NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Activities Association Board of Directors has approved the new football classifications and conferences for the 2026–28 cycle, bringing several notable changes across the state with a particularly significant realignment in Class 4A’s 8-4A, a conference that includes many South Arkansas programs.
8-4A: South Arkansas Remains Intact with One Key Addition
The 8-4A will feature Crossett, DeWitt, Hamburg, Monticello, Star City, Stuttgart, Warren, and Watson Chapel for the upcoming cycle. The primary change from the previous alignment is the addition of Watson Chapel, which moves in following its reclassification. HWH Central moves out of the conference.
For programs like Warren, Monticello, Hamburg, and Crossett, the alignment preserves familiar regional matchups while maintaining one of the more geographically compact conferences in 4A. The addition of Watson Chapel adds another competitive Pine Bluff–area program to an already deep league that regularly produces deep-playoff-caliber teams.
Other 4A South Arkansas Conferences
South Arkansas programs are also well represented in 4A-7, which will include Arkadelphia, Ashdown, Fouke, Fountain Lake, Genoa Central, Hope, Malvern, and Nashville. Hope and Fouke are new to the conference, replacing Harmony Grove and Bauxite.
Across 4A as a whole, the class saw several changes statewide with Hope, Booneville, Mayflower, Fouke, Subiaco Academy, and Watson Chapel moving in, while Cave City, Dardanelle, Hall, Mills, Riverview, and HWH Central moved out.
3A: Strong South Arkansas Presence
Class 3A will feature 47 schools due to an enrollment tie. 3A-7 and 3A-8 continue to anchor South Arkansas football.
- 3A-7 includes Bismarck, Camden Harmony Grove, Centerpoint, Cossatot River, Horatio, Parkers Chapel, Prescott, and Smackover, with Cossatot River replacing Fouke.
- 3A-8 features Barton, Drew Central, Dumas, Fordyce, Helena-West Helena Central, Lake Village, McGehee, and Rison, with HWH Central moving in.
2A and 8-Man: Southern Programs Spread Across Conferences
In Class 2A, South Arkansas teams such as Bearden, Hampton, Gurdon, Junction City, Foreman, and Dierks remain spread across multiple conferences, with Magnet Cove, Episcopal Collegiate, and Hackett newly joining the classification.
The 8-man South Conference will include Blevins, Dermott, Friendship Aspire, Hermitage, Lafayette County, Strong, and Woodlawn, continuing to provide a competitive outlet for smaller South Arkansas schools.
Looking Ahead
The new classifications will take effect beginning with the 2026 football season and remain in place through 2028. While many South Arkansas programs retain familiar opponents, subtle shifts—particularly in the 8-4A—are expected to influence travel, nonconference scheduling, and playoff positioning over the next three seasons.
