Preseason 2026 Louisiana High School Football Top 25 Rankings

We continue our race around the country through all 50 states when it comes to our favorite read before anything ever happens on the gridiron: Preseason rankings. Next up in the marathon of states when it comes to high school football preseason rankings is Louisiana, the Pelican State. Edna Karr is coming off a dominating season where there made the argument to being one of the best high school football teams in the Southeast. Now the Cougars will begin the preseason as the No. 1 team out of Louisiana. Here’s how Massey ranked the best Louisiana high school football teams in the Pelican State before the season begins. The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory. 1. Edna Karr Cougars Edna Karr heads into the 2026 campaign as the No. 1-ranked team in all of the Pelican State, according to the Louisiana Top 25 High School Football Massey Preseason Rankings. Last season, Edna Karr won 13 of their 14 victories by double digits on the way to finishing undefeated at 14-0. The only game that was a one-score decision was a 24-17 victory over Plantation American Heritage back in September. The Cougars feature Power 4 prospects like four-star EDGE Juelz Batiste, three-star IOL Zyion Wesley and 2028s Ky’mani Henry and Marlon Jones, respectively. Batiste will lead a defensive unit that only yielded 11 points per game on their way to winning the LHSAA Division I Select state championship in 2025. 2. Catholic Bears Catholic ended last season with a 10-3 record, falling to Edna Karr in the state semis, 17-10, and as the state’s fourth ranked team via the final Louisiana 2025 High School Football Massey Rankings. When taking a look at some of the talent the Bears are slated to bring back, it’s easy to see why Catholic is looking to spread their wings and take on some of the country’s top football programs. Among the expected returners are 2027 four-star running back Jayden Miles and 6-foot-5 tight end Jude Chamberlain. 3. St. Augustine Purple Knights Checking in at the No. 3 spot is St. Augustine, which finished right behind top-ranked Edna Karr at the end of the 2025 Louisiana high school football season, according to Massey Ratings. St. Augustine returns as easily one of the state’s top teams with some of the players they bring back a couple stars at the wide receiver position. The Purple Knights will feature one of the state’s top wide receiving corps, with 2027 four-star Miguel Whitley (46 catches, 869 yards) and three-star Ray’Quan Williams (31 catches, 647 yards), respectively. 4. Ruston Bearcats Ruston (La.), which reached the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) Division I Non-Select state championship in 2025. The Bearcats ended this past season with a 12-3 record and finishing ranked No. 4 in the final 2025 Louisiana High School Football Massey Rankings. Ruston got a big pickup during the off-season with Class of 2028 linebacker Shamar Evans, who left Forest (Miss.) and transferred to the Bearcats. Class of 2027 quarterback Sam Hartwell heads into his senior season leading the Ruston offense as they look to improve upon their 38.2 points per game from the 2025 campaign. 5. John Curtis Patriots John Curtis Christian ended last season with a 9-3 record, falling to St. Augustine in the state semis, 31-29, and as the state’s second ranked team via the final 2025 Louisiana High School Football Massey Rankings. The Patriots released their 2026 schedule, with several huge matchups on tap and the game on the slate that stands out the most is a road game in the Lone Star State on Sep. 4 against Houston (TX) North Shore. Among the top returners for the Patriots for the upcoming season are 2028 four-star safety Jaden Keelen and three-star wide receiver Jarvis Stevenson. 21. St. Charles Catholic Comets 22. Teurlings Catholic Rebels 23. Archbishop Shaw Eagles24. Southside Sharks25. North DeSoto Griffins For Louisiana high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Pelican State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the Louisiana high school football excitement across the state.