The dust hasn't even settled in the Caesars Superdome. Walk into any barbershop from Algiers to Monroe right now and you’ll hear the same thing: nobody is touching the Edna Karr Cougars. Honestly, it’s getting a little ridiculous. After another undefeated 14-0 season and a 49-14 beatdown of St. Augustine in the Division I Select state title game this past December, the "Second Line" isn't just a New Orleans tradition—it's a victory march that the rest of the state is forced to watch on repeat.
Louisiana high school football rankings aren't just lists. They're arguments. They are the lifeblood of Friday nights in places like Haynesville, where the "Gordon Tornado" just snagged its 18th state title, or Ruston, where the Bearcats are still licking their wounds after a one-point heartbreak against Ouachita Parish. If you’re looking for the "official" word, you’re usually checking the LSWA (Louisiana Sports Writers Association) polls or GeauxPreps, but by mid-January, the conversation shifts. We aren't looking at what happened in September anymore. We’re looking at who’s left standing and who is reloading for the 2026-2028 reclassification cycle.
The King Stays King: Class 5A and the Power Vacuum
The final 2025 rankings left zero doubt. Edna Karr finished at the top of the mountain. Coach Brice Brown has built a machine that doesn't just win; it demoralizes. With guys like Richard Anderson (a 360-pound defensive line nightmare) and Aiden Hall patrolling the secondary, the Cougars are a national-level program. They actually finished No. 10 in the entire country according to High School Football America.
But look behind them. The 5A landscape is shifting.
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- St. Augustine: They’re back. The Purple Knights took their lumps in the Dome, but with 2027 stars like Ray’Quan Williams and Miguel Whitley getting another year older, that Catholic League rivalry with Karr is going to be a bloodbath next season.
- Ruston High: Talk about a tough pill to swallow. They took a 14-0 lead in the Non-Select final, only to lose 21-20 to a gritty Ouachita Parish squad. But don't sleep on them—Ahmad Hudson, their 6-foot-7 monster athlete, is a Top 5 national recruit for 2027. He’s basically a cheat code.
- Catholic-Baton Rouge: Always in the hunt. They finished 10-3 and lost some close ones, but with safety Blaine Bradford (the #5 ranked recruit in the state) returning, the Bears' defense will still be a "no-fly zone."
The "Select" vs. "Non-Select" Drama
You can’t talk about rankings without mentioning the split. It’s been years, and people still argue about it at every gas station in the state. Basically, the LHSAA splits the playoffs between private/charter schools (Select) and traditional public schools (Non-Select).
This year, the Non-Select side was pure chaos. In Division II, we saw Iowa High (pronounced I-O-Way, for the outsiders) win their first-ever state title. They took down a heavily favored North DeSoto team in a 50-43 shootout. Kaston Lewis was the hero, putting up 172 rushing yards and two scores while also playing like a man possessed on defense. That's the beauty of Louisiana high school football rankings—a team like Iowa can come from a "small" town and suddenly be the talk of the 4A circuit.
Breaking Down the "Small School" Powerhouse: Haynesville
Then there’s Haynesville. If you don't know about the Tornado, you don't know the Boot. Coach David Franklin just led them to a 14-0 season, capping it off with a 39-37 thriller over Mangham. They’ve got 18 titles now. Think about that.
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The standout? Isaiah Washington. The kid is an LSU signee and the LSWA Class 1A Defensive Player of the Year. He’s the type of athlete who makes 1A football look like a video game. When the final polls came out, Haynesville was the unanimous #1 for Class 1A, and honestly, they might have been able to give some 4A teams a serious run for their money.
Recruits to Watch for the 2026 Season
Rankings aren't just about teams; they’re about the dudes. Louisiana is currently a goldmine for the 2026 and 2027 classes. If you’re following the "big board," these are the names that will determine who moves up the rankings next August:
- Lamar Brown (University Lab): He’s the #1 recruit in the state for 2026. At 6-foot-4 and nearly 300 pounds, he plays "Athlete" but looks like a future NFL offensive tackle.
- Elijah Haven (Dunham): This kid is a 2027 quarterback who threw for a state-record 62 touchdowns this past season. Sixty-two. He led Dunham to a 34-17 win over Calvary Baptist in the Division III Select final. He’s a five-star for a reason.
- Peyton "Pop" Houston (Evangel Christian): Another 2027 QB who is absolutely electric. He put up nearly 4,800 total yards. Evangel finished 9-3, but with Pop at the helm, they’re going to be a Top 5 team in 4A/5A rankings for the next two years.
Reclassification: The 2026-2028 Shakeup
The LHSAA just finalized the new districts this past December. This is a big deal because it changes who plays who. Edna Karr is officially staying in the Catholic League (District 9-5A), which is great for fans but terrible for the other New Orleans schools who have to play them.
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We’re also seeing some consolidation in South Louisiana's 1A and 2A districts. Schools like Lafayette Christian (LCA) are shifting districts, which might actually help them climb the rankings if they can dominate their new competition. LCA finished 11-2 this year and is always a threat, especially with their ability to pull talent from across the Acadiana region.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Polls
People obsess over the MaxPreps computer rankings, but in Louisiana, those are often skewed. The computer doesn't always understand the "strength of schedule" in a district like the Baton Rouge 5A gauntlet or the New Orleans Catholic League. A 7-3 team from the Catholic League is almost always better than a 10-0 team from a weaker rural district.
If you're looking for the truth, look at the Power Ratings. The LHSAA uses these to seed the playoffs, and they are way more accurate than a human poll. They factor in "Opponent Wins," which is why you’ll see a team with three losses ranked higher than an undefeated team. It’s math, not a popularity contest.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you want to stay ahead of the curve before the first kickoff in August, here is how you should track the movement:
- Watch the Transfers: With the new reclassification, keep an eye on players moving to "power" programs. The New Orleans area usually sees a lot of movement in January and February.
- Monitor Spring Games: May is when we see the new QBs. With stars graduating at West Monroe and Acadiana, the spring practice rankings will look very different.
- Follow GeauxPreps and LSWA: These are the gold standards. GeauxPreps is great for real-time updates and "Large School" vs "Small School" breakdowns, while the LSWA is the historical record.
- Keep Tabs on Elijah Haven: The Dunham QB is the most important player in the state right now. Wherever he goes, his team will be a top-three contender in their division.
The 2025 season was a masterclass by Edna Karr and a redemption story for Haynesville, but 2026 is already looming. The talent in the 2027 class is arguably the best we've seen in a decade, meaning these rankings are about to get very crowded, very fast. Keep your eyes on the recruits, check the power ratings, and remember—don't bet against the Cougars until someone actually proves they can stop the run.