Eleven North Carolina high school football programs earned spots in the 2026 Preseason High School Football America 300 rankings, giving the state the seventh-most ranked teams in the nation entering the upcoming season.
Three North Carolina programs cracked the Top 50, led by defending state champions Hough (41), Providence Day (43) and Grimsley (47).
Nationally, only Florida (53 teams), Texas (43), Georgia (29), California (29), Ohio (21) and Louisiana (15) placed more schools in the HSFA 300 preseason rankings than North Carolina’s 11.
The HSFA 300 rankings are powered by NFL Play Football and are generated using High School Football America’s proprietary algorithm, which has been used to determine national champions since 2013. Two-time national champion St. John Bosco (Calif.) opens the season ranked No. 1.
North Carolina Teams in the HSFA 300
| RANK | SCHOOL | 2025 RECORD | FINAL 2025 RANK |
| 41 | Hough | 14-0 | 44 |
| 43 | Providence Day | 13-0 | 21 |
| 47 | Grimsley | 15-0 | 23 |
| 123 | West Charlotte | 10-3 | 109 |
| 132 | Weddington | 12-2 | 141 |
| 165 | Myers Park | 9-3 | 161 |
| 185 | Cardinal Gibbons | 12-2 | 177 |
| 191 | Mallard Creek | 7-4 | 273 |
| 195 | Millbrook | 13-1 | 222 |
| 225 | Independence | 10-3 | 233 |
| 269 | West Forsyth | 10-3 | 271 |
On the bubble (Next 100 Teams)
| SCHOOL | 2025 RECORD | FINAL 2025 RANK |
| Clayton | 12-3 | 274 |
| Crest | 13-2 | NR |
| Rolesville | 9-4 | NR |
HSFA 300 By the Numbers
🏈 11 – North Carolina teams ranked in the HSFA 300
⭐ 3 – North Carolina teams ranked in the national Top 50
🏆 3 – HSFA 300 teams that won NCHSAA state championships in 2025 — Hough, Providence Day and Grimsley
🥈 1 – HSFA 300 ranked team that finished as a state runner-up — Millbrook
📈 14 – North Carolina schools recognized overall when including the “Next 100” (Clayton, Crest and Rolesville)
North Carolina’s depth stands out nationally
The HSFA 300 highlights the state’s elite programs, but the broader High School Football America Elite 1100 rankings paint an even stronger picture of North Carolina prep football.
North Carolina placed 51 schools in the Elite 1100, trailing only Texas (156), Florida (138), California (120), Georgia (90) and Ohio (82). Pennsylvania (41) and Alabama (40) were the only other states with at least 40 schools recognized.
The rankings underscore the growing depth of high school football across North Carolina, with programs from every corner of the state earning national recognition entering the 2026 season.
NC Schools in the Elite 1100
The 51 North Carolina schools in the Elite 1100 are:
- A.C. Reynolds
- Ardrey Kell
- Butler
- Cardinal Gibbons
- Chambers
- Charlotte Catholic
- Charlotte Christian
- Clayton
- Cleveland
- Crest
- Davie
- Dudley
- East Forsyth
- Garner
- Grimsley
- Havelock
- Hickory
- Hoggard
- Hough
- Independence
- Jordan
- Kings Mountain
- Lake Norman
- Leesville Road
- Mallard Creek
- Millbrook
- Monroe
- Mooresville
- Mount Tabor
- Myers Park
- New Bern
- Northern Nash
- Porter Ridge
- Providence Day
- Reagan
- Reidsville
- Richmond
- Rolesville
- Scotland
- Seventy-First
- Shelby
- Southern Durham
- South Point
- Statesville
- Sun Valley
- Tarboro
- Wake Forest
- Watauga
- Weddington
- West Charlotte
- West Forsyth
More North Carolina High School Football Content
⭐ High School Fabulous 15 (Final 2025 Rankings): Consensus rankings based on rankings and power ratings from HighSchoolOT, MaxPreps, Sports Illustrated, Brian Simmons/SimmonsRatings.com and the High School Football America 300.
🏆 NCHSAA State Champions History: See the reigning state champs, plus every champion from 1913 to present
🏈 High School Football Scoreboard: Bookmark this page and check back each week during the 2026 season for scores and schedules
