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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)
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10 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

About the Author

Todd Holcomb covers high school sports across the state. He rejoined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2025 and has worked with the AJC in varying capacities since 1985. He is a co-founder and editor of Georgia High School Football Daily.

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Worth County quarterback Lyndon Worthy prepares to pass in his team's 2025 Class A Division I championship victory over Toombs County. Worth County is in Class 3A this season and will play in the same region as reigning Class 2A champion Carver of Columbus. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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