Preseason Power 25 Rankings: Tight race for No. 1 as season starts
One point separates the top two teams in AL.com’s preseason Power 25 high school football rankings.
Reigning four-time Class 7A state champion Thompson starts 2023 where it finished 2022 – at the No. 1 spot.
However, reigning 6A champ Saraland is just one point behind. Both received two first-place votes in the opening poll.
Four AL.com high school “experts” vote each week on the Power 25, which ranks teams in Alabama regardless of classification. Each first-place vote is worth 25 points, second place 24 and so on.
The AHSAA high school season officially kicks off Thursday night, and Week 1 includes several top 10 matchups.
Here are the 2023 preseason power 25 rankings:
25. (TIE) Mary G. Montgomery
Final 2022 record: 6-5 (lost at Central-Phenix City in Round 1 of the Class 7A playoffs)
Final 2022 power ranking: NR
Total points: 14
Highest rank this week: No. 14
First game: at Williamson, Friday (Ladd-Peebles Stadium)
25. (TIE) Enterprise
Final 2022 record: 8-4 (lost at Central-Phenix City in Round 2 of 7A playoffs)
Final 2022 power ranking: NR
Total points: 14
Highest rank this week: No. 13
First game: vs. Eufaula, Friday
24. Parker
Final 2022 record: 7-5 (lost to Muscle Shoals in Round 2 of 6A playoffs)
Final 2022 power ranking: NR
Total points: 17
Highest rank this week: No. 9
First game: vs. Fairfield, Friday
23. Pleasant Grove
Final 2022 record: 11-2 (lost at Ramsay in 5A semifinals)
Final 2022 power ranking: Tied for 19
Total points: 18
Highest rank this week: No. 16
First game: at Smiths Station, Aug. 25
22. UMS-Wright
Final 2022 record: 12-1 (lost at Charles Henderson in 5A quarterfinals)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 16
Total points: 19
Highest rank this week: No. 18
First game: vs. St. Paul’s, Friday
21. Spanish Fort
Final 2022 record: 7-4 (lost at Pike Road in Round 1 of 6A playoffs)
Final 2022 power ranking: NR
Total points: 20
Highest rank this week: No. 11
First game: vs. Fairhope, Thursday
20. Florence
Final 2022 record: 8-3 (lost to Hewitt-Trussville in Round 1 of 7A playoffs)
Final 2022 power ranking:
Total points: 21
Highest rank this week: No. 14
First game: at Pinson Valley, Friday
19. Montgomery Catholic
Final 2022 record: 13-1 (lost to Andalusia in 4A semifinals)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 17
Total points: 23
Highest rank this week: No. 12
First game: at McGill-Toolen, Friday
17. (TIE) Fyffe
Final 2022 record: 15-0 (2A state champs)
Final 2022 power ranking: Tied for No. 10
Total points: 24
Highest rank this week: No. 16
First game: vs. Geraldine, Sept. 1
17. (TIE) Muscle Shoals
Final 2022 record: 11-2 (lost to Mountain Brook in 6A semifinals)
Final 2022 power ranking: Tied for No. 10
Total points: 24
Highest rank this week: No. 13
First game: vs. Bob Jones, Thursday
16. St. James
Final 2022 record: 13-2 (3A state champs)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 13
Total points: 33
Highest rank this week: No. 10
First game: vs. Montgomery Academy, Friday
15. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
Final 2022 record: 11-1 (lost to Saraland in Round 2 of 6A playoffs)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 23
Total points: 34
Highest rank this week: No. 11
First game: vs. Southaven, Miss., Saturday
14. Vestavia Hills
Final 2022 record: 7-5 (lost at Thompson in Round 2 of 7A playoffs)
Final 2022 power ranking: Tied for 19
Total points: 45
Highest rank this week: No. 8
First game: at No. 8 Mountain Brook, Thursday
13. Andalusia
Final 2022 record: 14-1 (4A state champs)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 9
Total points: 46
Highest rank this week: No. 9
First game: at Opp, Thursday
12. Charles Henderson
Final 2022 record: 12-2 (lost to Ramsay in 5A championship)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 15
Total points: 49
Highest rank this week: No. 7
First game: vs. Pike County, Friday
11. Hartselle
Final 2022 record: 12-1 (lost at Mountain Brook in 6A quarterfinals)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 12
Total points: 56
Highest rank this week: No. 8
First game: at Austin, Friday
THE TOP 10
Hewitt-Trussville players pose for a photo taken by coach Josh Floyd during AL.com high school football media days at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala., Monday, July 31, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
10. Hewitt-Trussville
Final 2022 record: 8-4 (lost at Hoover in Round 2 of 7A playoffs)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 25
Total points: 57
Highest rank this week: No. 6
First game: vs. No. 3 Central-Phenix City, Friday
Theodore’s Crishon Overton and the Bobcats practice Monday, August 7, 2023, in Theodore, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
8. (TIE) Theodore
Final 2022 record: 13-1 (lost to Saraland in 6A semifinals)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 5
Total points: 61
Highest rank this week: No. 9
First game: at Baker, Friday
Mountain Brook’s Cole Gamble talks with a TV reporter during AL.com high school football media days at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala., Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
8. (TIE) Mountain Brook
Final 2022 record: 12-3 (lost to Saraland in 6A championship game)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 8
Total points: 61
Highest rank this week: No. 7
First game: vs. No. 14 Vestavia Hills, Thursday
Ramsay meets the media during AL.com high school football media days at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala., Monday, July 31, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
7. Ramsay
Final 2022 record: 13-2 (5A state champions)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 7
Total points: 63
Highest rank this week: No. 8
First game: at Hueytown, Friday
Clay Chalkville’s head coach Drew Gilmer during a game at Warriror Stadium in Alabaster, Ala., Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
6. Clay-Chalkville
Final 2022 record: 8-2 (lost to Parker in Round 1 of 6A playoffs)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 22
Total points: 81
Highest rank this week: No. 4
First game: at Briarwood, Friday
Hoover coach Wade Waldrop talks about the season during AL.com high school football media days at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala., Monday, July 31, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
4. (TIE) Hoover
Final 2022 record: 11-2 (lost to Thompson in 7A semifinals)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 4
Total points: 86
Highest rank this week: No. 3
First game: vs. No. 4 Auburn, Friday
Thompson’s Elijah Williams closes in on Auburn’s DV Williams during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 7A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
4. (TIE) Auburn
Final 2022 record: 12-2 (lost to Thompson in 7A championship game)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 3
Total points: 86
Highest rank this week: No. 4
First game: at No. 4 Hoover, Friday
Central-Phenix City head coach Patrick Nix talks to the team during warm ups before an AHSAA football game Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Phenix City, Alabama. (Julie Bennett for AL.com)Julie Bennett for AL.com
3. Central-Phenix City
Final 2022 record: 10-3 (lost to Auburn in 7A semifinals)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 6
Total points: 91
Highest rank this week: No. 2
First game: at No. 10 Hewitt-Trussville, Friday
Saraland head coach Jeff Kelly discusses the upcoming prep football season during Day 1 of Mobile County Media Days on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at iHeart Radio in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
2. Saraland
Final 2022 record: 14-1 (6A state champions)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 2
Total points: 97
Highest rank this week: No. 1
First game: vs. Lipscomb (Tenn.) Academy, Friday
Thompson’s Kolby Hearn celebrates his touchdown against Auburn during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 7A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
1. Thompson
Final 2022 record: 11-3 (7A state champions)
Final 2022 power ranking: No. 1
Total points: 98
Highest rank this week: No. 1
First game: vs. Opelika, Friday, in Montgomery (AHSAA Kickoff Classic)
Others receiving votes: Jackson (14), Piedmont (12), Gulf Shores (11), Faith Academy (8), Austin (8), Moody (3), Ben Russell (2), Mobile Christian (2), B.B. Comer (1), Brantley (1).
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