CLEVELAND — A Cuyahoga County judge ruled Friday that Cleveland Glenville’s football team will be allowed to participate in the high school playoffs, throwing a wrench into the Ohio prep postseason just hours before the tournament begins.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association barred the Tarblooders from the Division III playoffs in an announcement released on Thursday.
The OHSAA removed Glenville from the tournament as part of an ongoing investigation into Cleveland Metropolitan School District inaccurately assigning student participation opportunities to Glenville, the organization stated.
“We are still in the early stages of this, but we do anticipate looking back at previous seasons and other sports at Glenville,” Tim Stried, director of media relations for the OHSAA, told Source Media Properties on Friday morning.
“It’s too early to know if that will lead to any forfeitures.”
As a result of the OHSAA announcement, Glenville’s first-round opponent, No. 12 seed Hunting Valley University School, was scheduled to advance on the bracket to a second-round game against No. 4 seed Salem on Friday, Nov. 6.
However, the latest court order comes after a motion was filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Friday by Attys. Michael Nelson Sr., James Hardiman and Stanley Jackson on behalf of students at Ginn Academy.
“Plantiffs’ motion for a temporary restraining order, filed on 10/30/2026, is granted,” the motion from Judge Andrew Santoli states.
“The football game between Glenville High School and University School is to proceed as previously scheduled.”
In response to the judge’s ruling, the OHSAA issued the following press release at 5:26 p.m. Playoffs began around Ohio at 7 p.m. on Friday.
“Following the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s removal of Cleveland Glenville from the football playoffs on Thursday (Oct. 29), the OHSAA is aware of the court order issued today (Friday, Oct. 30) requiring the playing of the football playoff game between Glenville and University School.
“The OHSAA stands by its ruling issued on Thursday (Oct. 29). However, the OHSAA will comply with the court order and is working with the two schools to reschedule the game sometime this weekend.”
A hearing is scheduled for Monday.
“To clarify information presented this afternoon, the OHSAA first requested student residential information from Cleveland Metropolitan School District on Sept. 28.
“The OHSAA received an initial batch of information from CMSD on Oct. 22. On Thursday (Oct. 29) in a meeting with Glenville, the school did not object to the findings of the OHSAA audit,” the organization stated.
The court order is posted in a PDF below.