CLOSING STATEMENT: No. 1 Buford (GA) Wolves are Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions with perfect season and Georgia’s Class 6A football title

BENSALEM, Pa. – The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Rankings National Championship returns to Georgia.

The Wolves of Buford (Ga.) are the champions of schoolboy football for the 2025 season and with a 15-0 record and the Georgia High School Association Class 6A state champions. Winning Georgia’s largest classification is no cakewalk but as one of the country’s incubators for football talent it’s fitting the Wolves return to the top of the Peach State. Previously, Grayson (Loganville) zoomed to the top of the Elite 25 final rankings.

The Elite 25’s No. 1 slot went down to the final week. Rarely does it go down to the wire but with two teams ahead of the Wolves, it needed to beat then-No. 4 Carrollton (Ga.) before a large crowd on Tuesday night at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The 6A championship game, as did the season, went down to the death and the Wolves prevailed, 28-21.

Georgia-bound RB Tyriq Green (11 carries, 184 yards) sped 82 yards for a touchdown with 2:37 left to snap a 21-all tie and defense held off the Trojans, who finished 14-1. Buford carried a 14-7 lead into the fourth quarter before the Trojans’ Jahmir Harris and Cam Wood scored TDs to keep the game interesting. Nick Archer’s 1-yard run gave the Trojans a 7-0 edge by halftime.

It was Buford’s 15^th state championship (second to Valdosta’s 24) and the first in Georgia’s highest classification. For head coach Bryant Appling it was his fourth state title in seven years. Carrollton dipped to 0-5 in state finals this century.

The top-5 Elite 25 teams are all quality but the Wolves were 15-0.

No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) annexed a fifth consecutive Nevada state title and No. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) went unbeaten but does not compete for a Florida state championship. Both teams slipped one slot after the Wolves leapfrogged them. Gorman played a strong nationally themed schedule in the opening five weeks with wins over No. 4 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) and Orange (Calif.) Lutheran but lost to No. 19 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.). All three are members of the powerful Trinity League.

IMG (9-0) had a game with No. 5 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) cancelled in November. Too bad because it might have set up a national championship game between the independent programs.

In California, three teams from the Trinity League, led by No. 4 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), wound up in the final rankings. A year ago, Santa Margarita reached out to hire former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer and it paid immediate dividends with a CIF Open Division Bowl state title.

Last week, JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) hired former NFL and Cal linebacker Hardy Nickerson as its head coach after a 3-7 season. The five-time Pro Bowler has coached in the NFL and college and was the head coach at Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) for the past four years, including this year’s Division 5-AA state title. Nickerson, 60, becomes the first African-American head coach in the Trinity since the league was formed in 2008, according to a published report.

Nickerson is from Southern California, having graduated from Verbum Dei (Los Angeles) in 1983.

Life in the Trinity League, the Holy Grail of high school football leagues, is akin to the Southeastern Conference, where winning is always a premium.

Shifting to the University Interscholastic League state finals in Arlington, Texas, it was a banner weekend at AT&T Stadium for 12 teams, including three from the Elite 25.

In the Class 5A, Division II final, No. 23 South Oak Cliff (Dallas) won its third state title in four years in a 35-19 victory over Randle (Richmond). Running back Mikail Trotter had a big day toting the rock, totaling 144 yards and scored three touchdowns.

It was another classic in Class 6A, Division I as No. 7 North Shore (Galena Park) stopped No. swhg Duncanville, 10-7, before nearly 40,000. Over the last decade, it was the sixth time in eight years they have met in a state final. The Mustangs annexed their sixth state crown and has beaten Duncanville in four of those.

The game was scoreless in the third quarter when QB Kaleb Maryland tossed a 44-yard TD pass to Jaylen Bocard and then took a 10-0 lead when Daniel Cruz kicked a 27-yard field goal with 9:53 left in the fourth. Duncanville’s SMU-bound WR Zach Turner caught a 32-yard TD strike with 5:33 made it 10-7 but a late rally fell short in North Shore territory.

No. 14 DeSoto rolled to the Class 6A, Division II state championship in the final game of the week. The Eagles defeated C.E. King (Houston), 55-27, in the final. It was their third state title in four seasons at the highest level in Texas after a 0-2 start. QB Legend Powell completed 19-of-24 passes for 280 yards and four TDs. RB SaRod Baker carried 24 times for 126 yards and two scores.

Crunching the numbers for the last time. There were 11 teams that showed no movement; six went up and five dropped with No. 11 Carrollton sinking seven slots and there were 15 state or conference postseason champions.

The ultimate question: how many teams from the preseason rankings survived the final cut? Fourteen teams appeared in the preseason and stuck around until the end. That’s 56% of the Elite 25 were picked correctly. Honestly, it was not up to standard.

Onward.

So, high school football is done for another season but before signing off we honor the upcoming holidays.

If you celebrate Christmas, a very Merry Christmas to you! If you celebrate Hanukkah, have a wonderful and Happy Hanukkah! If you recognize Kwanzaa, then have a Happy Kwanzaa filled with family and community.

Also, Happy New Year! We’re looking forward to 2026 and another season on the gridiron.

Finally, thank you for your support and readership this season. We cannot do it without you. And to our esteemed editor and chief, Mike Flynn, a ginormous thank you for providing this platform to promote interscholastic athletics. Kudos!

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football preseason rankings will debut during the first week of August 2026.

Now we pivot to the hardwood, boys’ and girls’ basketball. The Elite 25 boys rankings will be updated on Wednesday, Dec. 24 and the girls on Tuesday, Dec. 23. That keeps us busy until April.

Season’s greetings.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Final Football Rankings, Dec. 21, 2025

1. Buford, Ga. (15-0)*!

Previous rank: 3.

Recap: Won the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Championship after securing the GHSA Class 6A state championship, defeating then-No. 4 Carrollton (Ga.), 28-21, in the final.

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

Previous: 1.

Recap: Won Nevada Class 5A Open Division championship and fifth straight state crown.

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

Previous: 2.

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

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

Previous: 5.

Recap: Won CIF Open Division Bowl state championship. Also shared the Trinity League title with two Elite 25 teams.

5. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (9-1)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Season complete.

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

Previous: 7.

Recap: Won FHSAA CLASS 5A state championship.

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

Previous: 14.

Recap: Won the Class 6A, Division I state championship and sixth overall, beating then-No. 13 Duncanville, 10-7, in the final. Jaylen Bocard caught a 44-yard TD pass in the third quarter and Daniel Cruz’s 27-yard FG early in the fourth were the decisive points.

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

Previous: 8.

Recap: Won Class 6A-I state championship. The Spartans have won 11 titles in the last 12 seasons.

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

Previous: 9.

Recap: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship for the 19^th time in program history.

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

Previous: 10.

Recap: Won Class 6A state championship.

11. Carrollton, Ga. (14-1)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Lost in GHSA Class 6A state final to then-No. 3 Buford (Ga.), 28-21.

12. Mount Carmel, Chicago (14-0)*

Previous: 11.

Recap: Won the Illinois Class 8A state championship for the program’s 17^th overall title.

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

Previous: 12.

Recap: Won a second straight LHSAA Select Division I state championship.

14. DeSoto, Texas (13-3)*

Previous: 15

Recap: Won Class 6A, Division II state championship, defeating Sheldon King (Houston), 55-27, in the final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The Eagles have won three state titles in the last four seasons.

15. Duncanville, Texas (12-2)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Lost to No. 7 North Shore (Galena Park), 10-7, in the Class 6A, Division I state championship.

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

Previous: 16.

Recap: Advanced to the Class 6A, Division II state semifinals.

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

Previous: 17.

Recap: Advanced to the Class 6A quarterfinals.

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

Previous: 18.

Recap: Advanced to CIF-Southern Section Division 1 final.

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

Previous: 19.

Recap: Shared the Trinity League title and advanced to CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals.

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

Previous: 20.

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

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

Previous: 21.

Recap: Won UHSAA Class 6A state championship. Eric Kjar, who won seven state titles and 181 games in 17 high school seasons, left to become the head coach at FCS Weber State in Ogden, Utah.

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

Previous: 22.

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

23. South Oak Cliff, Dallas (15-1)*

Previous: 24.

Recap: Won a third state championship in four years, defeating Randle (Richmond), 35-19, in Class 5A, Division II final. RB Mikail Trotter rushed for 144 yards and three TDs on 11 carries and QB Jayden Williams ran for a score and passed for one.

24. Brownsburg, Ind. (14-0)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Won Class 6A state championship.

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.

Dropped: No. 23 Lone Star (Frisco, Texas).

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

! Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions

 * 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.