Major changes are coming to Florida high school football.

The FHSAA Board of Directors voted 14-2 to adopt a plan that eliminates districts for smaller schools in Classes 1A-4A while adding wild card playoff berths for 5A-8A teams.

“This is a landmark day for high school football in the state of Florida,” said FHSAA football administrator Frank Beasley, who oversaw the formulation of the new format.

A points system that rewards wins and strength of schedule will determine wild card spots and seeding for the region playoffs.

The new format will take effect for the 2017 season.

“From a small school standpoint, it allows schools to control their own schedules, put some power back in schools,” Beasley said. “It’s going to create a more exciting playoff by going to a seeding system.”

“As far as competing and having a level of excitement and trying, trying to put a new format in place, it sounds like it’s going to be very competitive,” said Nick Grasso, Pinellas County Director of Athletics.

Under current rules, the champion and runner-up of each district automatically advance to the postseason. In the new system, a district champion in 5A-8A is automatically guaranteed a spot in the playoffs and a first round home game.

The entire season is considered for wild card spots and seeding.

“Every game you play is going to count – from week one to week 11,” Beasley said.

Several 1A coaches from the northern part of the state attended Monday’s meeting to voice their opposition to the plan. The FHSAA said that nearly 70-percent of schools favored a change to the current format.

“Today, toe met leather and it’s time to get the games started so we’re excited about where we’re going,” Beasley said. “We have the best high school football in the nation and this is only going to enhance that.”

Here are more details on the new football format:

Districts will be eliminated for schools in Classes 1A-4A. Each team will be assigned to a larger region and will have the freedom to schedule any opponent in the regular season. A points system will determine playoff spots and how teams are seeded for the postseason.

Larger schools in Classes 5A-8A will remain in districts. The district champions will be seeded 1-4 and wild card teams will be seeded 5-8 in each region. That seeding will be based on the point system.