Our panel of high school football experts — Greg Riddle, Myah Taylor and Emma Moon — break down each playoff region featuring Dallas-area teams
Other playoff predictions6A Division I Region I
Taylor: Allen over North Crowley. These programs have met in the regional finals the last two seasons, with defending 6A Division I state champion North Crowley winning both times. But it feels like Allen’s year in 2025. The state’s second-ranked 6A team is undefeated entering the playoffs and has one of the top offenses and defenses in the Dallas area.
Riddle: Allen over North Crowley. Five-time state champion Allen will be looking for revenge after losing to North Crowley in regional finals in 2023 (49-37) and 2024 (35-7). Allen has one of the best defenses in Texas, allowing just 8.4 points per game, while North Crowley scores an average of 48.7 points. But this could be the year that Allen wins its first state title since 2017.
Moon: Allen over North Crowley. Although North Crowley has beaten the powerhouse in the last two regional finals, Allen could avenge those losses this year and look to win its first state title since 2017.
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6A Division I Region II
Taylor: Duncanville over North Forney. While Duncanville isn’t quite as dominant this season as it’s been in years’ past, it’s still one of the state’s premiere programs. Expect the three-time state champion to hold off a surging North Forney team that includes four-star Tennessee pledge Legend Bey at quarterback.
Riddle: Duncanville over North Forney. Duncanville has been to at least the state semifinals seven years in a row, winning state titles in 2022 and 2023 and finishing as the state runner-up in 2018, 2019 and 2021. North Forney will present quite a challenge, as it leads area 6A schools in scoring (53.7 points per game), total offense (543.5 yards per game) and rushing offense (397.6 yards per game). Duncanville has been one of D-FW’s best against the run, allowing 79.3 yards per game.
Moon: Duncanville over North Forney. While North Forney has one of the best dual quarterbacks in Legend Bey, Duncanville is still dominant and has experience on its side. Duncanville won state titles in 2022 and 2023. The powerhouse will have to find a way to stifle North Forney’s offense.
6A Division II Region I
Taylor: Southlake Carroll over Denton Guyer. The state’s top-ranked 6A team, Carroll has arguably been the most dominant team in Texas this season and has steamrolled pretty much every opponent. Guyer, the District 5-6A champion, is also among the state’s best. But Carroll is on a mission after falling to Austin Vandegrift in the 6A Division II state championship last season.
Riddle: Southlake Carroll over Denton Guyer. This looks like the year that Southlake Carroll breaks through and wins its first state title since 2011. Carroll has reached at least a regional final eight years in a row, but this might be its best team yet in that span. Carroll has outscored the opposition 519-74, winning by an average of 44.5 points during a 10-0 regular season.
Moon: Southlake Carroll over Denton Guyer. After making a state championship appearance last year, Carroll is looking to win its first title since 2011 and ninth overall. And, so far, the Dragons haven’t been challenged this year, going undefeated this season.
6A Division II Region II
Taylor: DeSoto over Forney. After going 5–1 in a tough District 10-6A, Forney has a real shot to make a run in 2025. But DeSoto, which went 6–1 in the District of Doom with Duncanville, Waxahachie and Cedar Hill, is a bit more battle-tested. This season, DeSoto beat Waxahachie 40-17, while Forney fell to Waxahachie 35-14.
Riddle: DeSoto over Willis. This is the first time DeSoto has lost at least three regular-season games since 2015, but making long playoff runs is just what DeSoto does. The three-time state champion has been to at least a regional final five years in a row, and it won a state title in 2022 after a two-loss regular season. To get to a regional final this year, DeSoto will likely have to win a third-round matchup against The Woodlands College Park, ranked No. 11 in the state. Waiting in the regional final could be Willis and Texas pledge Jermaine Bishop Jr., a four-star wide receiver/defensive back who is rated the sixth-best athlete in the nation and has 75 catches for 1,154 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Moon: DeSoto over Forney. Although both teams only have one district loss, DeSoto has three state title and a history of deep playoff runs on its side. Plus, DeSoto has played huge contests against some of the best teams in Class 6A, giving DeSoto the advantage.
5A Division I Region I
Taylor: Denton Ryan over Aledo. It’s hard to beat a team twice, and Aledo just edged Ryan 15-14 when the district foes met in October. Expect Ryan to beat the 12-time UIL state champion the second time around.
Riddle: Aledo over Denton Ryan. Twelve-time state champion Aledo has beaten Denton Ryan four times in five meetings since the start of the 2022 season, including 15-14 in the regular season this year. Denton Ryan’s one win in that span was 31-21 in a regional final last year.
Moon: Aledo over Denton Ryan. Denton Ryan has only beaten Aledo once in the last three years Altho
5A Division I Region II
Taylor: Frisco Lone Star over Highland Park. Undefeated Lone Star fell 41-28 to six-time state champion Highland Park in last year’s regional finals, but Lone Star has one of the most talented teams in the state with standout quarterback Trey Wright, four-star Baylor pledge Karece Hoyt and four-star Florida pledge Davian Groce all on the roster.
Riddle: Highland Park over Frisco Lone Star. Lone Star is trying to become the first Frisco ISD football team to ever win a state title, and it enters the playoffs 10-0 and ranked No. 2 in the state. But it has been eliminated from the playoffs by Highland Park twice in the last five years, losing 30-20 in the third round in 2020 and 41-28 in a regional final last year. Highland Park quarterback Buck Randall accounted for four touchdowns in last year’s win, and he has been the best 5A quarterback in the area this season, throwing for 3,163 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Moon: Highland Park over Frisco Lone Star. Quarterback Buck Randall has been one of the best quarterbacks this season, recording 3,163 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. Behind him and an experienced team, Highland Park will likely knock off Lone Star once again after eliminating them last year.
5A Division II Region I
Taylor: Prosper Walnut Grove over Anna. Undefeated Walnut Grove won back-to-back District 4-5AII titles, beating Anna 45-38 in the process. While Anna can definitely make a run, Walnut Grove’s offense is hard to stop.
Riddle: Prosper Walnut Grove over Melissa. In just its third year of varsity football, Walnut Grove is looking for its second long playoff run after reaching the third round last year. Walnut Grove is 10-0 and has won by an average of 36.5 points. One of its few close games was a 38-35 win over Melissa, the district rival that it could face in the regional final. Running back Cam Newton ran for 172 yards and four touchdowns in that one and could be the key to Walnut Grove making the longest playoff run in program history.
Moon: Prosper Walnut Grove over Anna. Prosper Walnut Grove is undefeated this season, outscoring the opposition 539-174. The school is looking to make its longest run in the playoffs after only three seasons of varsity.
5A Division II Region II
Taylor: South Oak Cliff over Port Neches-Groves. SOC got the best of PNG in last year’s regional finals, winning 56-14. The program might be even more formidable this year, with wins over 6A state powers Longview and Galena Park North Shore. SOC shut out all of its district opponents in 2025.
Riddle: South Oak Cliff over Port Neches-Groves. This would be the fourth straight year that these two powerhouses have met in the playoffs. South Oak Cliff won 34-24 in the state championship game in 2022 and 56-14 in a regional final last year, while Port Neches-Groves beat SOC 20-17 in the 2023 state title game.
Moon: South Oak Cliff over Port Neches-Grove. These teams have met in the playoffs for the last three seasons. South Oak Cliff has won the last two playoffs games, and will likely win again in the fourth installment.
4A Division I Region II
Moon:Celina over Frisco Panther Creek. Celina is undefeated in the regular season for the second time this year, looking to earn its second consecutive title.
4A Division II Region II
Moon: Carthage over Sunnyvale. Although Sunnyvale is 9-1 this season, the defending champions will likely repeat to earn its 11th state title after going undefeated in the regular season.
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