The Alabama High School Athletic Association has voted today to split private and public schools in championship football play beginning next fall.
The central board voted 13-2 in favor of the split, which will take effect for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years.
The association says their move will not limit public and private schools’ ability to play one another in the regular season, but will merely separate the championship paths and make the prospects of a state championship fair and equitable for all teams.
Private schools will no longer be grouped into one of the seven enrollment-based classifications that the AHSAA will continue to use for public schools. The private schools will instead be in one of two classes, large or small schools.
The association has not said if or when they will adopt a similar division in other sports.