MARLBOROUGH — The state’s high schools have a new football playoff system after members at an MIAA special meeting voted 161-131 in favor of the proposal Friday at Assabet Regional.

The plan will go into effect next fall and dramatically affect each of the 290 schools with football programs in Massachusetts. The next step is divisional alignments and the appeals process. The MIAA football committee will meet Nov. 6 to begin that process. Appeals could be heard in February.