(last updated 10/13/25, 11:50 am)

It’s time for ALPreps Bracketology for the 2025 season!

For Class 7A, the playoff format is different than 1A-6A. Please read more about it here. Last year was the first year for it and things will continue to look a little different than they have the last decade for 7A so please read the post for more specifics!

The boring, but important stuff:

Bracketology is something Joe Lunardi began in the 90’s as a way to predict the field of participants that would make the NCAA basketball tournament each year and where in the bracket they would be slotted.

We started this process with Alabama high school football back in 2016 and have done it every year since. We thought it would be a great way to help schools and the people involved with a team have some knowledge on who and where they may be playing in the playoffs, or if they will even make it at all.

Before we begin, a few things to note when reading the info below:

– This is all based on a few factors: A) Region record, B) strength of region record to that point, C) non-region record, which is only used for tiebreak purposes, and D) our own opinion. Most teams will be placed based on their region record at that point, but sometimes we may make a change based on our opinion of what we believe will happen in the future. When we do give our opinion or our own projections, we will note that.

– When it comes to non-region wins and tiebreakers, the most important thing to remember is – the quality of the opponents defeated in non-region wins means more than the quantity of non-region wins your team has. For instance, Team A with a 1-2 non-region record can be ahead of Team B with a 3-0 non-region record if the one team that Team A beat has more wins than the 3 teams combined that Team B defeated.

– It’s also important to note that a team can’t lose a tiebreaker, only win it. For instance, if three teams beat each other within the season to cause a 3-way tie, and it goes to non-region wins or some other tiebreaker where one team is clearly out of the running to win it, then that doesn’t mean they are out of the running if there are more playoff spots to get. Teams with bad records are rewarded for their region wins just like teams with good records are punished for their region losses.

– The numbers next to a team on the bracket represent their region and seed. So if a team has “3-2” next to their name, it’s not a record, it means they are the second seed out of region 3.

– Just because a team isn’t listed, doesn’t necessarily mean they are mathematically eliminated. They very well may be officially eliminated or our projections just don’t show them as having a high probability of making the playoffs. Many teams may not be mathematically eliminated until the final week or two of region play, but many times the stars have to align just right for them to make it in, so we may not have them in the projection.

– And most importantly, all of this is unofficial. The AHSAA alone determines the bracket and various factors may change our projections when the official bracket is released. This is simply a tool to help show what could be possible.

Here is the ALPreps bracketology for Class 7A as of right now:

Confidence

LOCKED = Locked into that position no matter what
HIGH = High confidence that the team will most likely will finish close to where they are now
MEDIUM = Medium confidence that the team will most likely will finish within a spot or two of where our projections have them
LOW = May be in good position now, but low confidence that they end up in that spot as things could drastically change with just one or two results

(records are region records only)

1. Mary Montgomery (5-0) – HIGH
2. Fairhope (4-1) – MEDIUM
3. Daphne (4-1) – MEDIUM
4. Baker (4-1) – MEDIUM

Others that could grab a spot: None

Fairhope has Daphne and Baker coming up to help determine second. Mary Montgomery has already beaten Fairhope and Daphne, and face Baker this week and can win the region title with a victory.

Davidson is 2-3, but already lost to Fairhope, Daphne and Baker, so they would lose all tiebreakers there. So the four playoff teams should be set, just have to determine the order.

1. Central-Phenix City (5-0) – HIGH
2. Carver-Montgomery (4-1) – MEDIUM
3. Auburn (4-1) – MEDIUM
4. Opelika (3-2) – LOW

Others that could grab a spot: Enterprise (1-4), Dothan (2-3)

Central will win the title with a win over Opelika this week. Carver and Auburn also play this week for second.

Opelika lost to Enterprise this week, so they fell back a little. Opelika isn’t safe because they have Central and Carver left and must win one of those to guarantee themselves a spot. Meanwhile, Enterprise has gone through all of the tough teams and have the two bottom teams left in JAG and Smiths Station.

Dothan sits at 2-3 with an early season win over Enterprise, and should beat Smiths Station. However, it will come down to the Dothan/Auburn game on October 24. If Dothan wins that (and Opelika loses to Central/Carver), they are in. If Dothan loses that, we may go to a 3-way non-region tiebreaker. Let’s see what happens this week, then we can more accurately break that down.

1. Thompson (5-0) – HIGH
2. Hewitt-Trussville (3-2) – MEDIUM
3. Vestavia Hills (3-2) – LOW
4. Hoover (3-2) – LOW

Others that could grab a spot: Prattville (3-2), Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (2-3)

This is what we call a disaster!

Thompson is in the driver’s seat and only needs to win one more, but they are playing two teams fighting for a spot in Hoover and Prattville and both are on the road. And while they only have to win one, a loss to either team all of the sudden gives that team some major tiebreaker strength with a win over #1.

Hewitt falling to Prattville last week was not something I saw coming, and is part of why we are in this mess. Hillcrest, despite a win over Hoover, is now on the outside – but they face Prattville this week. It becomes a must win for both.

ASSUMING Thompson beats Hoover and Hewitt doesn’t surprise again and make it even worse with a loss to Oak Mountain – then a lot will ride on that Hoover/Vestavia game (and a little on Prattville/Thompson).

We won’t get into non-region stuff yet, because there is a lot to play out, but here is how the standings will be depending on the outcome of Hillcrest/Prattville and the above happening:

Prattville wins:

4. Prattville 4-2
5. Hoover 3-3
6. Hillcrest 2-4

Hillcrest wins:

4. Hillcrest 3-3
5. Hoover 3-3
6. Prattville 3-3

Hoover falls to fifth with a loss this week regardless, despite having beaten Prattville, because Prattville will be a game up or they will lose the tiebreaker to Hillcrest (who would have beaten both Hoover AND Prattville).

If Hoover wins over Thompson, then we are talking about another 4-2 team with a win over #1 – but the Vestavia game will still count for a lot.

We have to wait and see what happens in Thompson/Hoover and Hillcrest/Prattville – Hewitt and Vestavia should take care of business.

1. Austin (4-1) – LOW
2. Florence (4-1) – LOW
3. James Clemens (3-2) – LOW
4. Sparkman (3-2)) – LOW

Others that could grab a spot: Huntsville (3-2), Bob Jones (2-3)

This region is also going to be a headache. Right now, despite a win over current #1 Austin, Huntsville is still out due to loses to James Clemens and Sparkman (and James Clemens beat Sparkman). Bob Jones also has a win over James Clemens and faces Huntsville in the final week while Florence faces Huntsville this week.

We will let this play out more this week, but if it gets to any kind of 3-way tiebreaker, it could be complicated again because Florence, James Clemens and Sparkman have 0 non-region wins. Austin only has one over 2-win Decatur and Huntsville has two wins over a couple of average teams (and they all still have games left to play).