2026 Alabama Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings

Thompson is the early front-runner after winning state championship in 2025.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Thomas Frey
By
Aug 3, 2026, 12:00pm
State champion Thompson (Alabaster) enters 2026 as the top-ranked team in the MaxPreps preseason top 25 for Alabama.

The Warriors defeated Opelika 48-10 to capture the program's second straight AHSAA championship and sixth over the past seven years. Alabama commit Trent Seaborn leads the offense with 10,145 career passing yards and 103 touchdowns.

Other players to watch from the Yellowhammer State this season include St. Michael Catholic (Fairhope) quarterback Gunner Rivers, a four-star North Carolina State recruit, as well as five-star linebacker from the class of 2028 in Nehemiah McCary of Maplesville.

Reigning Alabama state champions include Clay-Chalkville (Pinson) in Class 6A, Moody in Class 5A, Jackson in Class 4A, Mars Hill Bible (Florence) in Class 3A, Coosa Christian (Gadsden) in Class 2A and Maplesville in Class 1A.
Thompson quarterback Trent Seaborn has passed for over 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns in his career, now he goes for a fourth state title as a starter. (PHOTO: Brandon Sumrall)
Thompson quarterback Trent Seaborn has passed for over 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns in his career, now he goes for a fourth state title as a starter. (PHOTO: Brandon Sumrall)
MaxPreps Preseason Alabama Top 25
1. Thompson (Alabaster), 11-3 in 2025
2. Clay-Chalkville (Pinson), 15-0
3. Central (Phenix City), 11-2
4. Saraland, 13-1
5. Auburn, 10-3
6. Vestavia Hills, 8-3
7. Hoover, 6-5
8. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville), 8-2
9. Jackson, 13-2
10. Opelika, 10-4
11. Mars Hill Bible (Florence), 15-0
12. Carver Montgomery (Montgomery), 5-5
13. Dothan, 6-4
14. Enterprise, 6-4
15. Parker (Birmingham), 8-4
16. Hillcrest (Tuscaloosa), 6-4
17. Prattville, 6-4
18. Baker (Mobile), 9-3
19. Pike Road, 10-3
20. Mountain Brook (Birmingham), 9-4
21. Muscle Shoals, 12-1
22. Moody, 13-2
23. Benjamin Russell (Alexander City), 12-2
24. Mary G. Montgomery (Semmes), 10-2
25. Spain Park (Hoover), 9-3

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