Houston high school football is basically a religion. If you grew up here, you know the drill: Friday night lights aren't just a metaphor; they’re a weekly ritual that dictates the mood of the entire city. Now that the dust has finally settled on the 2025 season and we're looking at the final Houston HS football rankings, things look a lot different than they did back in August.
Honestly, the parity this year was wild. We saw perennial giants stumble and new powers emerge in districts like 21-6A and 24-6A. If you followed the road to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, you saw exactly why this region is considered the toughest recruiting ground in the country.
The King of the Hill Remains North Shore
Let’s be real: any conversation about Houston HS football rankings starts and ends with Galena Park North Shore. The Mustangs finished the 2025 season as the Class 6A Division I State Champions after a defensive masterclass against Duncanville, winning 10-7. It was a heavyweight bout.
North Shore finished with a 14-2 record, which is rare for them—they usually don't drop two games—but those early-season tests clearly hardened them for the playoffs. Their defense, led by coordinator Garrett Cross, was essentially a brick wall by December. They allowed just one touchdown to a Duncanville offense that had been averaging nearly 40 points a game. That win solidified them as the #1 team in Houston and #1 in many statewide composite rankings.
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Why the Mustangs Won
It wasn't just raw talent. It was the way they managed the clock. Kaleb Maryland, their quarterback, showed ice in his veins during that final drive. Plus, when you have a defense that records three sacks in a state final—shoutout to Za’Qwaun Nunn—you’re going to win a lot of hardware.
The Breakout: C.E. King and the 6A Tier
If North Shore is the gold standard, Sheldon C.E. King proved they belong in the same breath this year. The Panthers made a historic run to the Class 6A Division II state championship game. Even though they fell to a powerhouse DeSoto team 55-27, their season was nothing short of legendary.
Timothy Potts Jr. became the story of the year. He accounted for 45 touchdowns across the season, playing through personal tragedy and carrying that team on his back. You’ve gotta respect that kind of grit. In the final Houston HS football rankings, C.E. King sits firmly at #2 for the Greater Houston area, finishing with a 13-3 record.
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Other Heavy Hitters in 6A
- Dickinson (13-1): The Gators were the "what if" team of the year. They looked invincible until a late playoff exit, but their 10-0 regular season and dominance in 24-6A earned them the #3 spot.
- Summer Creek (12-2): After beating North Shore 27-0 in the regular season (yeah, you read that right), the Bulldogs proved they can beat anyone. They finished top 5 for sure.
- Ridge Point (11-1): They owned Fort Bend this year. Their only blemish came in the postseason, but they remained a top-10 mainstay all year long.
5A Dominance: The Rise of Richmond Randle
If you aren’t paying attention to Richmond Randle, you’re missing out. In only their fourth year of varsity football, the Lions reached the Class 5A Division II state finals. They ended up losing to Dallas South Oak Cliff 35-19, but finishing 15-1 is an insane achievement for such a young program.
Landen Williams-Callis is the name you need to know. He won the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, and honestly, watching him run is like watching a video game on easy mode. He’s coming back next year, which means Randle will likely start 2026 as the #1 ranked 5A team in the region.
The 5A Landscape
- Richmond Randle (15-1) - State Runner-up.
- Fort Bend Marshall (11-2) - Always a threat, though they had some tough luck in the regional rounds.
- Iowa Colony (12-2) - A rising power that gave teams fits with their speed.
- La Porte (10-2) - They had a resurgence this year that caught a lot of people off guard.
What the Rankings Don't Tell You
Rankings are great for bar debates, but they don't always capture the "eye test." For example, Katy High School finished 10-3. By Katy standards, that's a "down" year. But if you actually watched them play, they were still one of the most physical teams in the state. They just happened to run into the North Shore buzzsaw.
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Then you have teams like Willis. Jermaine Bishop Jr. is arguably the most exciting player in the state, and he kept Willis in every single game. They might be #10 or #12 in some Houston HS football rankings, but nobody wanted to see them on their schedule in November.
Private School Powerhouses
We can't talk Houston football without mentioning the SPC and TAPPS schools.
- Kinkaid finished 9-2 and claimed another title, showing why they are the class of the private school circuit.
- Episcopal had a bit of a rollercoaster year at 6-5, but their strength of schedule was so high that they still rank among the top 25 overall in the metro area.
- Second Baptist and The Woodlands Christian Academy both put up double-digit win seasons, proving that the private sector in Houston is deeper than it’s ever been.
Final Takeaways from the 2025 Season
Looking back, 2025 was the year the "Big Two" (North Shore and Duncanville) were finally challenged by a wider group of schools. Houston's depth is expanding. You’re seeing teams like C.E. King and Richmond Randle bridge the gap that used to exist between the elite and everyone else.
If you're looking at the Houston HS football rankings to predict next year, keep an eye on the junior classes at North Shore and Summer Creek. The talent pipeline isn't slowing down.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Recruits
If you're a player looking to get noticed or a fan trying to stay ahead of the curve, here is what you should do:
- Track the 2027 Class: Start looking at sophomore highlights from Bridgeland and Hightower. That's where the next jump in rankings will come from.
- Attend Spring Games: Rankings for the 2026 season are being built right now in weight rooms. April and May "Spring Ball" is where the new starters emerge.
- Watch the Transfers: With the way UIL rules work now, off-season moves often shift the power balance of entire districts before a single snap is taken in August.