yes
On May 17, 2007, The CW announced that the show would return for a fifth season, but as a mid-season replacement. The show will be "dramatically retooled and set five years into the future - after the characters have already graduated from college." Until the show's return to the schedule, the network has plans to post diaries online to fill in the intervening years in the characters' lives.
Hilarie Burton confirmed on TRL that the show's fifth season will focus on their lives after college, citing the reason for this as "We've seen the High School dramas not do so well while they're in college, and another thing, we've done everything that everyone does in college". She said this will "enable them to do flashbacks and a lot of cool stuff with the characters". The fifth season now has a 22-episode order.[citation needed]
Chad Michael Murray has stated that Lucas will be a best-selling author releasing his second book, and will also be Coach of Tree Hill's High School Basketball Team. Lucas will help a struggling 18 year old and become very depressed and look to his friends for help.
According to Ask Ausiello on TV Guide.com, "... expect some new faces to join the familiar ones: a cocky new Ravens player who will but heads with Lucas, a New York book editor who has a hard time balancing work and play, plus a manipulative business executive with a cruel streak and a beautiful and nurturing nanny for Nathan and Haley's son, James. Speaking of that baby we left in diapers last season, expect one smart little boy when we return."
The fifth season begins shooting on July 18, 2007.