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The road to an Alabama high school football state championship looks different in 2026.
For the first time, the Alabama High School Athletic Association will crown eight football champions under a new classification system that separates public and private schools into distinct postseason divisions.
The traditional Class 7A designation is gone. Public schools now compete in Classes 1A through 6A, while private schools have been divided into Single-A and Double-AA.
The changes have created some intriguing playoff matchups, particularly in Class 6A, where a new 24-team field includes eight first-round byes.
Thompson, Central-Phenix City, Auburn, Prattville, Fairhope, Daphne, Sparkman and James Clemens will all have an extra week to prepare for their postseason openers.
The remaining classifications feature 32-team public-school brackets or 16-team private-school brackets, with the first round beginning Friday, Nov. 6.
Among the most compelling opening-round games are Pelham at Saraland in Class 5A, Hamilton at Alexandria in Class 4A, and J.U. Blacksher at undefeated Reeltown in Class 2A.
The playoff field also includes several undefeated teams, including Prattville, Gulf Shores, Scottsboro, Cleburne County, Plainview, Hatton, Addison, Winterboro, Montgomery Academy, Westbrook Christian and Briarwood Christian.
The postseason concludes with the AHSAA Super 7 state championships in December at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the University of South Alabama campus in Mobile.
Here is a classification-by-classification look at the 2026 Alabama high school football playoff brackets, first-round matchups and championship schedule.
The biggest change to Alabama's postseason comes in Class 6A.
The classification features 24 playoff teams, with eight receiving first-round byes. That means the opening round consists of eight games, with the winners advancing to face the eight teams already waiting in the second round.
Prattville enters the postseason undefeated at 10-0, while Central-Phenix City brings a 9-1 record into the tournament.
Thompson, Auburn, Fairhope, Daphne, Sparkman and James Clemens also earned first-round byes.
Among the opening-round matchups, Hoover travels to Bob Jones, Huntsville faces Vestavia Hills, and Gadsden City visits Hewitt-Trussville.
Class 5A features several teams capable of making deep postseason runs, but few have a tougher opening assignment than Pelham.
The Panthers finished the regular season 8-2 and will travel to Saraland, which enters the playoffs at 9-1.
Another intriguing matchup features Muscle Shoals at Oxford, while undefeated Gulf Shores opens against Ramsay.
Clay-Chalkville, one of Alabama's traditional football powers, begins its postseason against Austin.
Class 4A may have some of the most competitive first-round matchups of any classification.
Citronelle enters the playoffs 8-2 and travels to Marbury, which finished the regular season 9-1.
Hamilton also faces a difficult opening assignment against Alexandria, while undefeated Scottsboro begins its championship pursuit against Center Point.
Other teams to watch include Selma, Northside, Oak Grove and Leeds.
Class 3A features four undefeated teams, setting up the possibility of several heavyweight matchups later in the postseason.
Cleburne County and Bullock County enter from the southern half of the bracket, while Plainview and Hatton lead the unbeaten contenders in the north.
Cleburne County opens against Escambia County, while Bullock County faces Corner.
Plainview begins against East Lawrence, and Hatton welcomes New Hope.
With so many strong teams spread across the bracket, the championship race could produce some of Alabama's most competitive postseason games.
The Class 2A bracket features several teams with impressive regular-season records.
Reeltown enters undefeated at 10-0 and opens against J.U. Blacksher, which finished 7-3.
Cottonwood also brings a perfect 10-0 record into the postseason and will host Greensboro.
Other teams worth watching include Fyffe, Piedmont, Gordo, Thomasville and Aliceville.
The opening round includes several potentially competitive matchups, including Clarke County at Lanett and Colbert County at Walter Wellborn.
Class 1A features two undefeated teams, and both are in the northern half of the bracket.
Addison and Winterboro enter the playoffs at 10-0, but Addison's defensive performance has been particularly impressive.
The Bulldogs allowed just 26 points during the regular season, an average of 2.6 per game.
Addison opens against Fayetteville, while Winterboro faces Red Bay.
In the southern half of the bracket, McKenzie, Kinston, Linden, University Charter School and Elba all enter the postseason with nine victories.
Alabama's new private-school postseason begins with a competitive Single-A field featuring several established programs.
Montgomery Academy and Westbrook Christian enter undefeated at 10-0.
Montgomery Academy opens against Providence Christian, while Westbrook Christian faces Victory Christian.
Tuscaloosa Academy, Mars Hill Bible, Bayside Academy and Mobile Christian are also among the contenders.
The inaugural Private Double-AA bracket includes some of Alabama's most recognizable private-school football programs.
Briarwood Christian enters the postseason undefeated at 10-0 and opens against St. John Paul II Catholic.
McGill-Toolen Catholic finished the regular season 8-2 and will face Faith Academy, while UMS-Wright begins its championship pursuit against Houston Academy.
American Christian, which enters at 9-1, hosts Westminster Christian.
The AHSAA postseason begins in November and concludes with the Super 7 state championships in Mobile.
Round |
Dates |
|---|---|
First Round |
Nov. 6 |
Second Round |
Nov. 13 |
Third Round |
Nov. 20 |
Fourth Round |
Nov. 27 |
Super 7 state championships |
Dec. 2-5 |
The Class 6A tournament follows a modified schedule because of its 24-team format and eight first-round byes.
Hancock Whitney Stadium
University of South Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
The Super 7 will crown eight champions in 2026, with titles awarded in public Classes 1A-6A and private Single-A and Double-AA.
The first round begins Friday, Nov. 6, with teams across Alabama attempting to take the first step toward a state championship.
For many programs, that means winning four consecutive playoff games to reach the Super 7.
For the eight Class 6A teams receiving opening-round byes, the championship journey begins one week later.
The postseason will conclude in Mobile, where Alabama's new eight-division format will produce its first group of state champions.
High School On SI will continue updating the Alabama high school football playoff brackets with scores, second-round matchups and championship information throughout November and December.
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