High school football in the Commonwealth is basically a religion. If you've ever spent a Friday night in Chesapeake, Highland Springs, or even up in Ashburn, you know exactly what I’m talking about. But here is the thing about virginia hs football rankings: they are never as simple as a win-loss record.
You see, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) uses this complicated math called the Power Ratings system. It’s supposed to be objective. It’s supposed to reward teams for playing tough schedules. Honestly, though? It often leaves fans scratching their heads when a one-loss juggernaut is ranked below a team they just blew out by three touchdowns.
The 2025 season, which just wrapped up with the state championships at James Madison University and Liberty University, proved that rankings are just a suggestion until the pads start popping in December.
The Kings of Class 6: Oscar Smith’s Wire-to-Wire Reign
If you want to talk about dominance, you have to start with Oscar Smith. They finished the 2025 season exactly where they started: at the very top.
The Tigers went 13-1, and their only "blemish" was a season-opening loss to Gonzaga College High out of D.C. After that? Total destruction. They didn't just win; they embarrassed people. By the time they hit the Class 6 state final, they were a well-oiled machine, dismantling North Stafford 44-0.
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North Stafford actually had a hell of a run. They entered the playoffs as a #3 seed in Region 6B and knocked off heavyweights like Battlefield and Woodbridge just to get to the dance. But Oscar Smith is a different beast. When you have players like wide receiver Travis Johnson (a Class of 2026 stud) stretching the field, most high school secondaries just sort of melt.
The "Big Three" and the Class 5 Logjam
Class 5 is where the virginia hs football rankings usually get the most heated. You’ve got Maury, Stone Bridge, and Highland Springs. These programs basically trade state titles like Pokémon cards.
- Maury (Norfolk): The Commodores finished 14-1 and secured their third straight Class 5 state title by beating Highland Springs 25-7. Coach Dyrri McCain has built a literal factory down in Norfolk.
- Highland Springs (Henrico): They are never out of the hunt. Even with four losses this season, they clawed their way to the state final. That tells you everything you need to know about their strength of schedule.
- Stone Bridge (Ashburn): The Bulldogs lost a heartbreaker to Maury in the semifinals (48-27). It’s a rivalry that has defined the last half-decade of Virginia football.
It's kinda wild when you look at the computer rankings versus the "eye test." Riverbend went 11-1 and looked invincible until they ran into Stone Bridge in the Region D final, losing a 20-19 overtime thriller. That’s the problem with being "undefeated" in a weaker district—the rankings love you until you play a team from the Beach or Richmond.
Small School Powerhouses: Don't Sleep on the Lower Classes
While the 757 and Northern Virginia get the headlines, Class 4 down to Class 1 feature some of the most disciplined football in the country.
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Varina is the name everyone should know from 2025. They finished 13-2 and absolutely crushed Loudoun County 47-0 in the Class 4 final. Their only in-state loss? A one-point nail-biter against Maury. If Varina were in Class 6, they’d likely still be a top-five team.
Then you have Strasburg. They captured their first-ever state title in Class 2 this year, taking down Glenvar 49-27. For a small town, that championship is basically the equivalent of winning the Super Bowl.
And we can't forget the private schools. Benedictine out of Richmond finished 11-1 and won the VISAA Division I title. They are consistently ranked in the top five statewide because they play a national schedule that would break most teams.
The Recruiting Factor: Who is Moving the Needle?
Rankings aren't just about the teams; they're about the blue-chip talent that makes those teams go. Looking ahead to the 2026 cycle, the talent in Virginia is reaching a fever pitch.
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Savion Hiter at Louisa County is arguably the best running back in the country for his class. He’s a human highlight reel. When a team has a player like Hiter, their ranking is naturally inflated because he can turn a broken play into a 70-yard touchdown in two seconds.
Darius Gray at St. Christopher’s and the aforementioned Travis Johnson at Oscar Smith are the other big names. Recruiters from the SEC and Big Ten are basically living in Virginia hotels right now.
How to Actually Read the Rankings
If you're looking at virginia hs football rankings on sites like MaxPreps or High School on SI, you need to understand three things:
- Strength of Schedule (SOS): A 7-3 team in the Southeastern District is often better than a 10-0 team in a rural district.
- The VHSL Points System: Teams get points for wins, but they also get "bonus points" based on the wins of the teams they beat. This is why you'll see teams with more losses ranked higher than undefeated ones.
- Regional Bias: Historically, Region A (Tidewater) and Region C/D (Northern VA/Richmond) are the deepest. A team ranked #10 in Region A might be the 15th best team in the entire state.
The 2025 season is in the books, but the 2026 rankings are already being debated in barbershops from Roanoke to Virginia Beach. With stars like Hiter and Johnson returning, the balance of power might just stay exactly where it is—at the top.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Athletes
If you're trying to keep up with the shifting landscape of Virginia football, don't just look at the Top 25 list. Dig into the VHSL Weekly Ratings starting in October. For players, remember that individual rankings (like 247Sports) often lag behind on-field performance; college coaches care more about your film against top-tier Class 5 and 6 competition than your "star" rating. For fans, the real "state championship" often happens in the regional finals—keep an eye on the Region 6A and 5B brackets, as those are historically the toughest paths to a title.