What you need to know about the 2020 high school football season in Alabama

Alabama is one of 35 states planning to play football this fall. Fifteen others plus the District of Columbia have moved their respective seasons to 2021.

In Alabama, a total of 193 games are set to kick off on Thursday through Saturday.

In advance of season openers, here's a look at what you need to know about Alabama football in 2020.

Top 5 Games
Oxford at Thompson (Alabaster), Aug. 22
Thompson at Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville), Sept. 18
Hoover at Hewitt-Trussville, Oct. 2
Hoover at Thompson, Oct. 23
Central (Phenix City) at Oxford, Oct. 30

Top 5 Teams
1. Hoover
2. Oxford
3. Thompson
4. Hewitt-Trussville
5. Central

Defending Champions
7A: Thompson
6A: Oxford
5A: Central of Clay County (Lineville)
4A: UMS-Wright Prep (Mobile)
3A: Piedmont
2A: Fyffe
1A: Lanett
AISA AAA: Bessemer Academy (Bessemer)
AISA AA: Autauga Academy (Prattville)
AISA A: Southern Academy (Greensboro)

Top 5 Recruits
1. Ga'Quincy McKinstry, CB, Pinson Valley (Pinson), (No. 22 overall nationally by 247Sports)
2. Dylan Brooks, DE, Handley (Roanoke), (32)
3. Lee Hunter, DT, Blount (Eight Mile, Ala.), (55)
4. Armoni Goodwin, RB, Hewitt-Trussville, (89)
5. Jeremiah Williams, DE, Ramsay (Birmingham), (103)

Returning Stat Leaders
Passing
Zyquez Perryman, Pleasant Grove, 178-262, 3,027 yards, 35 touchdowns
Hess Horne, Eufaula, 191-301, 2,763 yards, 32 touchdowns
Rushing
Kelston Fikes, Leroy, 242 carries, 2,230 yards, 23 touchdowns
Damien Taylor, Tuscaloosa County (Northport), 231 carries, 1,838 yards, 17 touchdowns
Receiving
Sean Zerkle, St. John Paul II (Huntsville), 80 catches, 1,720 yards, 25 touchdowns (transferred to Decatur Heritage Christian)
Evan Delp, Coosa Christian (Gadsden, Ala.), 41 catches, 1,489 yards, 18 touchdowns