​Jul. 8 — With the Fourth of July holidays behind us, Alabama is turning its attention to football. High school teams will begin practice in under a month as they prepare for their opening games on Aug. 21. This season brings a major shakeup: the AHSAA has restructured from seven public-school classifications to six, featuring just 32 teams in the new Class 6A and reshaping Classes 1A-5A. Private schools now have their own separate classifications as well.
Amid all the changes, fans can expect plenty of exciting matchups and several key games early in the season. Here’s a look at some of the biggest offerings from each week.
Week 0 — West Morgan Rebels at Athens Golden Eagles
The opening week promises a string of strong Friday-night contests, including Austin at James Clemens and Hartselle at Bob Jones. The most intriguing clash may be Athens hosting West Morgan. The Rebels have been among the top programs in north Alabama in recent years, boasting a 36-3 record over the last three seasons, three undefeated regular seasons, and three region titles. They’ll test their mettle against a bigger school in Athens, a longtime playoff staple that has dropped from former Class 6A to Class 5A. This game also marks a notable coaching reunion: West Morgan head coach Drew Phillips previously served as Athens’ offensive coordinator under head coach Cody Gross before taking the Rebels’ job in 2021.
Week 1 — Hartselle Tigers at Cullman Bearcats
Hartselle and Cullman have long been one of the state’s marquee rivalries, though the series has tilted in favor of Hartselle in recent years, with five straight wins and four of those by 21 points or more. This season could tilt the balance anew. Cullman is entering its second year under head coach Trent Walker, building on a late-season surge last year that saw four wins in the final five games with a younger roster. Hartselle, by contrast, fields a largely new group after graduating around 30 seniors from a 10-2 squad. The Woodard Stadium setting should amplify the stakes, and the matchup is poised to deliver one of the most competitive installments of the rivalry in memory.
Week 2 — Decatur Red Raiders at Austin Black Bears and Hatton Hornets at Winfield
The River City Rivalry will return to the region slate for the first time since 2017 in Week 2, and Austin has dominated the series recently, winning 10 of the last 11 meetings, including the last three by a combined score of 123-9. Following back-to-back 2-8 seasons, Decatur is aiming to make a substantial leap in year three under head coach John Ritter. Meanwhile, Hatton visits Winfield in another high-profile Week 2 matchup that should draw significant attention from fans across the district and beyond.
With so many changes and fresh implications across classifications, this season is expected to deliver a wealth of compelling contests, early-season shocks, and evolving rivalries as Alabama’s high school teams chart a bold new chapter on the gridiron.