The final Arizona Varsity Statewide Media Poll is here.

The 6A Conference was the only group of teams left to rank with playoffs beginning for the other conferences. Hamilton remains at the top after yet another impressive win, followed by Liberty and Basha.

Some big games are on tap that could shake up the rankings, but the brackets are starting to become more clear.

Below is the final statewide media poll of the season, as well as key 6A matchups and Open Division champion predictions from those who participated in the poll this season.

Key Matchups

No. 1 Hamilton at No. 4 Chandler

No. 8 Williams Field at No. 10 Brophy

ALA Queen Creek at Casteel

Higley at No. 6 Centennial

6A Rankings

Open Division Championship Predictions

Logan Stanley, Arizona Republic: Hamilton is my pick.

Once I saw Jax Sculley and Roye Oliver III still be able to hit big plays against Basha’s defense, that fully convinced me they have what it takes to go all the way (especially if Brodie is out for the playoffs with the shoulder injury). And the Hamilton defense gets overlooked with the explosiveness of the offense — it’s a very strong unit with loads of playmakers as well.

Now granted, Liberty’s defense is better than Basha’s and there’s the experience of winning back-to-back. But it’s the offense that I don’t think can match Hamilton. When I saw Liberty’s offense in the season opener, I wasn’t impressed with the 2-QB system. I know a lot of time has passed since then and it looks like Colin Thomas has mainly gone with Brayden Stevens, I just don’t think there’s enough firepower.

Hamilton 27, Liberty 17

Richard Obert, Arizona Republic: I believe Hamilton will win its first Open title, and it will come against Liberty in a classic battle of Hamilton’s juggernaut offense against Liberty’s relentless defense. If Liberty isn’t able to contain Roye Oliver III, something nobody has this year, and isn’t able to get to QB Jax Sculley, expect the Huskies to win but not in blowout fashion, as they have every week so far this season.

Chris Eaton, Gridiron Arizona: Picking Hamilton (at this point) to win the Open Division championship.  The Huskies routinely put up 30 and 40-point wins.  Just a relentless offense with Jax Sculley and Roye Oliver III.  The lights weren’t too bright in what was the biggest HS game in the state during the regular season against Basha.  Hoping we all get to see this Liberty defense (which is phenomenal) against the Hamilton offense in Sun Devil Stadium.

Ralph Amsden, Arizona Varsity: Liberty Head Coach Collin Thomas has a system that hasn’t been stopped in year by in-state teams, but out of state teams with high-fire power offenses have had success. This year, Liberty lost to a Corner Canyon team that averages 48 points per game. Last year, Liberty lost to a Corona Centennial team that averaged 43 points per game (outside of losses to powerhouse Mater Dei). Hamilton, with Jax Sculley, Roye Oliver and Jacob Brown, averages 55. The Huskies might be the best bet to end the Lions streak.

Richard Smith, West Valley Preps: Liberty has the one defense in AZ that can keep Hamilton within arms reach. Also, with Braxton Huynh getting healthy, Brayden Stevens earning the QB job and pushing the ball downfield and a deep stable of running backs, the Lions are more capable of keeping up with the Huskies offense than they would have been if the teams played in September. Lions win. 

Jose Angel Bandilla, Pinal Central: I believe Liberty wins it all. I have some reasons why they might win it all. First, the Lions haven’t lost to the Arizona team since the 2022 Open Division Championship. Honestly, I don’t see any AZ team having a chance of beating them. I think they remain one number until the Arizona team beats them. It could be Hamilton or Basha, but we will see how things play out in the Open Division tournament. Second, the Lions’ defense has played well this season. They allow 6.5 points per game. They have a good defense, which leads Zeth Thues, Hudson Dunn, Tyler Burnstein, and other players.

Lastly, they have a good coaching staff. Like I said about the defense, they don’t allow opponents to score more than 20 points. They know how to utilize playmakers and develop players. They know how to strategize opponents’ skills and weaknesses and execute accordingly. I think the Lions might win it all.

Brandon Jones, BJ Media: My open division champ is Liberty. The Lions defense has suffocated every in-state opponent, allowing 5.8 points per game (5.0 PPG if you don’t count the scoop & score that their offense gave up against Centennial) with a chunk of those points allowed being by backups. As high powered as Hamilton’s offense is, they haven’t faced a defense like Liberty’s. Liberty has only lost one game in the past 3 seasons to an in-state opponent and that streak likely continues unless Hamilton is able to find a way to score significant points on their defense on December 6th at Sun Devil Stadium.

Mason Byers, BJ Media: I believe that when the 2025 season wraps up, the Liberty Lions will hold the Open Division trophy again. Hamilton, Basha and Chandler are all teams that have a chance at winning it, but it is hard to bet against a team that hasn’t lost to an in-state team since 2022. 

Liberty doesn’t just win games, but they dominate them. With the dynasty already in place for the Lions, I think they can build on it in 2025. 

JJ Digos, Arizona Varsity: Hamilton over Liberty, 49-35.

Adam Beadle, Arizona Varsity: Man, has it been one crazy year once again when it comes to the open division. I think many reporters, including myself, can agree that the fact that 6A teams are the only ones allowed in the open now has made our lives a little less stressful at times when it comes to figuring out which eight teams will advance. 

I’ve been saying since the beginning of the year: Basha, Basha, Basha. I expected, with the Bears’ talent and coaching staff, that they would go undefeated and win the open division.

That’s when my alma mater swooped in and said, as the great Lee Corso says, “Not so fast, my friend!”

It took me a while to buy into what this Hamilton team is doing and has accomplished, but after watching the show that Jax Sculley and Roye Oliver III put on against Basha, it’s hard for me to pick against the Hamilton Huskies.

I still believe Basha or Liberty can make this a photo finish. I can’t deny the fact that Liberty hasn’t lost to an Arizona team since 2022, but give me the Huskies to cross the finish line first.

Zach Alvira, Arizona Varsity: For the first time since 2012, the Hamilton Huskies will hoist the gold ball and win their first Open Division championship. The writing is on the wall. Jax Sculley is a star. Roye Oliver III is a star. The defense is led by twin studs in the Jandreaus, along with many other standouts. This may rival some of the other greats as one of the most talented rosters ever put together, especially on offense. Travis Dixon, as promised when he was hired, leads Hamilton back to the top this year. 

Anonymous Voter 1: Hamilton. Its offense seems unstoppable. But its offensive line will be key down the stretch, especially if it faces Liberty’s front seven at some point.     

Anonymous Voter 2: Hamilton – This might be the start of one hell of a run for this program. The offense is getting the attention, but the defense is doing some special things as well behind some young talent like defensive end Derrick LeBlanc Jr. and linebacker Mitchell Raner.  

Anonymous Voter 3: Until an Arizona team can prove they have what it takes to beat Liberty. The Lions will be my pick to win it all. That defense is nasty led by a physical and hard nosed front seven that can make even the best OLines look weak. Their back half doesn’t get the credit they deserve as I believe they’re the only unit in the state that can contain Hamilton.

A rushing attack on offense that has gotten better as the year has gone coupled with an experienced team and coaching staff as a whole. Give me Liberty! 

Anonymous Voter 4: The Hamilton Huskies will win the 2025 open state championship. While they were certainly cooked last year in the open semifinals by the Liberty Lions indeed it was that, the open semis! This edition of the Huskies is better in all three facets of the game than they were a year ago and certainly have what it takes to go one more round. We’ve seen what they can do against Basha, as of this writing the Battle of Arizona avenue hasn’t taken place yet but I do think they have what it takes to win that. You win that game and your hunger against a Liberty team and that offense should propel them to a perfect season…..which I didn’t expect.