High School Football-My Top 10

The Top 10 High School Football Programs in American History

When it comes to high school football, greatness isn’t measured by one undefeated season or a single star athlete. True greatness is a combination of dominance, longevity, community impact, coaching legacies, national relevance, and a sustained ability to produce tough, disciplined, high-level football teams decade after decade.

On the Old Guy Sports podcast, episode #39, we revealed our list of the Top 10 High School Football Programs in U.S. history, and it sparked plenty of debate—especially around my house, where Miss Amy wanted to know why Cincinnati Moeller didn’t slip into the rankings.

So here we go, we’re expanding the full list into a dedicated blog page for those who love high school football history as much as we do.

The Top 10 Programs

Below are the rankings, complete with background, cultural impact, and what makes each school a giant in the world of Friday Night Under the Lights.

1. De La Salle (Concord, California)

Why They’re No. 1: The Spartans are the gold standard of high school football excellence. Their 151-game winning streak—from 1992 to 2004—is one of the greatest achievements in American sports, period.

What Defines Them:

• Coach Bob Ladouceur’s quiet leadership

• A culture built on humility, discipline, and brotherhood

• Precision-oriented schemes that outmatched more athletic opponents

• A long list of players who excelled in college and beyond

De La Salle didn’t just win—they reshaped the national perception of high school football.

2. Odessa Permian (Odessa, Texas)

Why They’re Here: You can’t talk about high school football without talking about MOJO. The Panthers’ cultural footprint is unmatched thanks to Friday Night Lights—the book, movie, and TV series.

What Makes Them Special:

• A legacy of West Texas toughness

• One of the most passionate fanbases in America

• Multiple state titles and national ranking finishes

• Games that feel like college bowl atmospheres

Permian didn’t just play football—they embodied it.

3. Massillon Washington (Massillon, Ohio)

Legacy: Some towns are football towns. Massillon is football.

Key Highlights:

• Tradition dating back to the early 1900s

• Legendary coach Paul Brown began his journey here

• A community that lives and breathes the sport

• Rivalries (Canton McKinley!) that are practically historic holidays

Their stadium, mascots, and rituals represent everything timeless about high school football.

4. Allen High School (Allen, Texas)

Why They Stand Out: Allen brought modern high school football into the era of mega-stadiums and mega-programs. Their $60 million stadium seats 18,000 fans. Yes—18,000.

Defining Features:

• Massive enrollment and depth

• Perennial state title contenders

• 26 consecutive playoff berths with a won-loss record of 303-49

• Produced NFL quarterback Kyler Murray

• Facilities that rival some colleges

Allen is excellence on an industrial scale.

5. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada)

What Makes Gorman Elite: Once an afterthought, Bishop Gorman became a powerhouse through visionary coaching, top-tier facilities, and a disciplined program that attracts top talent.

Their Calling Cards:

• Regular national schedules

• Multiple national championships

• Dozens of Division I athletes

• A program built on speed, physicality, and precision

The Gaels put Nevada on the national football map.

6. Miami Northwestern (Miami, Florida)

Strengths: Located in talent-rich Liberty City, Northwestern has long been a pipeline for college football

and the NFL.

Why They Rank So High:

• One of the greatest teams ever (2007)

• State and national championships

• A symbol of hope and pride in Miami’s urban core

• Passionate fanbase with deep community ties

Speed, swagger, toughness—Northwestern defines Miami football.

7. John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, Louisiana)

Signature Identity: Old-school, disciplined, and methodical. John Curtis still runs the classic split-back veer—and dominates with it.

Program Highlights:

• Over two dozen state championships

• Decades of consistency under legendary coach J.T. Curtis

• A culture emphasizing fundamentals, unity, and discipline

Curtis proves you don’t need flashy schemes to build a dynasty.

8. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Why They’re a Titan: Aquinas produces NFL players like a factory. Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, Michael Irvin, Asante Samuel—the list reads like a Pro Bowl roster.

Attributes:

• Premier facilities

• College-level coaching and conditioning

• Regular national rankings

• A relentless commitment to excellence

They are the ultimate modern football machine.

9. Hoover High School (Hoover, Alabama)

Cultural Impact: They became a household name thanks to MTV’s Two-A-Days, but their success extends far beyond television.

Why They’re on the List:

• Multiple state titles in the highest classification

• A program built on discipline and athleticism

• Massive suburban support and big-school resources

• A regional recruiting draw

Hoover fused big-time football with big-time media exposure.

10. Katy High School (Katy, Texas)

Why They Crack the Top 10: Katy represents the best of Texas public school football—gritty, disciplined, powerful, and incredibly consistent.

Program Strengths:

• Multiple state championships

• A suffocating defense known across Texas

• Fan support that turns games into city-wide holidays

• A system that reloads rather than rebuilds

Katy may not be flashy, but they are relentlessly, reliably dominant.

Why Cincinnati Moeller Isn’t in the Top 10 (But Is Very Close)

This was the big debate on the podcast—especially with Miss Amy!

Cincinnati Moeller is absolutely one of the greatest high school programs ever:

• Dominant era under Gerry Faust

• Multiple national championships

• A parade of college and NFL stars

• A pioneering national schedules

If this were a Top 11 list, Moeller would be right there. But when comparing programs across all eras, including those with 50–80 years of sustained success, Moeller narrowly missed the cut.

But don’t worry—Miss Amy made sure I explained myself.

Criteria for the Rankings

To evaluate greatness across more than a century of high school football, we used:

1. Championships

Both state and national titles matter.

2. Longevity

How long has the program stayed relevant?

3. Coaching Legacy

Did they produce great coaches?

Did they innovate?

4. National Impact

Did they change the sport?

Did they gain nationwide respect?

5. Community Influence

How essential is the program to its town or region?

6. Consistency

Were they great for 5 years… or 50?

The Top 10 teams excelled across all six categories.

Final Thoughts

High school football is more than wins and losses—it’s tradition, identity, and pride. These 10 programs aren’t just successful; they represent the heart and history of the sport.

Whether you grew up in a powerhouse town like Odessa or a small rural district, the magic of Friday nights stays with you. And these teams—De La Salle, Permian, Massillon, Allen, Gorman, and more—have shaped that magic for generations.

Want More?

🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode

📩 Send us your thoughts—or your own rankings!