Class 6A Week 0 Rankings and Predictions

HOOTENS.COM

WEEK 0, 2026

CLASS 6A RANKING

1. TEAM RECORD
2. Benton (0-0)
3. Searcy (0-0
4. Mountain Home (0-0)
5. Van Buren (0-0)
6. Sylvan Hills (0-0)
7. El Dorado (0-0)
8. Sheridan (0-0)
9. Jonesboro (0-0)
10. Marion (0-0)
11. FS Southside (0-0)

NOT RANKED

6A EAST: W. Memphis (0-0)

6A WEST: LR Catholic (0-0), Lake Hamilton (0-0), Siloam Springs (0-0), Russellville (0-0), LR Southwest (0-0)

LAST YEAR

Hootens.com correctly picked 96 out of 113 games (86 percent) involving Class 6A teams for the 2025 season. 

GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 4 VAN BUREN at Class 5A No. 18 Alma

Van Buren has won 7 of the past 8 meetings in the “Battle for the Bone,” including 40-29 in 2025.

Alma enters the season under new head coach Jeremie Burns, who moves up from the Airedales’ junior high program. Alma finished with 4 wins last season and returns 4 starters on offense and 3 on defense, including 3 returning all-conference players. Van Buren surges into 2026 after hosting its first playoff game since 2010. The Pointers lost to Class 7A Bentonville in last week’s benefit scrimmage, but the Pointers got good play from Abe Cone, who led all receivers in yards and also intercepted a pass, Jaxson Silvers (6 tackles in 2 varsity quarters), and the Pointers special teams performed well with sophomore kicker Trevor Akins. “For the majority of the first half, our defense played really well,” Van Buren Coach Moe Henry says. Van Buren has visions of competing for the 6A West title and a first-round playoff bye this fall.

6A EAST

No. 9 MARION at 5A No. 9 Wynne: Wynne leads the all-time series with Marion 34-15-1, but Marion has won 4 of the past 5 meetings, including a 60-27 decision in 2025. Wynne last won 21-10 in 2022. Marion charges into 2025 under first-year head coach Claude Johnson, who served as offensive coordinator the past 4 years at Little Rock Parkview. The Patriots acclimated to Johnson’s scheme and terminology over the summer, when Marion performed well at various team camps and 7-on-7 tournaments, including a quarterfinal run at the Arkansas State 7-on-7 tournament in June. All-conference performer and University of Arkansas commit Jeremiah Dent likely earns 15-20 touches weekly this season behind 3-year starters Jarrett Selvy and Walt Tucker, Jr. up front. Marion senior defensive back Colton Kimbel is the Pats’ only returning defensive starter, while senior Gary Wilson has made plays at DT and junior DB Kole Clay earned a starting role this summer after earning a scholarship offer from Tennessee-Martin. Marion led Mountain Home 7-3 at halftime of last week’s benefit scrimmage, and the Patriots held on for a 14-10 victory after getting a touchdown pass from Dell Pickett to Chase Davis, an 8-yard TD run from Dedrian Love and a game-clinching interception from Neil Rossell.  This series is typically tight, especially at Wynne (3 of the past 4 decided by 1 score or less), but Marion makes the final play this week.

No. 1 Benton at Class 7A No. 1 BRYANT: This is the 52nd meeting of these Saline County rivals, with Class 7A Bryant riding a 20-game unbeaten streak (19 consecutive victories) including 40-10 last fall. Benton pivots after the graduation of the school’s all-time leading passer (Drew Davis) in May, as well as 2 ultra-productive receivers (Will Carter and Karson Collatt), but the Panthers’ offense remained productive this summer, advancing to the semifinals of the Arkansas State 7-on-7 in June as senior QB Chase Cobb emerged. Class 7A Little Rock Christian defeated Benton in last week’s benefit scrimmage 49-42, but Benton led 28-14 after 2 quarters featuring projected starters. We still expect Benton to contend for the 6A East title and the Class 6A state title, but Bryant has enough to win this one. 

No. 6 EL DORADO at Class 5A No. 13 Magnolia: El Dorado has won 10 of the past 11 meetings with Magnolia, including a 50-30 decision in the team’s last game in 2021. Adam Kirby enters his third season at Magnolia with a .500 winning percentage. Magnolia won 5 games last season and finished fifth in conference play, but there is plenty of talent to build around, led by returning All-State running back Jamaijha Marshall, along with 4 returning all-conference players. El Dorado produced a big summer under first-year coach Brett Shockley, a longtime Ouachita Baptist assistant coach. The Wildcats got good play from senior quarterback Gavin Jacobs and Christian Williams on offense and Gavin Briggs and Jaylon Dunn on defense, while all-conference performer Justin Hammett delivered both ways. 

Class 7A CABOT at No. 8 Jonesboro: Cabot has won the past 5 meetings in this series, including 27-14 in 2023. Jonesboro quarterbacks Aden Grimes and C.J. Dolton battled over the summer and through fall camp, with both expected to earn reps in the early part of the season. Tailback K’Den Hawkins and receiver Kam Davis could prove to be among the state’s top playmakers in 2026. Cabot’s balanced offense gives it the edge in this road test. 

No. 2 SEARCY at 5A Batesville: Searcy has bested Batesville in 10 of the last 11 meetings, including a 45-7 win last fall. Searcy opened eyes over the summer at various 7-on-7 tournaments and team camps. The Lions won the Sonic Air Raid 7-on-7 tournament in July with a 7-0 mark. Searcy defeated Harding Academy in last week’s benefit scrimmage behind big nights from 2025 all-state quarterback Jacob Miles (completed 13 of 16 passes for 346 yards and 4 touchdowns) and all-conference receivers Jackson Smith (3-34), Will Manning (6-238, 3 TDs) and Bryson Thompson (3-51 yards, TD). Searcy’s defense returns all-state end Jeremiah Goodman and all-state linebacker Kayden Hickman. Searcy expects to contend for the Class 6A state title, and it starts this week against former league rival Batesville. 

5A White Hall at No. 7 SHERIDAN: White Hall has won the Highway 270 trophy 7 of the past 10 years, but Sheridan has won the past 2 meetings, including 58-28 last fall. Sheridan fell behind Camden Fairview 21-7 in last week’s first half before scoring 28 unanswered points to claim a 35-21 lead during the varsity portion of its scrimmage before halftime. Yellowjackets QB Easton Barksdale threw for 276 yards and 5 touchdowns, and Parker Mullins scored 3 TDs in his return from a knee injury last season. Hunter Socia blocked well and caught 5 passes. Dylan Smith, who missed spring and fall camp with an injury, started both ways and caught 2 passes and intercepted another. Sheridan starts a run toward hosting a playoff game with a third consecutive victory in a rivalry game this week. 

No. 6 SYLVAN HILLS at 7A LR Central: These schools have not met since Class 7A Little Rock Central stopped Sylvan Hills 21-13 in 2001.  Defending 6A East co-champion Sylvan Hills impressed last week, trailing Class 7A Bryant just 21-14 at halftime of the teams’ benefit scrimmage. Isaiah Howell scored on 2 short TD runs for the Bears against Bryant. Sylvan Hills still produced plenty of big plays and a stout defensive effort last week against mighty Bryant, and that’s enough to power them to victory on Friday night. 

West Memphis at 5A No 7 VALLEY VIEW: Class 5A Valley View won the first 2 meetings of these schools the past 2 years by a combined 70-12 score, including 35-6 last fall. West Memphis looks to return to the playoffs this fall for the first time since 2023, but the Blue Devils finished spring camp with just 7 seniors on the roster, and a 2-year starter up front left the district over the summer. The Blue Devils got good play from Andrew Clay, Brayden Bass and Anthony Watkins over the summer, when they finished in the Top 8 of a competitive 7-on-7 tournament in Memphis. Watkins earned that tournament’s top lineman award. West Memphis isn’t ducking anyone in the nonconference, and it could pay off later for the Blue Devils in 6A East play, but Valley View pulls away in this one.

6A WEST

No. 11 FS SOUTHSIDE at 7A Central FS Northside: “The Battle for Rogers Avenue” has been played every season since 1965, and Northside leads the series 35-28-2. FS Southside has taken the upper hand of late with 3 consecutive victories, including 27-7 last year. Southside fell to Class 5A Alma 42-17 in last week’s benefit scrimmage but got good play from quarterback Michael Nolewajka, who completed 11 of 19 passes for 136 yards; tailback Terrell Warren ran 9 times for 55 yards. Alma led 28-14 after a quarter and added 2 more touchdowns in the second quarter for a 42-14 halftime lead. Anything can happen in a rivalry game, especially one of this magnitude, but the Mavericks have taken an edge in this series of late, and they continue rolling here.

6A Lake Hamilton at 5A No. 4 HS LAKESIDE: Lake Hamilton leads this nonconference series 6-2 since it resumed in 2017, but Class 5A Hot Springs Lakeside has won the past 2, including 56-20 last year. Lake Hamilton led Class 5A Hot Springs 7-0 in last week’s benefit scrimmage that was called with 5:41 left in the first period. The Wolves rushed the passer well and came up with a fumble inside the Hot Springs 5 to set up the only score. Evan Keller, Mikey Parker and Blaine Sears led the Wolves’ defense in the summer and against Hot Springs. “We will need to play well,” first-year Lake Hamilton Coach Justin Bigham says. “Anything is possible, and we will do our best.” Lake Hamilton has quickly adapted to a new defensive scheme, but Lakeside has too much firepower on offense in this one.

5A No. 2 JOE T. ROBINSON at LR Catholic (Thursday): Little Rock Catholic looks for a playoff return this fall as quarterback Phillips Blair and tailback/linebacker Luke Burdine led offseason workouts. “Our kids are working through the beats and bangs every day,” third-year Little Rock Catholic coach Richard Cochran says. “They’ve handled this tougher second week of summer camp well.” Little Rock Catholic could prove to be one of the more improved teams in all of Class 6A, but topping the defending Class 5A state champions is a bridge too far this early in the year.

5A No. 5 Farmington at No. 3 MOUNTAIN HOME: Mountain Home has won 19 games over the past 2 seasons, the most prosperous 2-year run for the school since 1987-1988. The Bombers lost their benefit scrimmage 14-10 last week at Marion, but Mountain Home scored first on an Isaac Ballard field goal and trailed 7-3 at halftime after projected starters played the vast majority of the first 2 quarters. Grady Sheehan scored the only Mountain Home touchdown with a 60-yard catch-and-run to get the visitors within 14-10. Ford Coleman, Elijah Hillstrom and Nazsier Johnson also delivered big plays for the Bombers. Sophomore quarterback Connor Gentry started and took most of the reps at QB for Mountain Home. Mountain Home’s defense played well against Marion, and a similar effort pushes this one to the Bombers at home. 

Russellville at 5A No. 14 MORRILTON: Russellville leads the Battle of I-40 all-time series 59-34-3, but Class 5A Morrilton has won the past 2 games, including 48-35 last season. Russellville quickly learned new schemes in the spring and summer and “competed well at every camp and passing league we have gone to so far,” first-year coach Derek Davis says. “We have had a ton of young men get much better.” All-conference performer Marcellus Olson-Patton lines up at receiver and tailback for Russellville. The Cyclones could start as many as 4 underclassmen on the offensive line this fall. Russellville’s participation is up over the past few years, but it’s still a large gap to close against Morrilton. 

3A Helena at LR SOUTHWEST: This is the first meeting of these schools since Little Rock Southwest began playing football in the 2020 season. Southwest dropped its benefit scrimmage last week 26-6 at Pine Bluff, but the Gryphons performed well on both sides of the ball at a team camp at Sylvan Hills in August. Quarterback Brady Williams and linebacker James Thrower consistently led off-season workouts. This could be a close game with Helena coming in off of back-to-back playoff appearances and Little Rock Southwest looking to establish itself after dropping down to Class 6A. 

PRYOR (Okla.) at Siloam Springs: Siloam Springs is 2-0 all-time against Pryor, winning 38-21 in 2018 and 38-13 in 2019. Siloam Springs has won 5 games over the past 2 seasons, but Doug Loughridge retired after the 2025 season, and its starting quarterback and all-state defensive end moved out of the district over the summer, leaving the Panthers with 7 seniors who went through spring camp. Siloam Springs worked multiple offensive schemes over the summer and will likely continue to do so to open this fall under first-year coach Marshall Hahn.Siloam Springs will field one of the younger teams in Class 6A football this fall, and that costs the Panthers in this one.

VAN BUREN at 5A Alma: See Game of the Week, above.