10 things to know before the start of the Alabama high school football playoffs
Reading time: 7 minutes
November has arrived and colder weather is here which means it’s time for some playoff football.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) football playoffs kick off this week as 272 total teams reset to 0-0 as they chase nine blue map trophies up for grabs at Protective Stadium next month.
There are several big storylines to follow throughout the next five weeks so let’s dive right into the 10 things you need to know before kickoff.
Repeat champions
All nine of last season’s state champions are back in the playoffs this year and several of them are among the favorites to repeat in 2025 but only two are ranked No. 1 entering the postseason.
Last year’s champions, along with their most recent ASWA ranking, include:
- 7A: No. 3 Thompson
- 6A: No. 9 Parker
- 5A: No. 10 Catholic Montgomery
- 4A: No. 2 Jackson
- 3A: No. 1 Mars Hill
- 2A: No. 4 Reeltown
- 1A: No. 1 Wadley
While the ASWA does not yet do flag football rankings, Central-Phenix City (6A-7A) and Catholic Montgomery (1A-5A) are also back in the playoffs.
The chase for 15-0
Only two teams finished unbeaten in 2024—Catholic Montgomery and Wadley—but no teams finished with the coveted 15-0 mark. It was the first time since 1999 zero teams had a 15-0 record.
In the last decade, 14 teams have finished with a 15-0 record including three teams from the 2023 season. Fyffe has accomplished the feat six times since 2014.
This year, there are still 17 teams who could reach that mark including:
- 6A: Clay-Chalkville
- 5A: Fairview, Northside
- 4A: Anniston, Hamilton, Plainview, St. Michael, West Morgan
- 3A: Mars Hill, Piedmont, Southside Selma
- 2A: Luverne
- 1A: Appalachian, Hubbertville, Leroy, Maplesville, McKenzie
To get to 15-0, you had to go win 10 games in the regular season + be in classifications 1A-6A since 7A only plays four playoff rounds.
Clay-Chalkville vs. Saraland collision course
Class 6A is by most accounts the deepest classification in the state but two teams have seemingly separated themselves from the rest of the class this season.
Clay-Chalkville is the only 6A team to go 10-0 in the regular season which included a win over Thompson. The Cougars had a 38-point average margin of victory, the largest in 6A.
Meanwhile, Saraland counters with a perfect 9-0 regular season record, outscoring its opponents by 33.1 points per game. The Spartans have not had a game decided by single digits so far this season.
Could we be in for another round of Saraland vs. Clay-Chalkville? Other 6A teams will certainly have something to say about that but I have a feeling most neutral fans would be happy to see that matchup in Birmingham next month.
The Gunner Rivers Show
It can be hard to live up the hype when you’re the son of an NFL quarterback but Gunner Rivers has delivered for St. Michael this season.
There wasn’t many people who thought Jackson would be challenged in 4A but Rivers and Co. took down the Aggies and won the region title with a 10-0 regular season.
Now, the Cardinals are the top-ranked team in 4A with a target on their backs… and a potential rematch with Jackson looming in the semifinals.
A blue map might make Gunner Rivers the frontrunner for this year’s Mr. Football award.
7A bracket busters
The Class 7A bracket has a different format than any other classification with North and South teams mixing together before the Super 7. This year’s bracket layout means there will be a new championship matchup for the first time since 2022.
Central-Phenix City and Thompson are on the same side of the bracket, meaning the two teams could meet in the semifinals. But that’s not even a guarantee.
Meanwhile, Auburn is on the opposite side of the bracket along with No. 2 Vestavia Hills.
Thompson has made seven straight appearances in the Super 7. The only other teams to make the state championship game during that span are Central-Phenix City and Auburn.
Will we see something new this season?
4 seeds to keep an eye on
Speaking of Class 7A, the biggest 4 seed in the state is hoping to make some noise in the opening round.
It’s certainly difficult to call Hoover a Cinderella story in any season but if there was ever a season the Bucs fit the mold, it could be this year.
Hoover has won 27 consecutive first round games but none of them may have been tougher than traveling to take on No. 1 Central-Phenix City. The Bucs already have a win over Thompson though so don’t count out the high school football powerhouse.
Other 4 seeds to keep an eye on this week and beyond include:
- McGill-Toolen (6A)
- Pell City (6A)
- Corner (5A)
- Leeds (5A)
- Mobile Christian (4A)
- Bibb County (4A)
- Providence Christian (2A)
Last year, just six four seeds across seven classifications won first round games. The record for most four seeds to advance in a single season was nine set in 2013 and 2018.
Coaches with the most state titles
Clay Central’s Danny Horn is currently tied with former UMS-Wright head coach Terry Curtis for the most state championships (8) in AHSAA football history.
Curtis retired after last season which means Horn can move to sole possession of No. 1 on the list if his 5th-ranked Volunteers can make a run in the 5A playoffs. The program is looking for its first blue map since going back-to-back in 2018 + 2019.
If Clay Central does not win the 5A title, two other coaches could move into a tie for the lead with Horn and Curtis.
Thompson’s Mark Freeman currently has seven titles—5 with Thompson and 2 with Spanish Fort. The Warriors have made seven straight championship game appearances in 7A.
Paul Benefield could also get championship No. 8 next month. Fyffe has made 12 straight quarterfinal appearances which has included seven state titles during that span.
First playoff wins
While there are no schools making their first ever playoff appearance, there are six squads who are hoping to claim their first playoff win.
Here are the six teams that could make program history Friday night:
- Bullock County at Oak Grove
- Chickasaw at Cottonwood
- Winston County at Pleasant Valley
- Sipsey Valley at Clay Central
- Notasulga at University Charter
- Meek at Woodville
Flag football brackets
While we wait for Friday Night Lights to kick off, the girls’ flag football state tournaments begin Tuesday night.
As the number of teams throughout the state continues to grow, the playoffs have expanded. Both the 6A-7A and the 1A-5A brackets include 32 total teams.
Stay up to date with results + the schedule for the flag football tournaments leading up to the Super 7:
Super 7 schedule
Reminder that the Super 7 will return to Birmingham’s Protective Stadium for the second straight year after the AHSAA rearranged the hosting schedule when Tuscaloosa + Auburn had to drop out.
Here is this year’s schedule:
- Wednesday, Dec. 3
- 1A-5A flag | 11AM
- 6A-7A flag | 3PM
- 7A | 7PM
- Thursday, Dec. 4
- 3A | 11AM
- 1A | 3PM
- 5A | 7PM
- Friday, Dec. 5
- 4A | 11AM
- 2A | 3PM
- 6A | 7PM
Which teams will make it to this year’s Super 7? Let us know what you think by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
