A New Era in Alabama High School Sports: AHSAA Splits Public and Private School Playoffs

The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) has approved one of the most sweeping structural changes in its history - a full separation of public and private schools for postseason play beginning in the fall of 2026. While regular‑season matchups between public and private schools will still be allowed, the road to a state championship will now run on two entirely different tracks.

This decision reshapes competitive balance, alters long‑standing traditions, and raises new questions for communities across Alabama - especially those with deep ties to private‑school athletics.

What Exactly Is Changing?

Separate Playoffs

- Public and private schools will no longer compete for the same state championships.

- Public schools will be divided into six classifications (1A–6A).

- Private schools will compete in two classifications: A and AA, based strictly on enrollment.

End of the Multiplier Era

- The long‑used 1.35 enrollment multiplier for private schools is gone.

- The competitive‑balance factor, added in 2018, is also eliminated.

Why the Change?

AHSAA leaders describe the move as a "restructuring," not a separation - arguing it expands championship opportunities and better aligns schools with similar enrollment profiles.

But the decision follows:

- Months of debate over competitive fairness

- A lawsuit from Gov. Kay Ivey regarding eligibility rules tied to the CHOOSE Act

- Private‑school concerns about scheduling flexibility and travel burdens

Reactions Across Alabama

Private Schools: Concern and Frustration

Many private‑school leaders say the split creates more problems than it solves.

- Josh Roberts, headmaster at Alabama Christian Academy, said coaches now have less scheduling flexibility.

- Beckie Share, principal at Tuscaloosa Academy, questioned the purpose and benefit of the change.

- Montgomery Catholic president Justin Castanza expressed "cautious optimism" but warned of increased travel and fewer local opponents.

Some fear that private‑school championships - especially in smaller sports like flag football - may be viewed as less prestigious.

Public Schools: A Long‑Awaited Shift

Public‑school advocates have long argued that private schools held competitive advantages. Many see the new structure as a return to fairness and a chance for more balanced postseason brackets.

Political Pushback

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth (R) - in comments to the Montgomery Advertiser - sharply criticized the decision, accusing AHSAA leadership of undermining competitiveness and fairness.

"I'm confident that AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon and the governing board will be remembered for extinguishing the flame of competitiveness and abandoning any effort at simple fairness and good sportsmanship under their watch."

The AHSAA was locked in a legal battle with Governor Kay Ivey (R) and Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) who had sued the association for their refusal to allow Choose Act students play in competitive sports. That defiance was about to lead to legislation that was expected to be dropped on Tuesday. The AHSAA leadership did not wait for the legislation instead choosing to torpedo the political process.

"Rather than allowing CHOOSE Act students to retain their eligibility, as the law requires, Harmon and the AHSAA have opted, instead, to segregate our public and private schools, which is punitive, wrong, and just plain hateful."

Legislators that spoke to the Alabama Gazette said that the AHSAA "will regret this."

What This Means for Alabama Communities

For Fans

Expect:

- New playoff brackets

- New rivalries

- Fewer public‑vs‑private postseason showdowns that once defined Alabama high school sports

For Athletes

The AHSAA argues the change will:

- Create more equitable competition

- Reduce mismatches

- Expand championship opportunities

For Schools

Private schools may face:

- Longer travel for region play

- Fewer local scheduling options

- Smaller playoff fields

Public schools may see:

- More predictable competitive balance

- A clearer path to championships

When Does It Start?

The split begins with the 2026–27 school year and will remain in place through at least 2027–28.

Final Thoughts

This is a defining moment for high school sports in Alabama. For decades, public and private schools have battled for the same blue maps, creating some of the most memorable championship moments in state history. Now, the landscape is being reshaped - not just on paper, but in the identity of communities that rally around Friday‑night lights, gym‑floor rivalries, and postseason dreams. There will almost certainly be legislation introduced in the current session to address this defiant action by the AHSAA. Could that mean the creation of a new state agency that regulates high school sports - stripping the AHSAA of any and all authority? Friday's rash action by the AHSAA makes the "nuclear option" a real possibility.

(Brandon Moseley contributed to this report.)