Written By Will Johnson, September 1, 2026
The first weekend of Texas high school football gave us dominant wins, major upsets and several performances that forced us to reconsider our preseason rankings.
Allen held Duncanville to seven points. Richmond Randle defeated South Oak Cliff in a matchup between championship-level programs. North Crowley shut out Aledo, while North Shore and C.E. King controlled their opening games from start to finish.
Our BTGS rankings are not based on reputation alone. As games are played, actual results carry more weight. At the same time, we will not treat every win or loss equally. The quality of the opponent, how a team performed and the circumstances surrounding the game all matter.
Here is the BTGS Texas High School Football Top 10 heading into Week 2.
How the BTGS ranking system works
Each team is evaluated on a 100-point scale:
Current results — 35 points: Wins, losses and performance on the field.
Opponent quality — 20 points: The strength of the teams played.
Dominance and efficiency — 15 points: Control of the game, scoring margin and performance on both sides of the ball.
Roster strength and championship ceiling — 15 points: Talent, depth and the ability to compete with elite programs.
Program stability — 10 points: Coaching, recent consistency and postseason track record.
Weekly trajectory — 5 points: Whether a team appears to be improving, slipping or building momentum.
Early in the season, roster strength and program history still provide useful context. As the sample of games grows, current results will become increasingly important. A team will not remain highly ranked simply because of its name.
1. North Shore Mustangs
Record: 1–0 | Previous ranking: No. 3
Week 1: Defeated Lancaster, 35–0
The defending Class 6A Division I champions move into the top position after opening with a complete performance. North Shore shut out Lancaster and showed the defensive strength and program stability expected from a championship contender.
There may have been teams with larger scoring margins, but North Shore combined a convincing result with the strongest championship résumé among the Week 1 winners. Until somebody gives us a reason to move them, the Mustangs deserve the No. 1 position.
2. Allen Eagles
Record: 1–0 | Previous ranking: No. 6
Week 1: Defeated Duncanville, 26–7
No team made a bigger opening-week statement than Allen. The Eagles defeated our preseason No. 1 team by 19 points and held Duncanville to only seven.
This was more than an opening-week victory. Allen controlled a matchup against one of the most talented and respected programs in Texas. The opponent quality, defensive performance and margin of victory push the Eagles up four positions.
3. Richmond Randle Lions
Record: 1–0 | Previous ranking: No. 8
Week 1: Defeated South Oak Cliff, 20–14
Randle earned one of the best victories in the state by beating South Oak Cliff in a physical, closely contested game. Texas commit Landen Williams-Callis rushed for 235 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries, providing the Lions with a dependable offensive foundation.
Randle also limited South Oak Cliff to only 44 yards during the first half. The Lions did not simply survive against an elite opponent—they controlled the game early and finished when the pressure increased late.
4. North Crowley Panthers
Record: 1–0 | Previous ranking: No. 9
Week 1: Defeated Aledo, 26–0
Shutting out Aledo will always get our attention. North Crowley held one of the state’s most successful programs scoreless while producing a comfortable 26-point victory.
The Panthers entered the season with championship expectations and immediately backed them up. Their Week 2 matchup against Southlake Carroll gives North Crowley another opportunity to strengthen its case for a place near the top.
5. C.E. King Panthers
Record: 1–0 | Previous ranking: No. 10
Week 1: Defeated Conroe, 70–10
C.E. King delivered the most explosive performance among our preseason Top 10 teams. The Panthers produced 641 yards of offense and scored 70 points in a 60-point victory.
The level of competition keeps C.E. King behind teams with stronger Week 1 victories, but the dominance cannot be ignored. If this offensive production continues against better opponents, the Panthers can climb even higher.
6. Southlake Carroll Dragons
Record: 1–0 | Previous ranking: No. 5
Week 1: Defeated Jenks, Oklahoma, 34–33
Southlake Carroll escaped its opener with a one-point win over Jenks. It was not the Dragons’ cleanest performance, but finding a way to win an interstate matchup still carries value.
The narrow margin causes Carroll to slide one position despite winning. The Dragons can quickly move back up because their next game against North Crowley will be one of the most important matchups on the Week 2 schedule.
7. Waxahachie Indians
Record: 1–0 | Previous ranking: Not ranked
Week 1: Defeated Ennis, 72–14
Waxahachie is the first new team to enter the BTGS Top 10. The Indians left no doubt in a 58-point victory over Ennis and showed the type of offensive firepower that can challenge the best teams in Class 6A.
One dominant result does not guarantee a permanent place in the rankings, but Week 1 performance must matter. Waxahachie earned its opportunity to enter the conversation.
8. Smithson Valley Rangers
Record: 0–0 | Previous ranking: No. 7
Week 1: Game against Sotomayor canceled
Smithson Valley drops one position without playing. That is not a punishment. Other teams simply collected strong results and added evidence to their résumés.
The back-to-back Class 5A Division I champions retain a Top 10 position because of their defensive identity, coaching stability and recent championship performance. Once the Rangers play, they will have the same opportunity to move based on current results.
9. South Oak Cliff Golden Bears
Record: 0–1 | Previous ranking: No. 4
Week 1: Lost to Richmond Randle, 20–14
South Oak Cliff falls five spots, but a competitive six-point loss to our new No. 3 team is not enough to remove the Golden Bears from the rankings.
The offense struggled during the first half, but South Oak Cliff continued fighting and pulled within one score late. The Golden Bears have the talent, coaching and program consistency to recover. For now, however, the result has to count.
10. Duncanville Panthers
Record: 0–1 | Previous ranking: No. 1
Week 1: Lost to Allen, 26–7
Duncanville takes the largest fall after a disappointing offensive performance against Allen. The Panthers finished with fewer than 200 total yards and did not resemble the team we placed at No. 1 during the preseason.
We are not completely abandoning a championship-caliber roster after one game, especially when the loss came against our new No. 2 team. Duncanville stays in the Top 10 based on talent, opponent quality and program strength, but its ranking is no longer protected by preseason expectations.
First five teams out
DeSoto
DeSoto fell 38–14 to national power St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida after trailing 38–0. The opponent was excellent, but the Eagles were thoroughly controlled before scoring late. DeSoto still has the talent to return quickly, but a Top 10 position must be earned on the field.
Shadow Creek
Shadow Creek made a strong early case by defeating Summer Creek, 24–14. Another quality performance could push the Sharks into next week’s rankings.
Ridge Point
Ridge Point earned attention with its victory over Dickinson. The Panthers are positioned just outside the Top 10 with another major opportunity ahead.
Katy
Katy remains one of the most stable programs in Texas and opened the season with a victory. The Tigers need another strong result to separate themselves from a crowded group of contenders.
Carthage
Carthage remains in the statewide conversation regardless of classification. The Bulldogs’ tradition and consistent championship standard make them a team we will continue monitoring.
What Week 1 taught us
The biggest lesson from the opening weekend is that preseason rankings are only a starting point. Allen, Randle and North Crowley earned major movement because they defeated respected opponents. North Shore showed why championship programs deserve the benefit of the doubt, while Waxahachie forced its way into the rankings through pure dominance.
At the same time, we are not turning the rankings into a simple list of undefeated teams. South Oak Cliff and Duncanville remain ranked because opponent quality, roster strength and long-term championship potential still matter. Smithson Valley did not play, so the Rangers were evaluated differently from a team that lost.
The formula will become more results-driven every week. Reputation may open the door, but performance determines who stays in the room.
Who is ranked too high, too low or missing completely? Join the conversation with Between The Game Sports on Facebook.
BTGS rankings are independently compiled by Between The Game Sports using current results, opponent quality, game dominance, roster strength, program stability, and weekly trajectory. External reporting is used for research and fact-checking.
