2025-26 AHSAA Sports Book: New Pairings and Exciting Matchups Revealed
The AHSAA has released its annual Sports Book, revealing region and area pairings for the 2025-26 playoffs. The first-round pairings for football, basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball have been rotated to prevent repeated matchups. Football sees significant changes with Class 7A regions rotating pairings every three years. Local teams like Thompson and Oak Mountain will face different opponents in the first round of the playoffs.
Other sports have also seen changes in pairings, with basketball, soccer, and volleyball teams being grouped geographically. Thompson has moved to the Northeast Regional in boys and girls basketball, creating new matchups in the Sweet 16. Volleyball's Class 6A, Area 7, will now be paired with Area 2, setting up potential rematches from the 2024 state tournament.
Soccer has seen the least changes, with most area pairings remaining the same for county teams in Classes 5A-7A. However, Westminster OM's pairing in Class 4A, Area 4, has changed to Area 5. For a full list of first-round region pairings for football and area pairings for other sports, refer to the detailed breakdown provided.
In conclusion, the AHSAA's rotation of first-round pairings for various sports has created new and exciting matchups for the 2025-26 playoffs. Teams like Thompson, Oak Mountain, and others will face different opponents, adding an element of unpredictability to the postseason. Fans can look forward to thrilling games and potential rematches as the season progresses.