The Daphne Trojans will start this football season in the same place where they ended the last: atop the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 6A poll.

Daphne, who finished 15-0 and defeated Hoover to win last year’s 6A state title, is one of five defending state champs to start the year ranked No. 1 in their classification. Championship defenders Thomasville (4A), Leeds (3A), Leroy (2A) and Sweet Water (1A) all start the year with a No. 1 ranking.

Class 5A’s defending champion Spanish Fort starts the season at No. 3. Briarwood, who Spanish Fort defeated in last year’s 5A championship game, grabbed the top spot while Hueytown is No. 2.

The Toros return just three starters from last year’s championship team and enter the season with a new head coach in Mark Freeman.

In Class 3A the Bayside Academy Admirals start the season in the preseason rankings for the first time in school history. The Admirals, who fell to eventual 3A champ and top-ranked Leeds in the playoffs last season, start the season ranked No. 10.

Here are the rankings, with the number of first place votes received and last year’s record.

Class 6A: 1. Daphne (24) (15-0), 2. Hoover (2) (14-1), 3. Prattville (7) (8-4), 4. Spain Park (6-6), 5. Davidson (12-2), 6. Clay-Chalkville (9-4), 7. Mountain Brook (11-3), 8. Auburn (8-2), 9. Oxford (7-5), 10. Central-Phenix City (9-2)

Others receiving votes: Gadsden City (9-4), Stanhope Elmore (10-3), Tuscaloosa Co. (8-3), Wetumpka (10-2), Foley (8-4), Vestavia Hills (9-3), Decatur (9-2), Florence (4-6), Fairhope (7-5), Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (9-2).

Class 5A: 1. Briarwood Chr. (17) (13-2), 2. Hueytown (13) (11-2), 3. Spanish Fort (3) (13-2), 4. Hartselle (12-2), 5. Vigor (8-5), 6. Eufaula (9-3), 7. Chelsea (8-3), 8. Walker (10-2), 9. Muscle Shoals (8-3), 10. St. Paul’s (10-2)

Others receiving votes: Fort Payne (12-1), Russellville (11-2), Pinson Valley (5-6), McAdory (11-3), Demopolis (8-4), Fairfield (7-4), Etowah (6-5), Greenville (7-4), Tallassee (9-2).

Class 4A: 1. Thomasville (33) (15-0), 2. Jackson (10-2), 3. Dadeville (12-1), 4. North Jackson (13-1), 5. Deshler (12-3), 6. Bibb Co. (12-2), 7. Andalusia (9-2), 8. UMS-Wright (6-5), 9. Anniston (10-3), 10. Escambia Co. (9-4)

Others receiving votes: Oneonta (8-4), Cleburne Co. (9-3), Straughn (10-2), Fairview (10-2), Guntersville (7-4), Cherokee Co. (5-6), Fayette Co. (10-3), Dora (3-8), Hillcrest-Evergreen (7-4).

Class 3A: 1. Leeds (33) (15-0). 2. Piedmont (12-2), 3. Hamilton (14-1), 4. Handley (10-2), 5. Gordo (12-2), 6. Washington Co. (9-3), 7. T.R. Miller (8-4), 8. Madison Acad. (10-3), 9. Plainview (8-4), 10. Bayside Acad. (9-4)

Others receiving votes: Daleville (8-3), Lauderdale Co. (10-2), Trinity (11-2), Clay Co. (8-4), Glencoe (10-2), Sardis (4-6), Cordova (10-2), Hanceville (4-6).

Class 2A: 1. Leroy (16) (14-1), 2. American Chr. (17) (12-2), 3. Elba (11-2), 4. Reeltown (13-2), 5. Millry (5-6), 6. Cottonwood (12-1), 7. Fyffe (9-2), 8. Tanner (11-1), 9. Lineville (10-4), 10. Sulligent (10-3)

Others receiving votes: Houston Acad. (8-3), Colbert Hts. (8-3), Fultondale (4-6), Westminster Chr. (10-2), Red Bay (5-6), Southern Choctaw (9-3), Woodland (9-3), Westbrook Chr. (10-1).

Class 1A: 1. Sweet Water (32) (12-3), 2. Linden (1) (12-2), 3. R.A. Hubbard (13-2), 4. Parrish (10-4), 5. Cedar Bluff (9-3), 6. Lynn (11-2), 7. Collinsville (9-2), 8. Brantley (8-3), 9. Maplesville (12-1), 10. Ragland (9-3)