(last updated 4/20/26, 10:46 am)

It’s time for ALPreps Bracketology for the 2026 season!

For Class 6A, the playoff format is different than 1A-5A. For the first time ever, 24 teams will make the playoff from the largest classification. That means SIX teams from each region will qualify for the playoffs instead of four like in every other classification. That also means two teams will receive a first round bye from each region. This gives an added reason to want to finish top 2, although #3 and #4 from each region will still host at least one playoff game in round one, unlike in previous years.

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.

I started this process with Alabama high school football back in 2016 and have done it every year since. I 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) current 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 opinions and projections. 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 non-region wins means more than the quantity of non-region wins. 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.

– There have recently been some different interpretations of wording in the rule book when it comes to tiebreakers between schools and the AHSAA. We can only go off how we interpret the words that are written and past precedent in similar scenarios. We may get something wrong based on our interpretation, and if so – don’t forget that the AHSAA has the final word and whatever they say goes, whether we like it or not.

– 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. Current region records are listed on the breakdown of each region.

– Just because a team isn’t listed, doesn’t necessarily mean they are mathematically eliminated. They may be officially eliminated or our projections just don’t show them as having a high probability of making the playoffs.

– And most importantly, all of this is unofficial. The AHSAA 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 6A 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. Baker (6-1) – beat Mary Montgomery 43-28
2. Mary Montgomery (6-1)
3. Fairhope (5-2) – beat Daphne 38-21
4. Daphne (5-2)
5. Davidson (3-4)
6. Foley (2-5)

Others that could grab a spot: None

Last year this region went 4-0 in their first round games before going 0-4 in round 2. Davidson (5-5) and Foley (4-6) would have made the playoffs last year with Robertsdale finishing 7th and Alma Bryant in last.

1. Central-Phenix City (7-0)
2. Auburn (6-1)
3. Opelika (4-3) – beat Carver 24-14
4. Carver-Montgomery (4-3)
5. Dothan (3-4) – beat Enterprise 69-28
6. Enterprise (3-4)

Others that could grab a spot: None

This is a region where #5 and #6 could win a game or two in the playoffs. Both are teams that are always close to the cut line, but can compete with anyone. Dothan lost to state runner-up Opelika by 7 and Enterprise beat Opelika by 22. They both had winning records overall.

The two that missed were Smiths Station (2-8) and JAG (1-9).

1. Thompson (6-1)
2. Hewitt-Trussville (5-2) – beat Vestavia 28-14
3. Vestavia Hills (5-2)
4. Hoover (4-3) – beat Prattville 48-23
5. Spain Park (NEW)
6. Prattville (4-3)

Others that could grab a spot: None

Another region where #5 and #6 could do some damage. Prattville was hot at the end of the season after beating Hewitt, Hillcrest and keeping it within two scores against Thompson – and Hillcrest (who would have been #6, but has moved down to 5A) beat Hoover. Both teams had winning records.

Spain Park is the newcomer to the region, although they aren’t really new. They dropped down a classification and played in the old 6A the last two years going a combined 21-4, losing to Saraland in the playoffs both years. Their last year in this region saw them go 7-3 overall, but just miss out on the playoffs after a 28-20 loss to Hoover made them finish fifth. In this new system, they should definitely be a playoff team. It’s a tall task to get past the hump of the top four teams, although they did beat Hoover two years ago and went 5-1 against 7A teams in the last two years.

Oak Mountain (4-6) was 7th and Tuscaloosa County (1-9) was last.

1. Sparkman (5-2)
2. James Clemens (5-2)
3. Gadsden City (NEW)
4. Huntsville (4-3)
5. Bob Jones (3-4)
6. Buckhorn (NEW)

Others that could grab a spot: None

UPDATE:

This region was wild last year. It ended in a four way tie for first that the state interpreted differently than…well, all of us. It led to Sparkman and James Clemens being #1 and #2 despite having 5-5 overall records. The team with the best full season record was actually Huntsville at 7-3. Huntsville beat Austin and Bob Jones beat James Clemens. Austin (6-5) was third and Florence (6-5) was fourth, but they drop down to Class 5A.

This region beat up on itself last year, and rode that chaos to an 0-4 record in the first round of the playoffs. Region 4 hasn’t won a single playoff game since 2019 and teams currently in this region for 2026 have only won a total of 7 7A playoff games in 12 years.

The two teams that missed were Albertville (1-9) in seventh and Grissom (1-9) in last. Albertville dropped down to 5A. Also joining this region is Hazel Green who has struggled over the last decade.