LONE STAR STATE: four Texas teams enter Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; No. 5 Santa Margarita (CA) completes championship run

BENSALEM, Pa. – It’s the home stretch for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings with one week remaining in the season; only state championship will be played in Texas and Georgia.

Both states will conduct their championship at indoor stadiums of NFL teams Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys.

The Georgia High School Association finals started on Monday and will conclude on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The three-day lineup features an Elite 25 matchup between No. 3 Buford and No. 4 Carrollton on Tuesday night. This one might determine the No. 1 in the final rankings. Count on it.

The University Interscholastic League pulls into AT&T Stadium in Arlington starting on Wednesday and finishing up on Saturday. Here’s the information on the 12 games. Four games in Class 6A Divisions I and II and the Class 5A, Divisions I and II have Elite 25 tie-ins. On Saturday, No. 13 Duncanville and No. 14 North Shore (Galena Park) meet for the Class 6A, Division I title at 3 p.m. CT.

As for the penultimate Elite 25 rankings, four teams from Texas join needing one win for the state championship hardware. No. 14 North Shore, No. 15 DeSoto, No. 23 Lone Star (Frisco) and No. 24 South Oak Cliff (Dallas) are the latest additions to the rankings.

Elsewhere, there’s a new top-ranked team in Nevada state champion Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) with the previous No. 1 Southlake (Texas) Carroll dipping 15 spots after a loss in the state semifinals ruining an unblemished season. No. 13 Duncanville moves up 10 positions and 12 others also ascend the Elite 25. Two teams stayed the same and six dipped down with Southlake Carroll fell.

Gorman could be a seat holder until the games are played this weekend but deserves consideration for top dog after playing an exceptional schedule. We’ll how the games play out this week but Tuesday’s result in Atlanta will go a long way in determining the outcome.

In Florida, two teams from the Elite 25, Northwestern (Miami) and Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood) were shocked in their championship games. No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) was one of two teams from Broward County to capture Florida High School Athletic Association titles.

There are now 10 state or postseason conference champions in the Elite 25 with one week to go.

Well, that’s it for the second weekend in December.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 final football rankings will drop on Monday, Dec. 22 and another National Champion will be crowned.

Keep up with us on X (formerly Twitter, @clawlor) for all announcements and other exclusives from the gridiron and the hardwood. Basketball rankings will take center stage for until the first weekend in April.

We’ve decided to switch things up for a week when the next set of Blue Star Media boys and girls basketball rankings are released. The latest girls will be revealed on Tuesday, Dec. 23 and boys on Wednesday, Dec. 24. This is done out of necessity with pertinent national tournaments featuring several Elite 25 boys teams winding down.

Okay, that’s the update.

Bye for now. Happy Holidays!

Stay safe. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Dec. 16, 2025

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (11-1)*

Previous rank: 2.

Recap: Won Nevada Class 5A Open Division championship. Season complete.

2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: The Ascenders do not compete for a state title. Season complete.

3. Buford, Ga. (14-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Tuesday vs. No. 4 Carrollton in Class 6A final to be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

4. Carrollton, Ga. (14-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Tuesday vs. No. 3 Buford in Class 6A final to be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

5. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (11-3)*

Previous: 7.

Recap: Won CIF Open Division Bowl state championship, defeating then-No. 15 De La Salle (Concord), 47-13, in the final. USC-bound receiver Trent Mosley caught 11 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another. QB Trace Johnson 17 of 25 yards for 247 yards and four TDs. Season complete.

6. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (8-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Season complete.

7. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (14-1)*

Previous: 9.

Recap: Won FHSAA Class 5A state championship, shutting out Lakeland, 29-0. It was the seventh straight state title for the Raiders. The defense recorded seven sacks, including two each from Donovan Adras and Daniel Norman. QB Masin Mallory ran for 103 yards and threw for 261. Johnny DiSalvatore kicked five field goals. RBs Morris Choice and Jaden Desir each rushed for a TD. Season complete.

8. Bixby, Okla. (13-0)*

Previous: 10.

Recap: Won Class 6A-I state championship. Season complete.

9. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-0)*

Previous: 12.

Recap: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Season complete.

10. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (15-0)*

Previous: 13.

Recap: Won Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

11. Mount Carmel, Chicago , New Orleans (14-0)*

Previous: 14.

Recap: Won the Illinois Class 8A state championship. Season complete.

12. Edna Karr, New Orleans (14-0)*

Previous: 21.

Recap: Won a second straight LHSAA Select Division I state championship, defeating St. Augustine (New Orleans), 49-14, in the final before 34,500 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Cougars stretched their win streak to 27 games. Season complete.

13. Duncanville, Texas (12-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 6 Allen, 31-9, in Class 6A, Division I semifinals to be played at Memorial Stadium in Mesquite.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 14 North Shore (Galena Park) in Class 6A, Division I final to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

14. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (13-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Lake Travis (Austin), 28-6, in Class 6A, Division I semifinals. The Mustangs return to the Elite 25 after beating an unbeaten team in the semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 13 Duncanville in Class 6A, Division I final to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

15. DeSoto, Texas (12-3)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 1 Southlake Carroll, 57-44, in the Class 6A, Division II semifinals. The Eagles are in the Elite 25 in a six-game win streak after opening with a 3-3 record.

Next: Saturday vs. Sheldon King (Houston) in Class 6A, Division II final to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

16. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (14-1)

Previous: 1.

Recap: Upset by No. 15 DeSoto, 57-44, in the Class 6A, Division II state semifinals. The Dragons fall in a good ol’ fashion Texas shootout. Season complete.

17. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (12-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Season complete.

18. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (11-2)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Season complete.

19. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (8-3)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Season complete.

20. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (9-2)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Claimed a three-way share of the vaunted Trinity League title with two Elite 25 programs. Season complete.

21. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (12-1)*

Previous: 20.

Recap: Won UHSAA Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

22. Basha, Chandler, Ariz. (12-1)*

Previous: 22.

Recap: Won Arizona Open Division championship for the second time in program history. Season complete.

23. Lone Star, Frisco, Texas (15-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Aledo, 56-52, in Class 5A, Division semifinals. The Rangers enter the Elite 25 needing one win for a state title.

Next: Friday vs. Smithson Valley (Spring Branch) in Class 5A, Division I final to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

24. South Oak Cliff, Dallas (14-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Melissa, 35-17, in UIL Class 5A, Division II semifinals. Leading 7-3 after one quarter, the Golden Bears exploded for 28 points in the second for a commanding 35-10 edge.

Next: Saturday vs. Randle (Richmond) in Class 5A, Division II final to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

25. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (10-2)*

Previous: 25.

Recap: Won the NJSIAA Non-Public A state championship. It was the 20^th state crown in program history. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 6 Allen (Texas); No.11 Northwestern (Miami) No. 15 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.); and No. 24 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. La Salle College High, Wyndmoor, Pa. (13-1)**
2. Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse, N.Y. (13-0)*
3. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (11-1)**
4. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (10-2)*
5. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (12-3)*

Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Midwest

1. Brownsburg, Ind. (14-0)*
2. Detroit Catholic Central, Novi, Mich. (14-0)*
3. Olentangy Orange, Lewis Center, Ohio (15-0)*
4. Arrowhead, Hartland, Wis. (13-1)*
5. Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines, Iowa (12-1)*

Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Southland

1. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (15-0)*
2. Grimsley, Greensboro, N.C. (15-0)*
3. Bryant, Ark. (13-0)*
4. Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tenn. (12-0)*

5.Providence Day, Charlotte, N.C. (13-0)*

Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Far West

1. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (14-0)*
2. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (12-1)
3. Folsom, Calif. (14-1)*
4. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (10-1)
5. O’Dea, Seattle (13-1)*

Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Records through Sunday

 * Denotes a state or conference postseason champion [Note: a second asterisk indicates a team has multiple postseason titles.]

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from August until the conclusion of the high school season. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition, and quality of the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released in December. Follow him on X (or Twitter) at @clawlor.