Arizona’s Top 5 Public HS Football Programs (2021–2025)

Arizona is a state where I LOVE the playoff format. In terms of this article though, it really makes things pretty cut and dry.

Arizona utilizes the “Open Division” format for its playoffs, and it's a very clean system. Regardless of what class you’re in, if you’re one of the top 8 ranked teams in the state (determined by the AIA power rating system), you qualify for the Open Division bracket. That tournament is what determines the true state champion.
That being said, here are the top 5 public programs of the past 5 years in the state of Arizona.

1. Basha Bears (Chandler)

**Accomplishments: Open Division State Champions (2022, 2025);
2025 Status: Finished #1 in Arizona with a 12-1 record. Finished #21 in the nation according to our #PublicSchoolsTop25.
Analysis: Basha is the state's current benchmark, having won two of the last four Open Division titles. Their 2025 campaign included a 19–16 semifinal win over Liberty and a 34–7 victory over Chandler in the championship game. Since 2021, they have maintained a dominant .885 winning percentage.

2. Liberty Lions (Peoria)

Accomplishments: Open Division State Champions (2023, 2024);
2025 Status: Finished 10-2; Open Division Semifinalist.
Analysis: Liberty is the only program in this window to win back-to-back Open titles ('23, '24). They have qualified for the Open Division semifinals in every year of this five-year window. Their only losses in 2025 came against out-of-state powerhouse Corner Canyon (UT) and the eventual state champion, Basha.
2021 - 2025 AIA Open Division Champions (Saguaro, Basha, Liberty, Liberty, Basha)

3. Chandler Wolves (Chandler)

Accomplishments: Open Division Runner-Up (2021, 2025);
2025 Status: Finished 10-3; Open Division Runner-Up.
Analysis: Chandler reached the state title game in both the first and last years of this window. Despite a 5-6 season in 2024, the program's only sub-.500 finish in over a decade, they successfully returned to the Open championship in 2025, defeating #2 seed Hamilton and Brophy Prep along the way.

4. Hamilton Huskies (Chandler)

Accomplishments: Open Division Semifinalist (2021, 2024);
2025 Status: Finished 11-1; entered playoffs as the #1 overall seed.
Analysis: Hamilton is the most consistent public program without an Open title in this window. They have qualified for the Open bracket in all five years. In 2025, they completed a perfect 10-0 regular season and earned the top playoff seed before falling to Chandler in a tight semifinal matchup.

5. Saguaro Sabercats (Scottsdale)

Accomplishments: Open Division State Champions (2021);
2025 Status: Finished 3-7; missed Open Division playoffs.
Analysis: Saguaro’s ranking is anchored by their victory in the inaugural 2021 Open Division championship. While the program has struggled with coaching transitions and roster turnover since 2024, their 2021–2022 peak remains statistically superior to the classification-specific titles won by other public schools in this window.

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