Preseason Louisiana High School Football Top 25 Rankings

The 2025-26 Louisiana high school football season is right around the corner. Hundreds of teams will compete across multiple classifications, all striving toward a state championship. From traditional powers to upstart challengers, here are the top 25 Louisiana high school football teams, according to Massey.

The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

1. Edna Karr Cougars

The Cougars completed a perfect 14-0 season after defeating Alexandria for the Louisiana high school football Division I Select state championship. What’s more impressive is that 13 of their 14 wins were by double digits.

Edna Karr will start its title defense against Florida’s American Heritage on September 12. Their key players on defense include four-star LSU commits Richard Anderson and Aiden Hall. They also have four-star Texas commit Hayward Howard Jr. and three-star Colorado commit Maurice Williams.

On offense, the Cougars have athlete John Johnson (Liberty), offensive lineman Leon Noll (Nebraska), and interior lineman Zylon Wesley. 

2. Ruston Bearcats

The Bearcats found their winning ways back after losing back-to-back games in the middle of the season. However, just when they were on a five-game winning streak, they lost to Central in the Louisiana high school football Division I Non-Select championship game.

Ruston had an undefeated 2023 season, and they’re hoping to replicate that success in 2025, starting with their September 5 opener against Acadiana. Five-star tight end Ahmad Hudson, the top-ranked player among the Class of 2027 athletes at his position, will be vital to the Bearcats’ success. Meanwhile, four-star safety Jayden Anding and Keilan Davis fortify their defensive secondary.

3. Catholic Bears

The Bears were looking good last season after winning their first 11 games. However, while they reached the Louisiana high school football Division I Select state semifinals, Edna Karr edged them by two points.

Catholic would like to erase that heartbreaking defeat as their 2025-26 season starts. The Bears will open the season against Destrehan on September 5, and they will rely on four-star running back Jayden Miles and three-star interior lineman Blaise Thomassie (Stanford) on offense. Meanwhile, edge rusher RJ Fleming-Ricard and four-star safety Blaine Bradford (Ohio State) are their key players on defense.

4. Acadiana Rams

The Rams obliterated the opposition in their nine victories last season. All their wins were by double-digits, and they limited six opponents to seven points or less. Sadly, they suffered a heartbreaking one-point loss to John Curtis in the first round of the 2024-25 Louisiana high school football Division I Select state tournament.

Three-star defensive lineman Darryus McKinley (LSU) and the entire Acadiana team will open the 2025-26 season against Ruston on September 5. 

5. John Curtis Patriots

It was an up-and-down 2024-25 season for the Patriots. While they had two three-game winning streaks, they lost five of their first nine games. Ultimately, their campaign ended against Alexandria in the state semifinals.

Safety Jaden Keelen and the entire John Curtis squad will open the 2025-26 Louisiana high school football season against California’s Cathedral Phantoms on September 5.

6. St. Augustine
7. Archbishop Rummel
8. Alexandria
9. St. Thomas More
10. Zachary

11. Neville
12. Brother Martin
13. Central
14. West Monroe
15. Jesuit

16. Holy Cross
17. Destrehan
18. Archbishop Shaw
19. Southside
20. Lafayette Christian Academy

21. Teurlings Catholic
22. Ouachita Parish
23. C.E. Byrd
24. Warren Easton
25. Mandeville