Below are the average Maxwell Ratings in each classification for all teams (left) and for top-10 teams (right). It suggests that moving up or down a single classification is no big deal, as teams in the next-highest class are usually only about a field goal to a touchdown better on average, per Maxwell. The ratings also show that most top-10 teams would be competitive in any classification. For example, according to Maxwell, Brooks County and Irwin County of Class A Division II in typical years would be fair-to-middling even in Class 6A. They’d be 20-plus-point underdogs to the best 6A teams, but they’d be borderline playoff teams.

Class – All / Top 10

6A - 69.85 / 92.48

5A - 61.75 / 90.58

4A - 57.81 / 84.42

3A-A private - 54.02 / 62.24

3A - 51.97 / 75.31

2A - 48.66 / 71.65

A Div. I - 46.17 / 66.19

A Div. II - 37.82 / 61.83

GIAA – 32.92 / 49.85

Note: Class 3A-A private schools are not included in 3A, 2A and A.

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Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts the high school football state championship games each December. (Jason Getz/AJC 2023)

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Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com