Alabama High School Football Playoff Brackets 2026: Every First-Round Matchup and State Championship Schedule

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.

Class 6A Alabama High School Football Playoff Bracket

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.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 6A PLAYOFF BRACKET

First-Round Matchups

Gadsden City at Hewitt-Trussville
Johnson/Abernathy/Graetz (JAG) at Foley
Spain Park at Buckhorn
Robertsdale at Carver-Montgomery
Enterprise at Baker
Huntsville at Vestavia Hills
Alma Bryant at Opelika
Hoover at Bob Jones

Teams Receiving First-Round Byes

James Clemens
Auburn
Prattville
Daphne
Central-Phenix City
Sparkman
Fairhope
Thompson

Second-Round Pairings

Gadsden City/Hewitt-Trussville winner at James Clemens
JAG/Foley winner at Auburn
Spain Park/Buckhorn winner at Prattville
Robertsdale/Carver-Montgomery winner at Daphne
Enterprise/Baker winner at Central-Phenix City
Huntsville/Vestavia Hills winner at Sparkman
Alma Bryant/Opelika winner at Fairhope
Hoover/Bob Jones winner at Thompson

Class 5A Alabama High School Football Playoff Bracket

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.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 5A PLAYOFF BRACKET

First-Round Matchups — South

Theodore at Homewood
Bessemer City at Pike Road
Ramsay at Gulf Shores
Russell County at McAdory
Stanhope Elmore at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
Pelham at Saraland
Central-Tuscaloosa at Benjamin Russell
Spanish Fort at Helena

First-Round Matchups — North

Gardendale at Boaz
Muscle Shoals at Oxford
Mae Jemison at A.H. Parker
Pell City at Russellville
St. Clair County at Florence
Arab at Minor
Austin at Clay-Chalkville
Mortimer Jordan at Douglas

Class 4A Alabama High School Football Playoff Bracket

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.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 4A PLAYOFF BRACKET

First-Round Matchups — South

Orange Beach at Charles Henderson
Sipsey Valley at Andalusia
Valley at Vigor
Carroll (Ozark) at Selma
Ashford at Northside
Elmore County at Williamson
Shelby County at Eufaula
Citronelle at Marbury

First-Round Matchups — North

Center Point at Scottsboro
Hamilton at Alexandria
Guntersville at Oak Grove
Moody at West Morgan
Central-Clay County at Deshler
Good Hope at Fairfield
Brooks at Leeds
Shades Valley at Cherokee County

Class 3A Alabama High School Football Playoff Bracket

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.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 3A PLAYOFF BRACKET

First-Round Matchups — South

Escambia County at Cleburne County
Cordova at Pike County
Talladega at T.R. Miller
Slocomb at Bibb County
B.T. Washington at Pleasant Grove
White Plains at Jackson
Corner at Bullock County
W.S. Neal at Handley

First-Round Matchups — North

East Lawrence at Plainview
Wilson at Etowah
New Hope at Hatton
Hokes Bluff at Lauderdale County
Vinemont at Central-Florence
North Jackson at Fayette County
Rogers at Oneonta
Curry at Geraldine

Class 2A Alabama High School Football Playoff Bracket

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.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 2A PLAYOFF BRACKET

First-Round Matchups — South

J.U. Blacksher at Reeltown
Thorsby at Ariton
Ranburne at Luverne
G.W. Long at Isabella
Highland Home at Aliceville
Dadeville at Thomasville
Greensboro at Cottonwood
Clarke County at Lanett

First-Round Matchups — North

Cleveland at Fyffe
Colbert County at Walter Wellborn
Ider at Gordo
Pleasant Valley at Phil Campbell
Ohatchee at Lexington
Pisgah at Cold Springs
J.B. Pennington at Piedmont
Lamar County at Collinsville

Class 1A Alabama High School Football Playoff Bracket

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.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 1A PLAYOFF BRACKET

First-Round Matchups — South

Southern Choctaw at McKenzie
Sweet Water at Kinston
Verbena at Leroy
Brantley at Linden
Samson at University Charter School
Billingsley at McIntosh
J.F. Shields at Elba
Choctaw County at Maplesville

First-Round Matchups — North

Berry at Woodville
Meek at Loachapoka
Cedar Bluff vs. Hubbertville
Wadley at Hackleburg
Fayetteville at Addison
Appalachian at Sulligent
Red Bay vs. Winterboro — John Cox Stadium, Childersburg
South Lamar at Spring Garden

Private Single-A Alabama High School Football Playoff Bracket

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.

VIEW THE UPDATED PRIVATE SINGLE-A PLAYOFF BRACKET

First-Round Matchups

Saint James at Bayside Academy
Cottage Hill Christian at Trinity Presbyterian
Providence Christian at Montgomery Academy
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian
Coosa Christian at Tuscaloosa Academy
Pickens Academy at Mars Hill Bible
Victory Christian at Westbrook Christian
Whitesburg Christian at Hope Christian

Private Double-AA Alabama High School Football Playoff Bracket

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.

VIEW THE UPDATED PRIVATE DOUBLE-AA PLAYOFF BRACKET

First-Round Matchups

Houston Academy at UMS-Wright
St. Paul's Episcopal at Montgomery Catholic
Glenwood School at St. Michael Catholic
Faith Academy at McGill-Toolen Catholic
St. John Paul II Catholic at Briarwood Christian
John Carroll Catholic at Randolph School
Lee-Scott Academy at Madison Academy
Westminster Christian at American Christian

2026 Alabama High School Football Playoff Schedule

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.

Alabama Super 7 State Championship Location

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.

What's Next in the Alabama High School Football Playoffs?

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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