With the expansion of the College Football Playoff and its schedule conflicting with the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Super 7 football championships, Alabama and Auburn have been removed from the host rotation.

UAB’s Protective Stadium in Birmingham is set to host the 2024 State Football Championships and more host stadiums will be explored to add to the new rotation according to a Wednesday statement from AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs.

“The experiences and memories provided for our member schools, the teams, their students, and communities have been immeasurable,” Briggs said. “We understand, however, the conflicts that will be unavoidable in the future based on the expanded CFP structure and format.”

For the time being, Gulf Shores has now become Baldwin County’s last state champion crowned at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Spanish Fort won all four of its state titles under the same rotation with two wins each at Bryant-Denny (2010 and 2012) and Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium (2013 and 2015).

Alabama and Auburn were part of the first Super 7 rotation in 2009 and it was the rivals’ cooperation that helped exemplify interscholastic athletics in Briggs’ eyes.

“Having two of the nation’s biggest rivals come together with their cities to provide the opportunity of a lifetime for our member schools is priceless and we can’t thank them enough,” Briggs said. “What we have been able to do with our championships thanks to the cooperation of such rivals has been envied in other states and set a wonderful example for all of us.”

More quotable notes

“Hosting the Super 7 has been a tremendous honor for the City of Auburn,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “The Super 7 serves as a pinnacle moment in the lives of many young students in Alabama. Our city has treated this hosting responsibility with the same level of professionalism that regular visitors to any local athletic event, conference, performance, or family gathering have come to expect. Our community has similarly served the teams, families, and other Super 7 visitors with a personal investment of time and effort that characterizes the Auburn Spirit.”

“The City of Tuscaloosa has proudly hosted many Alabama High School Athletic Association Super 7 State Football Championships since 2009, providing countless athletes, coaches, family members, and fans with an unforgettable football experience,” said Tuscaloosa mayor Walt Maddox. “Although Tuscaloosa and Auburn will no longer be able to host due to the expansion of the College Football Playoffs, we are grateful for our partnership with AHSAA and look forward to seeing the event thrive across other cities in Alabama.”