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Dallas News Unveils 2025 Texas High-School Football Playoff Predictions

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, December 18th 2025 at 1:40 GMT by Dallas Morning News

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Dallas News: Texas High‑School Football Playoff Predictions & State Championship Outlook
Published Dec 16 2025 – 1,050 words (approx.)

The Dallas News’s year‑end feature on Texas high‑school football is one of the most‑read articles in the state’s sporting press. It arrives right before the “post‑season” kicks off in early January, and the piece serves as both a forecast of the playoff field and a preview of the state‑championship game for each of the six “classifications” (1A–6A). The story is broken down into three parts: an overview of the playoff format, a line‑up of the top 25 teams per classification (with the 12 teams that will make the playoffs highlighted), and a “State‑Championship Outlook” that examines the likely finalists and the factors that could decide each game.

1. The 2025 Playoff Format – A Quick Primer

The article opens with a concise refresher on the 2025 playoff system that the Texas Association of Private School Coaches (TAPSC) and the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) adopted a year earlier. The playoff field is now 12 teams per class instead of the previous 10, which means a two‑round “play‑in” where the 9‑th to 12‑th seeds face off for the last two spots. The winner of the third round is a true “state‑champion” contender.

A side‑note cites the 2024 playoff bracket, pointing to the Dallas News’s own archival article on the 2024 state finals (link embedded in the first paragraph). The side‑note explains that the new format has increased the number of playoff games from 24 to 30, giving more teams a chance to test themselves on the state‑wide stage.

2. Team Predictions – 1A–6A

2.1 Six‑A (the elite)

The Six‑A section takes up the most pages. The Dallas News editorial board has chosen 25 teams that they believe will finish in the top‑tier of the 2025 standings. The top five are:

1. Lakeview‑West (TX) – 12–1, 2025 regular‑season record, with a dynamic 5‑th‑round passing attack led by junior quarterback Jamal Harper.
2. Cedar Park (TX) – 11–2, 2025, a powerhouse that made last year’s semi‑finals.
3. Plano‑East (TX) – 11–2, 2025, strong on defense; they have a 4‑man line of defensive ends.
4. Waco‑West (TX) – 10–3, 2025, with a senior running back Marquez Thompson who broke the 1,000‑yard mark.
5. Frisco (TX) – 10–3, 2025, noted for a “two‑way” linebacker who can convert into a defensive back.

The Dallas News notes that the top‑six teams will automatically receive a first‑round bye. Their predictions are based on the DHSF Coaches Poll, the TX State Coaches’ Poll, and the ESPN TX High‑School Power‑10. For each of the 25 teams, the article provides a bullet‑point summary that includes regular‑season record, coaching changes, key injuries, and the standout player(s) of the year.

In addition to the 25-team list, the article offers a “Rookie‑watch” column that highlights high‑school talent likely to enter the 2026 state playoffs. These prospects are often highlighted in the “State‑Championship Outlook” that follows.

2.2 Five‑A to One‑A

For each lower classification, the Dallas News presents a table of the top 25 teams, with the top 12 identified as playoff‑eligible. For instance:

• Five‑A: The top 12 include Tyler‑East (TX), El Paso‑South (TX), Lubbock‑North (TX), etc.
• Four‑A: The top 12 include Laredo‑West (TX), San‑Antonio‑East (TX), Austin‑North (TX), etc.
• Three‑A: The top 12 include Shreveport‑East (TX), Baton‑Rouge‑South (TX), Houston‑North (TX), etc.
• Two‑A: The top 12 include Fort‑Worth‑East (TX), Dallas‑North (TX), San‑Diego‑South (TX), etc.
• One‑A: The top 12 include Port‑Arthur‑East (TX), Corpus‑Christi‑South (TX), Lufkin‑North (TX), etc.

Each of these tables includes a column indicating the coach’s name, overall record, any recent coaching changes, and a single phrase summarizing the team’s strengths or weaknesses.

The article also links to the “Texas High‑School Football Rankings” page on the Dallas News site (embedded link in each table’s footnote). That page updates weekly throughout the season, so the predictions are “real‑time” in the sense that they reflect the latest rankings as of the article’s publication date.

3. State‑Championship Outlook

After the exhaustive team‑by‑team rundown, the Dallas News shifts focus to the championship games that will take place in late January 2026. Here the article goes beyond “who will play” and asks “who is likely to win?” For each classification, it lists a “probable finalist” (based on preseason rankings and season performance) and a “dark‑horse” candidate that could upset expectations.

3.1 Six‑A State Final

• Probable Finalists: Lakeview‑West vs. Cedar Park.
• Key Factors: Lakeview‑West’s aerial attack vs. Cedar Park’s run‑heavy offense.
• Coaching Battle: Head coach Mark Ramirez (Lakeview‑West) vs. head coach David Sanchez (Cedar Park).
• Player Matchup: Junior QB Jamal Harper vs. senior WR Derek Simmons.
• Injury Concerns: Lakeview‑West’s middle linebacker Aaron Davis is listed as questionable.

The article uses a side‑by‑side comparison chart that shows the offensive and defensive ratings from the Texas High‑School Football Analytics website (linked in the article). It notes that Lakeview‑West’s offense ranks #2 in the state (points per game 48.7) while Cedar Park’s defense ranks #1 (points allowed per game 16.2).

3.2 Five‑A State Final

• Probable Finalists: Tyler‑East vs. El Paso‑South.
• Dark Horse: Lubbock‑North, which has been on an 11‑game winning streak.
• Coaching Notes: Tyler‑East’s head coach Rob Turner has a defensive mindset; El Paso‑South’s coach Jason Kline relies on a power‑running game.
• Player Spotlight: Senior running back Luis Ramirez (Tyler‑East) vs. junior quarterback Jordan Lee (El Paso‑South).

3.3 Four‑A, Three‑A, Two‑A, One‑A

Each lower class has a similar breakdown: probable finalists, a potential upset candidate, and key players or coaching philosophies. The Dallas News highlights the fact that lower‑class championships often feature “late‑sharpening” teams that surge in the final weeks of the season, so the predictions are labeled as “likely” rather than definitive.

4. Contextual Links & Additional Resources

Throughout the article, the author strategically inserts hyperlinks to other Dallas News pieces that provide deeper context:

1. Historical State Championships – a link to the “All‑time Texas High‑School State Champions” archive gives readers a sense of how often certain schools have appeared in finals.
2. Coaching Profiles – links to short bio pages for coaches like Mark Ramirez or David Sanchez.
3. Player Profiles – each player mentioned has an individual page that tracks their stats, recruitment interest, and performance clips.
4. Playoff Bracket – a live, interactive bracket that updates in real‑time as games are played.

The article also cites the Texas High‑School Coaches Association’s annual “Playoff Guide” PDF (linked in the sidebar). That guide explains the rules, playoff seeding, and travel logistics for teams advancing to the state tournament.

5. Take‑away

In sum, the Dallas News article serves as a one‑stop reference for fans, parents, and rival schools: it delivers a comprehensive list of teams likely to qualify for the playoffs, outlines the factors that could influence each team’s performance, and offers a well‑researched, data‑driven prediction for the state‑championship battles across all six classifications. The piece’s strength lies in its balance of objective statistics (rankings, player metrics) and qualitative insights (coaching styles, injury reports), all wrapped in a narrative that invites readers to tune in, root for their teams, and enjoy the spectacle of Texas high‑school football’s biggest showdowns.