Twelve North Carolina football teams made the final 2025 High School Football America 300 rankings, powered by NFL Play Football. State champions Providence Day and Grimsley led the away among teams from the Old North State, landing at No. 21 and No. 23 respectively. Hough, also a state champ, finished No. 44.
Grimsley quarterback Faizon Brandon also was named the 2025 High School Football America/National High School Coaches Association National Football Player of the Year.
NFHS ranks teams using a proprietary algorithm. Nine North Carolina teams started the season inside the top 300, with the highest being Grimsley at No. 31. Providence Day started at No. 61.
St. Thomas Aquinas, which has won seven consecutive state titles in Florida, finished as NFHS national champion for 2025. Florida had the most teams in the rankings with 56, followed by Texas 42 and California 28. North Carolina had the seventh-most teams.
The Charlotte metro boasted seven of the Old North State’s top 300 entries. The Raleigh metro boasted three, and the Triad two.
Faizon Brandon A Surprise Pick for Player of the Year
Brandon, a Tennessee signee for 2026, missed much of the regular season due to a hand injury. He returned in time for the playoffs, leading Grimsley to a run through the 7A bracket and a championship game win over Clayton. His final stat line in the post-season: 52-of-83 passing for 949 yards, 10 touchdowns and only one interception. He rushed for another 186 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
The HSFA/NHSCA football award is meant to honor players who excel on and off the field. Brandon is 35-1 as a starter for Grimsley, including two state championship runs in 2024 and 2025.
“While some may be surprised that someone who missed nine games would be our POY, we consider more than just stats,” HSFA wrote in its player of the year announcement. “We look at the total body of work and don’t penalize a player for an injury.
Faizon is the first winner of the HSFA/NHSCA award from North Carolina since the award was created in 2010.
North Carolina Teams in the Final HSFA 300
Here are details on North Carolina’s 12 teams to finish in High School Football America’s national top 300.
No. 21 – Providence Day (Charlotte)
NCISAA Division I | 13-0 | Preseason Rank 61st
Providence Day, which finished as the NCISAA runner-up in 2024, felled crosstown rival Charlotte Christian 42-6 in this year’s title game. Providence Day won every game by double digits except the opener against visiting Roman Catholic from Philadelphia (29-28 triumph). Roman Catholic ended up 39th in the High School America rankings.
No. 23 – Grimsley (Greensboro)
NCHSAA 7A | 15-0 | Preseason Rank 31st
Grimsley won its second consecutive NCHSAA state championship, taming the new 7A classification after winning at the 4A level in 2024. The Whirlies have not lost since falling to Weddington in the 2023 playoffs. Grimsley beat Clayton 24-14 in this year’s 7A championship game.
No. 44 – Hough (Cornelieus)
NCHSAA 8A | 14-0 | Preseason Rank 95th
The Huskies enjoyed a perfect run through the state’s largest classification, claiming the first-ever 8A trophy. Hough beat five other North Carolina teams ranked in the NFHS 300, including three straight in the playoffs (West Forsyth, West Charlotte and Millbrook).
No. 109 – West Charlotte (Charlotte)
NCHSAA 8A | 10-3 | Preseason Rank NR
West Charlotte, winners of the 3A crown in 2024, lost only to state champions this season – to Grimsley, South Pointe (SC) and Hough.
No. 141 – Weddington (Matthews)
NCHSAA 7A | 12-2 | Preseason Rank 72nd
The Warriors finished 6-0 in conference play before being knocked out of the playoffs b eventual champ Grimsley, 13-7.
No. 161 – Myers Park (Charlotte)
NCHSAA 8A | 9-3 | Preseason Rank NR
Notable wins include beating Weddington early in the season. The Mustangs ran into West Charlotte early in the playoffs, falling 34-21 in the second round.
No. 177 – Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh)
NCHSAA 7A | 10-3 | Preseason Rank 94th
The Crusaders won 12 games for the third consecutive season and captured a conference championship before being clipped by Clayton in the 7A semifinals.
No. 222 – Millbrook (Raleigh)
NCHSAA 8A | 13-1 | Preseason Rank NR
Wildcats rolled through the regular season unbeaten and earned school’s first-ever trip to the state championship game in football. Millbrook lost in the finale to Hough, 21-0.
No. 233 – Independence (Charlotte)
NCHSAA 7A | 10-3 | Preseason Rank 261st
Finished second in the Meck Power Six Conference, lost only to powerhouse teams Weddington (playoffs), West Charlotte and Hough.
No. 271 – West Forsyth (Clemmons)
NCHSAA 8A | 10-3 | Preseason Rank NR
Won a conference title, shut out four teams in a row in October and captured two playoff victories before running into the Hough train in the third round.
No. 273 – Mallard Creek (Charlotte)
NCHSAA 8A | 7-4 | Preseason Rank 129th
Don’t let the final record fool you. The Mustangs played a grueling schedule, with all four losses to top 300 teams, including 12-1 Grayson High from Georgia (No. 26 in final rankings).
No. 274 – Clayton (Clayton)
NCHSAA 7A | 12-3 | Preseason Rank NR
Magical season run including state championship appearance, beating county rival Cleveland and knocking out Cardinal Gibbons 35-32 in a thrilling 7A East Region final.
NFHS 2025 Preseason Rankings
Here is where North Carolina teams were listed in the 2025 High School Football America rankings released before the season:
31. Grimsley
61. Providence Day
72. Weddington
74. Rolesville
94. Cardinal Gibbons
95. Hough
129. Mallard Creek
253. Charlotte Catholic
261. Independence
Full 2025 Postseason HSFA 300 Rankings: View the top high school football programs in the nation
Bracket Mania: Review the NCHSAA playoff brackets and NCISAA playoff brackets and how every division finished.
