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Judge puts Cleveland Glenville back in the football playoffs

Cleveland, Ohio • October 30, 2026 • By Press Pass USA

Editorial illustration: a high school football field under Friday night lights, players in uniform on the sideline

Editorial illustration — Press Pass USA

Cleveland Glenville is back in the Ohio high school football playoffs — at least for now. A Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judge granted a temporary restraining order Friday afternoon, October 30, reversing, for the moment, the Ohio High School Athletic Association's decision a day earlier to remove the Tarblooders from the postseason.

Judge Andrew Santoli granted the motion filed on behalf of student-athletes at Ginn Academy, ruling: "Plaintiffs' motion for a temporary restraining order, filed on 10/30/2026, is granted. The football game between Glenville High School and University School is to proceed as previously scheduled."

The ruling came less than 24 hours after the OHSAA removed Glenville — the No. 5 seed in Division III, Region 9, at 8-2 — from the playoffs on Thursday, October 29. The association said it was investigating the Cleveland Metropolitan School District for "inaccurately assigning student participation opportunities to Glenville," centered on students who attend Ginn Academy, a non-member magnet school that does not offer sports and is under district control. Under OHSAA rules, Ginn Academy students may only play at the Cleveland Metro school closest to their residence.

OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said the association discovered irregularities involving Ginn Academy students playing football at Glenville, audited participation opportunities for all of Glenville's fall sports athletes, and confirmed this week that many players on the football team should have been playing at other schools this season. Ute said there is no timetable yet for the full scope of the investigation or additional penalties.

Attorneys Michael L. Nelson Sr., Stanley Jackson and James L. Hardiman filed the court motion on behalf of Glenville players, arguing the team would suffer permanent and irreparable harm without immediate relief. Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Dr. Warren Morgan said the district has cooperated with the association's requests and raised concerns about the timing of the removal, so close to the scheduled playoff game that the district had little opportunity to appeal.

The OHSAA said Friday evening that it stands by its Thursday ruling but will comply with the court order, and that it is working with the two schools to reschedule the Glenville–University School game sometime this weekend. The winner advances to face No. 4 seed Salem in a second-round game Friday, November 6. A hearing is scheduled for Monday, November 2, according to the OHSAA. The restraining order covers the playoff game; it does not resolve the underlying investigation.

Sources: The Canton Repository (Oct 30, 2026); On3, citing FOX 8 (Oct 30, 2026); News-Talk 1480 WHBC (Oct 30, 2026); Stateline Sports Network (Oct 30, 2026); OHSAA statement, as reported by the Canton Repository and WHBC (Oct 30, 2026).