High school football is going to look a lot different in the Big Bend next season.

After the Florida High School Athletic Association decided to abandon the metro/suburban model of play, the governing board of Florida's high school athletics has introduced new classifications and districts for the next two seasons, from 2024-26.

Introducing a new 7A-1A system, including a Rural division, the FHSAA is once again changing the landscape of high school football in the Sunshine State. Releasing a tentative list of classifications and districts on Friday morning, Big Bend teams saw a major shakeup to the football landscape.

Classifications are not yet final, as the FHSAA is allowing teams to appeal their placement, with the deadline to appeal being January 12, 2024. With all that said, let's see where Big Bend football programs landed, for now at least.

Here is a breakdown on how many teams make up the new classes:

1R: Enrollment: 111-558 (32 teams)1A: Enrollment: 61-643 (61 teams)2A: Enrollment: 644-1,166 (61 teams)3A: Enrollment: 1,167-1,542 (63 teams)4A: Enrollment: 1,543-1,822 (65 teams)5A: Enrollment: 1,823-2,135 (66 teams)6A: Enrollment: 2,136-2,512 (67 teams)7A: Enrollment: 2,512-4,627 (69 teams)

Chiles, Leon and Lincoln land in Class 5A

It's a Tallahassee district in the 5A classification, as Chiles, Leon and Lincoln make up 5A District 2, one of 16 districts in the class.

The most populated classification in the new system, there are 66 programs across the state making up 5A with four regions, with the three Tallahassee programs landing in Region 1. Some notable 5A Region 1 teams include Mainland (Daytona Beach), Ponte Vedra and Niceville.

Rickards the lone Big Bend team in 4A, faces travel heavy district

One of the more curious decisions from the FHSAA's new classifications was the placement of Rickards in 4A District 2, as the Raiders join Choctawhatchee, Fort Walton Beach and Arnold.

With the closest team in the district being Arnold, 109 miles away from Rickards, the Raiders will face a lot of travel if the new classifications stand and the program doesn't appeal its placement. Landing in 4A Region 1, other notable teams in the region are Columbia, St. Augustine and Ed White (Jacksonville).

Godby, Wakulla head to Class 3A

The Cougars and the War Eagles are heading to classification 3A, making up District 2 with Baker County rounding out the three-team district.

In another region ranging from Pensacola to Jacksonville, Godby and Wakulla land in Region 1 and are joined by notable programs like Raines, Ribault and Bishop Kenny, all from Jacksonville.

Flordia High, Gadsden County and Taylor County make up a competitive 2A

Another intriguing district and region, the Seminoles, Jaguars and Bulldogs land in 2A District 3, with Suwannee joining the three area programs to round out the district.

One of the most competitive regions in the new classification system, notable inclusions to 2A Region 1 include Pensacola Catholic, Walton, Marianna, Andrew Jackson and Bolles.

It's all Tallahassee for 1A District 1

The 1A classification starts in Tallahassee and the first district in the class includes FAMU DRS, North Florida Christian, St. John Paul II and Maclay. The smallest classification outside of the Rural class, 1A includes national power Chaminade-Madonna.

The outlook for 1A Region 1 includes Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), Providence (Jacksonville), University Christian (Jacksonville) and Williston from Gainsville.

4 area programs land in the Rural division

The FHSAA's choice to go with a separate Rural division means some programs that landed in the metro or suburban in the previous model make the switch.

Munroe, who was in 1S prior to the change, lands in the Rural division Region 2, joined by programs like Port St. Joe, Wewahitchka and Blountstown.

Three area programs landed in Rural Region 3, with 1R state runner-ups Madison County joining Aucilla Christian and Jefferson County the other area programs making up Region 3. Some notable inclusions in the region are Branford and Lafayette.

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FHSAA makes changes to 17 Big Bend football programs classifications