By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

The last time the Alabama High School Athletic Association expanded its class organizational system was back in 2014, when it expanded from six to seven classes.

In January of this year, the AHSAA Central Board approved another expansion, with the addition of upper and lower private school classes while dropping the public schools down to six classes.

Those changes have been reflected in this season’s Alabama Sports Writers Association football rankings. The ASWA released its preseason poll early Wednesday morning.

Even with so many changes made, there are still several familiar coverage area teams among those expected to have successful 2026 seasons, led by the Class 2A Piedmont Bulldogs and Collinsville Panthers.

Piedmont, which went 13-1 in 3A last season, is the top dog to begin the year in the 2A rankings. The Bulldogs received nine first-place votes and will open the season on Aug. 21 at home against Class 4A Jacksonville (6-6).

Fyffe (8-3) comes in at No. 2. Luverne (12-1), Reeltown (10-4) and Pleasant Valley (10-2) round out the 2A top five.

Collinsville (8-3) is ranked eighth in 2A to begin the season. The Panthers travel to Sylvania (3-7) on Aug. 21 to open their 2026 campaign.

Two Cherokee County teams are among those receiving votes: the Class 4A Cherokee County Warriors (7-4) and Class 1A Spring Garden Panthers (6-5).

The Warriors open the Bayley Blanchard era at home against aforementioned Piedmont on Aug. 28. Spring Garden kicks off its season at home on Thursday, Aug. 20 against Gaston (1-9).

Only three state champions in the AHSAA ranks last year begin the new season at No. 1: Class 6A Thompson (11-3), Class 5A Clay-Chalkville (15-0) and Class 1A Maplesville (15-0). All three of those teams received all 20 first-place votes in their respective classes.

Defending AISA 3A state champion Chambers Academy (12-2) received 17 of 20 first-place votes.

The complete ASWA preseason high school football rankings are listed below, with first-place votes, last year’s record and total poll points.

CLASS 6A
Team (first-place); 2025 W-L; Pts.
1. Thompson (20); 11-3; 240
2. Central-Phenix City; 11-2; 167
3. Auburn; 10-3; 132
4. Vestavia Hills; 8-3; 127
5. Opelika; 10-4; 119
6. Hoover; 6-5; 71
7. Spain Park; 9-3; 71
8. Prattville; 6-4; 68
9. Gadsden City; 8-4; 34
10. Carver-Montgomery; 5-5; 28
Others receiving votes: Hewitt-Trussville (8-3) 24, Baker (9-3) 19, Dothan (6-4) 11, Enterprise (6-4) 9, Daphne (9-3) 7, James Clemens (5-6) 7, Mary Montgomery (10-2) 5, Foley (4-6) 1.

CLASS 5A
Team (first-place); 2025 W-L; Pts.
1. Clay-Chalkville (20); 15-0; 240
2. Saraland; 13-1; 177
3. Parker; 8-4; 132
4. Benjamin Russell; 12-2; 125
5. Muscle Shoals; 12-1; 102
6. Pike Road; 10-3; 83
7. Homewood; 11-2; 58
8. Austin; 6-5; 36
9. Mountain Brook; 9-4; 28
10. Russell Co.; 10-2; 27
Others receiving votes: Fort Payne (10-2) 26, Boaz (8-3) 18, Oxford (5-6) 18, Gulf Shores (5-6) 16, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (6-4) 16, Ramsay (6-4) 12, Hartselle (10-2) 9, Jasper (8-3) 8, Bessemer City (9-2) 5, Florence (6-5) 3, Theodore (8-4) 1.

CLASS 4A
Team (first-place); 2025 W-L; Pts.
1. Williamson (18); 13-1; 225
2. Vigor; 12-3; 177
3. Central-Clay Co.; 11-2; 134
4. West Morgan (1); 11-1; 118
5. Alexandria; 10-2; 113
6. Scottsboro; 9-5; 80
7. Moody (1); 13-2; 65
8. Hamilton; 11-1; 48
9. Leeds; 6-5; 45
10. Northside; 11-1; 39
Others receiving votes: Anniston (14-1) 24, Jacksonville (6-6) 14, Andalusia (8-4) 10, Woodlawn (3-7) 9, Good Hope (10-3) 8, Guntersville (9-2) 8, Priceville (8-4) 7, Cherokee Co. (7-4) 4, Eufaula (6-5) 4, Fairview (12-1) 4, Selma (3-7) 4.

CLASS 3A
Team (first-place); 2025 W-L; Pts.
1. Plainview (16); 13-1; 227
2. Jackson (2); 13-2; 177
3. Geraldine (2); 11-2; 162
4. T.R. Miller; 6-5; 124
5. Handley; 10-2; 123
6. North Jackson; 7-4; 71
7. W.S. Neal; 9-4; 68
8. Opp; 9-2; 51
9. Pleasant Grove; 6-5; 48
10. Corner; 8-3; 37
Others receiving votes: Flomaton (6-5) 17, Cleburne Co. (4-6) 13, Winfield (9-3) 6, Oneonta (5-5) 5, Curry (3-7) 3, Hatton (7-4) 3, Bibb Co. (7-4) 2, Pike Co. (5-5) 2, BTW-Tuskegee (7-3) 1.

CLASS 2A
Team (first-place); 2025 W-L-T; Pts.
1. Piedmont (9); 13-1; 201
2. Fyffe (4); 8-3; 154
3. Luverne (2); 12-1; 146
4. Reeltown (2); 10-4; 112
5. Pleasant Valley; 10-2; 94
6. Southside-Selma (2); 13-1; 93
7. Lanett (1); 12-3; 72
8. Collinsville; 8-3; 70
9. Cottonwood; 7-4-1; 65
10. Pisgah; 11-3; 57
Others receiving votes: Ariton (9-2) 29, Vincent (9-3) 22, Gordo (11-2) 16, Lamar Co. (3-7) 5, Colbert Co. (8-4) 4.

CLASS 1A
Team (first-place); 2025 W-L; Pts.
1. Maplesville (20); 15-0; 240
2. Wadley; 13-1; 150
3. Addison; 12-2; 146
4. Hubbertville; 12-1; 124
5. Appalachian; 11-1; 108
6. Leroy; 13-1; 105
7. Southern Choctaw; 9-4; 94
8. McKenzie; 12-1; 34
9. Red Bay; 9-3; 28
10 Loachapoka; 8-4; 27
Others receiving votes: Winterboro (8-2) 23, Elba (3-8) 21, Spring Garden (6-5) 14, Sweet Water (6-4) 14, Woodville (7-4) 7, Georgiana (5-6) 2, Florala (4-6) 1, Hackleburg (8-4) 1, University Charter (9-2) 1.

PRIVATE CLASS 1A
Team (first-place); 2025 W-L; Pts.
1. McGill-Toolen (12); 6-5; 187
2. St. Michael (6); 13-1; 179
3. Briarwood (1); 7-6; 146
4. Madison Aca. (1); 9-3; 139
5. Catholic-Montgomery; 8-5; 87
Others receiving votes: St. Paul’s (6-4) 77, John Carroll (3-7) 13, UMS-Wright (6-5) 12.

PRIVATE CLASS 2A
Team (first-place); 2025 W-L; Pts.
1. Bayside Aca. (13); 13-2; 205
2. Westbrook Chr. (4); 10-2; 168
3. Montgomery Aca. (1); 11-2; 142
4. Cottage Hill; 10-2; 81
5. Mobile Chr.; 7-4; 72
Others receiving votes: Mars Hill Bible (1 first place) (15-0) 64, Tuscaloosa Aca. (9-4) 40, Providence Chr. (9-4) 31, Trinity (9-3) 16, Bayshore Chr. (1 first place) (1-7) 12, Coosa Chr. (13-2) 9.

AISA
Team (first-place); 2025 W-L; Pts.
1. Chambers Aca. (17); 12-2; 231
2. Patrician (1); 11-1; 175
3. Lowndes Aca.; 10-3; 159
4. Abbeville Chr. (2); 12-1; 134
5. Morgan Aca.; 5-6; 129
Others receiving votes: Autauga Aca. (8-4) 6, Wilcox Aca. (9-3) 6.

ASWA VOTERS
Amelia Hurley, Tuscaloosa News
Andrew Garner, Atmore Advance
Andrew Simonson, Shelby Co. Reporter
Ben Thomas, AL.com
Caleb Suggs, Decatur Daily
David Mundee, Dothan Eagle
Dennis Victory, AL.com
Heath Hambrick, Fort Payne Times-Journal
Jaeden Day, Montgomery Advertiser
Jake Winfrey, Cullman Times
Jason Bowen, Jackson Co. Sentinel
Joe Medley, East Alabama Sports Today
Johnathan Bentley, Dailly Mountain Eagle
Kyle Parmley, Starnes Media
Maxwell Donaldson, Gadsden Times
Scott Bentley, Small Town Sports
Shannon Fagan, WEIS Radio
Stacy Long, Florence TimesDaily
Thomas Ashworth, AL.com
Tripp Noris, Opp Bobcats Sports