News Summary

The Arizona Interscholastic Association has announced the high school football region placements for the 2025-2026 seasons, shaking up teams across the state. The 6A Premier Region will be split, with Basha and Perry facing new competitors, while Gilbert Higley moves up to the 6A division. This restructuring raises concerns among coaches regarding the uneven distribution of teams across divisions. The upcoming seasons promise intense rivalries and thrilling match-ups as teams prepare for the changes.

The Latest Buzz in Arizona: High School Football Regions Set for 2025-2026!

Arizona football fans, it’s time to huddle up! The Arizona Interscholastic Association has just dropped some exciting news about the high school football region placements for the upcoming 2025-2026 seasons! This is a significant shake-up for teams across the state, and we’re here to break it all down for you!

Splitting the 6A Premier Region: What’s New?

One of the biggest changes you’ll notice is the split of the 6A Premier Region. Previously, this region featured all of the teams from the Chandler Unified School District (CUSD), except for Arizona College Prep, which is making a jump from 4A to 5A.

Now, Basha and Perry are geared up to face off against some hefty opponents, including Mesa, Tucson Salpointe Catholic, and Mesa Westwood. Meanwhile, Chandler and Hamilton are cozying up in a different corner of the region, teaming up with Laveen Cesar Chavez, Phoenix Pinnacle, and Surprise Valley Vista.

Casteel’s New Adventure!

For the fans of Casteel, the news is that they are moving into a separate 6A region alongside teams like ALA Queen Creek, Tempe Corona del Sol, Phoenix Desert Vista, and Queen Creek. It’s a whole new ballgame for them!

Feeling a Bit Thinned Out?

Currently, the 6A division has 29 teams, which means one region is particularly sparse, featuring just four teams: Mesa Desert Ridge, Gilbert Highland, Mountain View, and Red Mountain. It’s a bit surprising given the size of Arizona’s high school football scene, isn’t it?

5A Champions Joining the Ranks

In the exciting news for 5A fans, it’s worth noting that Gilbert Higley, the back-to-back state champion for 2022 and 2023, is jumping to the 6A division to match up against their rivals, Gilbert Williams Field, Phoenix Brophy Prep, Scottsdale Saguaro, and Surprise Shadow Ridge. It’s bound to be a thrilling competition as these teams clash!

Rivalries Stay Strong

Over in Peoria, the classic matchup between Centennial and Liberty remains intact, as they stay in the same region as Anthem Boulder Creek, Glendale Mountain Ridge, and Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor. This is sure to keep that rivalry fresh and fierce!

Next Steps for AIA

So, what’s next for the AIA? They are currently in the process of building conference schedules, which will help teams prepare for the upcoming games. There’s also talk about the potential return of the Open Division playoffs, possibly completely consisting of 6A teams. This would promise some exciting match-ups as teams vie for those top positions!

Coaches Express Concerns

While the restructuring sounds great, a few coaches are a bit concerned about the number differences among divisions. With only 29 teams in 6A versus 49 in 5A and 58 in 4A, they worry this could lead to an uneven postseason dynamic. And let’s not forget that in 11-man tackle football, there are 31 teams reported in 3A and 59 in 2A!

With all of these changes, 2025-2026 is shaping up to be a thrilling period for Arizona high school football! For more information and all the details about the new changes in regions, you can check out the AIA’s official website.

Mark your calendars and get ready for an action-packed season ahead!

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