State-by-State Breakdown: Where the 2026 Public Schools Top 100 Comes From

The 2026 high school football season is coming up quickly, and with the Preseason Public Schools Top 100 officially released, we wanted to take a closer look at the numbers by state.

This year’s preseason ranking features 100 public-school programs from 28 different states, with the biggest concentrations coming from the same regions that continue to shape the national public-school football conversation: Texas, Georgia, Florida, California, Alabama, Ohio and Arizona.

At the top, the list is especially loaded with teams from the Southeast and Texas. The Top 25 alone includes six teams from Georgia, six from Texas, three from Florida and two from Alabama, giving those four states 17 of the first 25 spots.

That is not an accident. It reflects a combination of returning production, roster depth, schedule strength, recent postseason success and the week-to-week difficulty of competing in some of the country’s toughest public-school football environments.

It is also worth noting that many of the states with the strongest representation are states that allow more spring practice, offseason football activity and coach-to-player training throughout the year. That does not explain everything, but it is something to keep in mind when looking at where the deepest public-school football states are located.

Full State-by-State Count

1. Texas — 18 Teams

Texas leads the entire country with 18 teams in the Preseason Public Schools Top 100.

The state has elite national brands at the top, with North Shore, Duncanville, DeSoto, North Crowley, Waxahachie and Southlake Carroll all inside the Top 25. It also has major depth throughout the list with programs like South Oak Cliff, Allen, Lake Travis, Smithson Valley, Richmond Randle, C.E. King, Aledo, Prosper, Longview, Carthage, Dickinson and Atascocita.

Texas has the most total teams in the ranking, and that depth is the foundation of its case as the deepest public-school football state in the country.

2. Georgia — 16 Teams

Georgia comes in second with 16 teams, but the state owns the very top of the ranking.

The first two teams in the country are both from Georgia: Creekside and Thomas County Central. Both are coming off unbeaten state championship seasons, and both enter 2026 with legitimate national championship aspirations.

Georgia also has more traditionally known powers like Carrollton, Buford, Grayson and Milton inside the Top 25, giving the state six teams in the first quarter of the ranking. That group alone gives Georgia a strong argument as the top public-school football state in the country entering 2026.

The depth continues with Gainesville, Roswell, Langston Hughes, McEachern, Houston County, Valdosta, Lee County, Colquitt County, Brookwood and Lowndes.

Georgia’s case is built around elite top-end strength, championship credibility and one of the most difficult public-school landscapes in the country.

3. Florida — 14 Teams

Florida lands 14 teams in the Top 100, giving the state the third-most selections in the country.

The Florida group is led by West Boca Raton, Miami Central and Venice, all of whom appear inside the Top 25. From there, the state continues to show its depth with Lakeland, Miami Northwestern, Armwood, Raines, Cocoa, Edgewater, Jones, Buchholz, Mandarin, Vero Beach and Choctawhatchee.

Florida’s public-school depth is especially interesting because it stretches across several different regions and classifications. South Florida still has major national power, but the list also shows strength from the Tampa area, Orlando area, Jacksonville, the Panhandle and the Space Coast.

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4. California — 6 Teams

California has six teams in the Top 100, led by Centennial (Corona) at No. 4.

The state’s public-school group includes several programs with national name recognition: Centennial, Mission Viejo, Folsom, Central East, Pacifica (Oxnard) and Pittsburg.

California does not have the same total volume as Texas, Georgia or Florida in this ranking, but its top-end public-school talent still carries significant national recognition. Centennial’s placement inside the national Top 5 gives the state one of the strongest individual contenders in the country.

5. Alabama — 5 Teams

Alabama places five teams in the Top 100, including three inside the Top 40.

The state is led by Thompson at No. 3 and Clay-Chalkville at No. 10. Those two give Alabama one of the best one-two punches of any state in the country.

Central-Phenix City, Saraland and Hewitt-Trussville round out the state’s representation and give Alabama a strong mix of proven championship programs, elite schedules and high-end roster talent.

6. Arizona — 4 Teams

Arizona puts four teams in the Top 100, led by Basha at No. 5.

The state’s group is small but strong, and it is loaded with high-end talent. Basha, Liberty, Hamilton and Chandler all carry major in-state weight, and Basha’s Top 5 placement gives Arizona a true national headliner entering the season.

6. Ohio — 4 Teams

Ohio also has four teams in the ranking: Massillon Washington, Avon, Glenville and Olentangy Orange.

The Ohio group is built around proven winners, physical programs and playoff-tested teams. Massillon Washington and Avon both land in the Top 50, while Glenville and Olentangy Orange add further depth to the state’s public-school picture.

States With 3 Teams

Indiana — 3 Teams

Indiana is represented by Brownsburg, New Palestine and Westfield.

Brownsburg leads the state at No. 12, giving Indiana a major national placement near the top of the list.

Louisiana — 3 Teams

Louisiana has Edna Karr, Alexandria and Ruston in the Top 100.

Edna Karr leads the state at No. 21 after another dominant season, while Alexandria and Ruston give Louisiana multiple high-level public-school programs in the national picture.

South Carolina — 3 Teams

South Carolina places Northwestern, Dutch Fork and South Pointe in the Top 100.

That is a strong three-team group built around recent state-title success, established program strength and consistent regional relevance.

North Carolina — 3 Teams

North Carolina is represented by Hough, Grimsley and Weddington.

Hough and Grimsley both land inside the Top 35, giving North Carolina a strong upper-tier presence.

Oklahoma — 3 Teams

Oklahoma has Bixby, Jenks and Owasso in the Top 100.

Bixby remains the headliner, but the presence of Jenks and Owasso shows that Oklahoma’s public-school strength goes beyond one program.

States With 2 Teams

Tennessee — 2 Teams

Tennessee is represented by Oakland and Alcoa.

Oakland lands at No. 13 and remains one of the most respected public-school programs in the country. Alcoa gives the state another championship-standard program inside the Top 100.

Illinois — 2 Teams

Illinois has East St. Louis and Bolingbrook in the ranking.

East St. Louis is the traditional state headliner at No. 35, while Bolingbrook adds another strong public-school program to the national list.

States With 1 Team

Several states earned one spot in the Preseason Top 100, but many of those single entries are major programs with state-title expectations or national credibility.

Colorado: Cherry Creek
Utah: Corner Canyon
Delaware: Middletown
Arkansas: Bryant
Michigan: Cass Tech
West Virginia: Martinsburg
Maryland: Quince Orchard
Washington: Graham-Kapowsin
Nebraska: Millard South
Hawaii: Kahuku
Oregon: West Linn
New Jersey: Glassboro
Virginia: Oscar Smith
Pennsylvania: Pine-Richland

This group shows why the national public-school football picture cannot be reduced to only the biggest-volume states. Programs like Cherry Creek, Corner Canyon, Middletown, Bryant, Kahuku, Martinsburg and Oscar Smith have all built strong enough resumes to stand alone as national representatives from their states.

What the Breakdown Shows

The 2026 preseason Top 100 reinforces a few major takeaways.

First, Texas has the most total depth. With 18 teams, the state has more programs in the ranking than anyone else and remains the deepest public-school football state on the board.

Second, Georgia has the strongest top-end argument. The state has the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country, six teams in the Top 25 and 16 total teams in the Top 100.

Third, Florida remains one of the country’s most important public-school football states. The state has 14 teams in the ranking and remains loaded with athleticism, depth and regional variety.

Fourth, the national picture is wider than the usual handful of states. Twenty-eight states are represented, and several one-team states bring legitimate championship-level programs into the conversation.

Final State Count

Texas: 18
Georgia: 16
Florida: 14
California: 6
Alabama: 5
Arizona: 4
Ohio: 4
Indiana: 3
Louisiana: 3
South Carolina: 3
North Carolina: 3
Oklahoma: 3
Tennessee: 2
Illinois: 2
Colorado: 1
Utah: 1
Delaware: 1
Arkansas: 1
Michigan: 1
West Virginia: 1
Maryland: 1
Washington: 1
Nebraska: 1
Hawaii: 1
Oregon: 1
New Jersey: 1
Virginia: 1
Pennsylvania: 1

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— Alex | T25PS