Sports

43 football teams that have moved up in class, including two 2025 champs

Creekside and Worth County are reigning state champions, but they’ll be playing in higher classes this season.

Creekside wide receiver Armani Hill (right) makes a catch while Kell defensive back Robert Tyson Jr. tries to intercept during the Class 4A semifinals last season. Both teams are playing in a higher class this season. (Oscar Guevara Saenz for the AJC)

Credit: Oscar Guevara Saenz

Credit: Oscar Guevara Saenz

Creekside wide receiver Armani Hill (right) makes a catch while Kell defensive back Robert Tyson Jr. tries to intercept during the Class 4A semifinals last season. Both teams are playing in a higher class this season. (Oscar Guevara Saenz for the AJC)

By Todd Holcomb

5 hours ago

Forty-three football-playing schools are playing up in class this season. Those include 2025 Class 4A champion Creekside and A Division I champion Worth County. This list accounts for the GHSA’s renaming of the classes. GHSA classes are now 7A through A instead of 6A through A Division II.

Explore10 storylines to watch as 2026 GHSA football season approaches

For example, Creekside is now in 6A, up from 4A, effectively only a one-class jump from the third-highest to the second-highest class.

Class 7A

Kennesaw Mountain
Northgate
Seckinger

Class 6A

Cedar Shoals
Creekside
Hiram
Kell
Midtown
Northside (Columbus)
Walnut Grove

Class 5A

Groves
Jefferson
Jenkins
Johnson (Gainesville)
LaGrange
Richmond Academy
Whitewater

Class 4A

Columbus
East Jackson
Hardaway
Salem
Shaw
Spencer
Westside (Macon)

Class 3A

Brantley County
Central (Macon)
Elbert County
Haralson County
Lamar County
McNair
Northeast
Southwest
Temple
Toombs County
Towers
Washington County
Worth County

Class 2A

Brooks County
Bryan County
Metter
Mount Zion (Carroll)
Savannah
Screven County

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Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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