If you’ve spent any time on the sidelines in Greensboro or Charlotte lately, you know the atmosphere is basically electric. High school football in North Carolina isn't just a game; it’s a culture that consumes entire towns on Friday nights. But when you look at the nc hs football rankings, things get messy. One site says Grimsley is the undisputed king. Another has Hough nipping at their heels. Then you have the private school powerhouses like Providence Day throwing a wrench in the whole "who is actually better" debate.
Honestly, rankings are mostly just fuel for arguments at the local Cook Out. They're fun, sure, but they rarely tell the whole story of a season.
Why Grimsley and Hough Dominate the NC HS Football Rankings
Right now, if you aren't talking about Grimsley, you aren't watching the same sport. The Whirlies finished their 2025 run with a perfect 15-0 or 16-0 record, depending on which composite you trust. Led by Faizon Brandon—a quarterback who is basically a human highlight reel—they've made the top of the nc hs football rankings their permanent home.
Brandon isn't just "good for high school." He's a Tennessee commit who makes professional-level reads before the ball even leaves his hands. Watching him slice through defenses in the 7A or 8A classifications is a masterclass.
Then there’s Hough.
The Huskies are the perennial "what if" team that finally turned the corner into a "yes, they are." They finished 14-0 in many books, and their defensive front is arguably the nastiest in the state. They don't just beat you; they make you want to quit.
But here is the thing.
Rankings like MaxPreps use an algorithm. They look at strength of schedule. They look at margin of victory. Humans, on the other hand, look at the "eye test." When you see Weddington play, you see a team that might have a loss on the record but plays with a discipline that most college programs would envy. They are the tactical geniuses of the state.
The Great Divide: Public vs. Private Rankings
You can't talk about nc hs football rankings without mentioning the elephant in the room: the NCISAA.
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Providence Day is a monster. Period. They often sit in the top three of statewide composite rankings, but because they don't play in the NCHSAA (the public school association), people tend to discount them. That's a mistake. When you have players like Gordon Sellars and Leo Delaney on the field, you aren't just a "private school team." You're a powerhouse.
The debate usually goes like this:
"Public schools have more depth!"
"Private schools recruit better!"
Both are kinda true, and both are kinda wrong. The reality is that the top tier of North Carolina football has become a consolidated arms race. Whether it's a 4A powerhouse like West Charlotte or a private titan like Providence Day, the talent gap between the "elites" and everyone else is widening.
Breaking Down the Top 10 (The Real Version)
If we look at the final data from the 2025-2026 cycle, the names stay pretty consistent.
- Grimsley (Greensboro): Undefeated. The gold standard.
- Hough (Cornelius): Brutal defense, nearly flawless season.
- Providence Day (Charlotte): The kings of the private circuit.
- Weddington (Matthews): Toughest schedule in the state, still elite.
- West Charlotte: The Lions roared back into the national conversation this year.
- Millbrook (Raleigh): Often overlooked, but they shouldn't be.
- Clayton: A massive 12-3 or 13-3 season that surprised the doubters.
- Independence (Charlotte): The Patriots are back to their old winning ways.
- Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh): Consistently the smartest team on the field.
- West Forsyth (Clemmons): Tough as nails and always in the hunt.
What Most People Get Wrong About the RPI
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) uses the RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) to seed playoffs. Fans hate it. They absolutely despise it.
Why?
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Because RPI doesn't care if you passed the "eye test." It only cares about who you played and who they played. You could be the best team in the state, but if your conference is weak, the nc hs football rankings via RPI will treat you like an underdog.
Take Watauga for example.
They went 15-0. They dominated. But because they play in the mountains and their opponents' win percentages weren't as high as teams in Charlotte or Raleigh, they often struggled to climb the "strength of schedule" rankings. It’s a math problem, not a football problem.
The Recruiting Effect on Rankings
It’s impossible to ignore. Recruit rankings and team rankings are now intertwined. When a school has three 4-star recruits, they automatically jump five spots in the preseason nc hs football rankings.
Reidsville is the perfect example.
They are a smaller school classification-wise (often 1A or 2A), but they have Kendre Harrison. He’s a 6-foot-7 tight end who also happens to be one of the best basketball players in the country. Because they have "Power 5" talent, Reidsville often ranks higher than schools with three times their enrollment.
Is it fair?
Maybe not. But talent wins games.
Small Town Heroes: The 1A and 2A Powerhouses
While the big 7A and 8A schools get the Charlotte Observer headlines, the real heart of North Carolina football is in places like Tarboro and Robbinsville.
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Tarboro is a machine.
They run the "T" formation. Everyone knows they’re going to run. No one can stop it. They finished 2025 with another dominant run, proving that you don't need a 5-star quarterback to stay at the top of the nc hs football rankings. You just need 11 kids who are tougher than the 11 kids across from them.
In the 1A world, Wilson Prep and Robbinsville spent the year trading blows. These games aren't about flashy recruiters or Nike camps. They’re about community. If you ever want to see what football means to this state, go to a 1A playoff game in the mountains. It'll change your perspective.
How to Actually Use the Rankings
If you're a parent or a scout, don't just look at the number next to the school name. That number is a snapshot, and usually a blurry one.
Look at the Strength of Schedule (SOS).
A 7-3 team playing in the Southwestern 4A conference is probably much better than a 10-0 team playing against winless opponents. Rankings sites like MaxPreps and HighSchoolOT are great, but they are tools, not bibles.
Also, watch the coaching changes.
A team like Crest or Shelby can have a "down" year by their standards (maybe 8-2), but they have a championship pedigree that makes them dangerous in November.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Families
To get the most out of following the North Carolina high school scene, you have to look beyond the top 25 list.
- Track the RPI Weekly: If you want to know who is getting the home-field advantage in the playoffs, the NCHSAA's official RPI is the only list that matters.
- Watch the Composite Rankings: Sites like On3 often combine different rankings to give you a "smoothed out" view of who the best teams are.
- Follow Local Beat Writers: The guys at the Fayetteville Observer or the Greensboro News & Record see these teams in person. Their "Power Rankings" usually beat an algorithm any day of the week.
- Don't Ignore the "New" Classifications: With the NCHSAA moving toward more classes (going up to 8A in some discussions), the old 4A/3A/2A/1A logic is shifting. Pay attention to how your school is re-classified every few years.
North Carolina high school football is changing. The talent is getting better, the coaching is getting more professional, and the rankings are getting more controversial. Whether you're rooting for a powerhouse like Grimsley or a scrappy underdog in the East, the nc hs football rankings will always be the best way to start a fight—or a great conversation—at the local diner.
Keep an eye on the 2026 recruits like Faizon Brandon and Kendre Harrison as they finish their high school careers. They aren't just names on a list; they are the reasons these teams stay at the top. Check the official NCHSAA site for the final bracket results and the updated RPI standings to see how the 2025 season officially closed out.