The Georgia High School Association has assigned its member schools to regions for the 2026-2028 school years.
The Coffee Trojans’ competitive situation stays relatively unchanged. The GHSA has moved from six classifications to seven. The Trojans will be in Region 2-6A, which is very similar to its current region and classification. Coffee has been playing in Region 2-5A; under the current system, 5A is the second-highest classification in the state. Under the new alignment, the Trojans will remain in the second-highest classification in the state.
Likewise, Coffee’s stable of region opponents – Veterans, Northside-Warner Robins, Houston County, Lee County, and Thomas County Central – remains unchanged. However, one new team will join the region, which should add some competitive intrigue to the schedule. The GHSA moved the Tift County Blue Devils down from the highest classification to the next highest classification, meaning that Tift will be a 6A team next year. And Tift is the newest member of Region 2.
Atkinson County will play in Region 2-A. Its region oppenents will be Baconton, Charlton County, Clinch County, Echols County (not playing a varsity football schedule), Irwin County, Lanier County, Mitchell County, and Pelham.
The 2026-2027 school year will feature several other changes as well, most notably the newly approved ranking system for postseason play. The new system does not guarantee that the top four teams in a given region will make the playoffs. The GIAA and the lower GHSA classifications have been using this system for several years. This coming school year, however, will be the first year that all GHSA classifications will utilize this methodology for determining playoff seeding.