The actual decline in HS football participation in the state is greater than I first calculated but more than half as less as USA Today:
2008: NSAA: 10,854 in 11 man. 3,210 in 8 and 6 man. 14,064
2025: NSAA total for all three categories: 11,991
A decline of 14.7 percent. Not the 6.8 I calculated but not the 32.5% by USA Today, either.
It is a factor when it comes to seeing fewer schools playing 11 man. In 2008, 170 teams. In 2025, 132. This year and next, 122.
@owhsports