East Texas football is just different. You’ve probably heard it a thousand times, but honestly, looking at the final texas high school football rankings 4a division 2 for the 2025-2026 season, it’s the only conclusion that makes sense. We just watched Carthage—a program that basically redefines the word "dynasty"—put up another 16-0 season.
It’s almost getting boring. Almost.
But if you actually dig into the numbers and the way the brackets shook out this past December at AT&T Stadium, there's a lot more to the story than just the Bulldogs' 11th state title. The landscape is shifting. Some traditional powers are stumbling, while teams like Brock and West Orange-Stark are proving that the gap between "great" and "Carthage" is getting thinner, even if it hasn't quite closed yet.
The Final Top 10: Who Survived the Gauntlet?
When the dust settled after the state championship games, the rankings looked a lot different than they did back in August. Injuries, "district of doom" schedules, and a few massive upsets in the regional semifinals flipped the script.
Here is how the top of the heap looks now that the pads are put away:
- Carthage (16-0): They beat West Orange-Stark 49-21 in the final. Jett Surratt is the real deal.
- Brock (14-1): Only loss was to Carthage in the state semis. They are the clear kings of the West.
- Texarkana Pleasant Grove (11-2): Their only real stumbling block? Carthage. Again.
- Waco La Vega (11-3): A massive bounce-back year for the Pirates.
- Midland Greenwood (13-1): Maybe the biggest surprise for folks outside of West Texas.
- West Orange-Stark (12-4): Don't let the four losses fool you; they played for a ring.
- Sealy (11-2): Controlled a very tough District 11 for most of the year.
- Graham (11-1): An elite defense that just ran into a buzzsaw in the playoffs.
- Sunnyvale (10-2): Quietly becoming a consistent top-10 fixture.
- Bellville (8-3): A "down" year by their standards, but still a nightmare to play against.
Why Carthage Simply Won't Move
It's tempting to try and find reasons to rank someone else number one, but you'd be lying to yourself. Scott Surratt has built a machine in Panola County that doesn't just win; it demoralizes.
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They finished the year 16-0. Their "closest" game in the playoffs was a 14-point win over Pleasant Grove in the regional finals. Think about that. In a bracket full of the best teams in the state, nobody could even get within two touchdowns of them when it mattered.
The most impressive part? They did it with a target on their backs from day one. In the texas high school football rankings 4a division 2 preseason polls, they were the consensus #1. Usually, that pressure causes a slip-up. Not here. With playmakers like KJ Edwards in the backfield and a secondary that allows basically nothing over the top, they turned the state championship game into a track meet.
The "Almost" Club: Brock and West Orange-Stark
If you want to talk about who actually has a shot at dethroning the king next year, you have to look at Brock. Moving up to 4A was supposed to be a challenge for them. Instead, they just kept winning. Their 14-1 record is staggering, especially considering they had to navigate a brutal Region I. They play a brand of physical, mistake-free football that travels well.
Then there's West Orange-Stark.
Honestly, the Mustangs started the season kinda shaky. They had some early losses that saw them drop out of the top 5. But by November? They were the "Mustangs of old." They rode a ferocious defense all the way to Arlington. Even though the final score against Carthage wasn't pretty, the fact that they got there proves they’re back in the elite tier of 4A D2.
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Surprises and Letdowns in the Rankings
Not everything went according to the preseason script. We have to talk about Gilmer. After that legendary 2023 run, the Buckeyes had a rough 2025. Finishing 4-7 isn't what anyone expected. They ran into a wall of injuries and a schedule that offered no breathing room. Seeing them unranked at the end of the year feels weird, like a glitch in the Matrix.
On the flip side, Midland Greenwood was a revelation. People forget how hard it is to win consistently in West Texas travel-wise. They went 13-1, with their only loss coming in the quarterfinals. They’ve officially put the state on notice that Region I isn't just a two-team race anymore.
What it Takes to Rank in 4A Division 2
Ranking these teams isn't just about record. It’s about "strength of schedule" (SOS) and how you handle the November cold.
- District Strength: If you play in District 7 or 8, your record might look worse, but you're battle-tested.
- Quarterback Play: At this level, you need a guy who can scramble. Pocket passers get eaten alive by 4A edge rushers.
- Depth: This is where Bellville and Sinton usually excel, though they both hit some depth issues late this season.
Misconceptions About the Rankings
A lot of people think MaxPreps or the AP polls are the "final word." They aren't. While the texas high school football rankings 4a division 2 provided by the AP are what most media outlets use, the coaches' polls often tell a different story.
Coaches look at things like "garbage time" points. A team might win 42-28, but if they were up 42-0 in the fourth quarter and played their freshmen, that's a dominant win. Rankings that only look at the final score miss the nuance of how these games are actually played.
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Also, "Region 3 is weak" is a myth that needs to die. West Orange-Stark just proved that the road to state through the South and East is still a nightmare.
Practical Steps for Following the 2026 Season
If you’re already looking ahead to next year (and let's be real, in Texas, football season never actually ends), here is how you stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the Realignment: Every two years, the UIL shakes things up. This can turn a powerhouse into a playoff spectator overnight if they get dropped into a harder district.
- Follow Dave Campbell’s "Rising Stars": They usually have the best beat on which sophomores are about to become household names.
- Check the Non-District Schedules: If a 4A D2 team is scheduling 5A D1 schools in September, they are gearing up for a deep run. Pay attention to those scores.
Basically, the 2025 season showed us that while the names at the top stay the same, the margin for error is shrinking. Carthage is the gold standard, but the rest of the state is starting to figure out the formula.
If you want to keep tabs on how these teams are reloading for the 2026 kickoff, start by tracking the spring ball reports out of East Texas and the Panhandle. That’s where the next championship run usually begins.
Check the official UIL alignment maps for 2026 to see if your local team is staying in 4A Division 2 or moving up.