Waverly finally did it. After 45 years of waiting—a drought that felt like an eternity for a program so consistently competitive—the Vikings stood alone at the top of the final class b nebraska football rankings for 2025. Honestly, if you follow Nebraska high school ball, you know how hard it is to climb that mountain. Bennington had been sitting on that throne like it was their personal property for years, but the 2025 season felt different from the jump.
It wasn't just a "good" year. It was a chaotic, bracket-busting, stat-heavy grind that saw a first-year school make a title run and perennial powers get bounced earlier than anyone expected.
The Unstoppable Rise of the Vikings
Waverly went 13-0. Think about that for a second. In Class B, where you’re playing teams like Skutt Catholic and Bennington nearly every other week, going undefeated is basically a miracle. Nathan Axmann, their star running back, put on a clinic in the state championship game. He carried the ball 41 times for 277 yards and three scores. That's not just "getting the job done." That is physically imposing your will on a defense until they just stop wanting to tackle you.
Waverly ended the year as the unanimous #1. They weren't just the best in their class; they were arguably one of the top three teams in the entire state, regardless of the letter on their jersey.
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The Final 2025 Top Tier
- Waverly (13-0): The clear-cut king.
- Gretna East (11-2): The "new kids" who almost pulled off the impossible in their second year of existence.
- Bennington (9-3): Still dangerous, but the three-peat magic finally ran out in the semifinals.
- Seward (8-3): A gritty group that proved they belong in the elite conversation.
- Elkhorn North (8-3): Led by Jace Reynolds, a Nebraska signee who basically lived in the opponent's backfield.
Why Gretna East is the Real Story
Most people don't realize how insane it is for a school as new as Gretna East to be sitting at #2 in the class b nebraska football rankings. They only started playing a few years ago. Usually, new schools spend five years just trying to find enough helmets that fit. Instead, the Griffins, led by Connor Sams (an Air Force signee who rushed for over 2,100 yards), tore through the playoffs.
They beat Skutt 42-21 in the semifinals. They weren't supposed to do that. Skutt is the "gold standard" of Class B discipline. But Gretna East had this weird, explosive energy that nobody could quite bottle up until they hit the Waverly wall in the final.
The Computer vs. The Eye Test
If you look at the NSAA Wild Card points—which is the math the state uses to seed the playoffs—it sometimes feels like it's written in a different language. Basically, the system rewards you for playing tough teams. It doesn't care if you win by 50 or by 1; it cares about who you beat.
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This is why a team like Norris, who finished 8-2, was ranked so high for most of the year. They played a brutal schedule. Then you have the "eye test" rankings from guys at NEBHSFB or the World-Herald. They look at the talent. They see Michael Knudsen at Gretna throwing for 3,690 yards—a Class B record—and they say, "Yeah, I don't care what the computer says, that's a top-five team."
Knudsen was easily the most exciting player in the class this year. He’s headed to Northwest Missouri State, and honestly, the MIAA is getting a steal.
What Happened to the Usual Suspects?
It was a weird year for some of the traditional "big dogs."
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- Skutt Catholic: They finished 8-3. For most schools, that’s a dream season. For Skutt? It felt like a down year. They’re usually more clinical, but they struggled to stop the high-flying offenses of the Gretna schools.
- Bennington: The Badgers are never "bad." Ty Bouaphakeo is a junior, so he’s coming back next year, which should terrify everyone. He accounted for over 3,300 total yards. But their defense, which usually looks like a brick wall, showed a few cracks against the elite run games.
- Scottsbluff: Out West, the Bearcats were as tough as ever. They finished 8-2, but the travel and the strength of schedule out there always makes their ranking a point of debate. Are they top 5? Top 10? They always feel like they're playing a different game than the Omaha-metro schools.
Looking Toward the 2026 Rankings
The dust has barely settled on the 2025 championship at Memorial Stadium, but the 2026 class b nebraska football rankings are already being debated in every coffee shop from Lincoln to McCook.
Waverly loses Axmann. That’s a huge hole to fill. But Gretna East brings back a ton of talent, and Bennington’s quarterback is only going to get better. If I were a betting man, I'd keep an eye on Elkhorn North, too. They’re building something that feels very sustainable.
Key Takeaways for the Offseason
- Keep an eye on the juniors: Ty Bouaphakeo (Bennington) and Gavin McMillan (Waverly) are going to be the "Faces of the Class" in 2026.
- The "Gretna" Dominance: Between the original Gretna High and the new Gretna East, that area of the state is currently the epicenter of Class B talent.
- Watch the Transfers: With the way Nebraska high school rules are now, don't be surprised to see a few "big name" players move around before August.
If you’re trying to track where your team stands, don’t just look at the record. Check the strength of schedule. A 6-3 team in the Eastern Midlands Conference is often way better than an 8-1 team elsewhere. That’s just the reality of Nebraska football.
Next Steps for Fans:
Start tracking the returning starters for your local team. Most of the All-State lists are out now, so you can see who is graduating and who is coming back for another run. If your team is losing a three-year starter at QB, expect a dip in the preseason rankings regardless of how well they finished last November. Keep a close watch on the NSAA's 2026 schedules which usually drop in late spring—that’s when you can really start calculating those Wild Card points.