up or electing for an independent, non-region schedule.

Here is a list of schools that have currently made the decision to move independent of DII-AAA.

1 / 12

See our best photos from Ensworth vs Lipscomb Academy TSSAA football game

Lipscomb Academy’s Mikel Stephen (0) runs around Ensworth’s Ethan Starling (10) during a TSSAA high school football game on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.

(MARK ZALESKI / THE TENNESSEAN)

More: Father Ryan football going independent for next 2 seasons, ineligible for TSSAA playoffs

More: CPA football opts for independent schedule, won’t be in TSSAA playoffs for next 2 years | Exclusive

Opted for independent schedule in 2027-29 cycle

  • Christ Presbyterian Academy: On Sept. 22, CPA football was the first program to announce it’d compete as an independent program, pulling itself out of the Tennessee high school football playoffs for the 2027 and 2028 high school football seasons.

  • Father Ryan: President Paul Davis reached out to parents on Sept. 27 to announce the school’s intention to compete on an independent, non-region football schedule for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 seasons.

  • Memphis University School and Christian Brothers: On Sept. 28, Memphis University School and Christian Brothers announced in a joint statement that both programs will play an independent football schedule for the next two seasons.

  • Clarksville Academy: Director of communications Steven Wilson announced on Sept. 25 that Clarksville Academy’s football program would move to an independent schedule for the next two seasons to protect the safety and well-being of its student-athletes.

  • Mt. Juliet Christian Academy: On Sept. 24, Mt. Juliet Christian Academy announced it would play an independent, non-region schedule for the 2027-29 cycle. The program has forfeited multiple games this season due to low player numbers, and the TSSAA denied its proposal to co-op with RePublic High School on Aug. 17.

Reach The Tennessean and The Leaf-Chronicle’s high school writer, Jack Williams at jackwilliams@theleafchronicle.com and on the X platform @jackgwilliams.

Advertisement

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tracking TSSAA football’s Division II-AAA programs that will play independent

Related Posts

Scroll to Top