Top 10 toughest high school football playoff brackets in 2013

There's nothing better than playoff football, and the games in the playoff tournaments below are the best of of the bunch.

MaxPreps takes a stab at identifying the 10 toughest playoff brackets in the country -- tournaments that are sure to provide some big-time matchups as we approach December.

See MaxPreps football playoff brackets from around the country


1. Texas UIL 5A-I
Defending champion: Allen
Favorite: Allen
Sleeper: North Shore (Houston)
This is the granddaddy of playoff brackets. Given that Texas has a Class 5A-II bracket that features the likes of Katy and Lamar, it speaks volumes of the depth of high-quality teams in the Lone Star State. DeSoto, Coppell and Southlake Carroll all loom in this bracket. Allen, the defending champion and the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Composite Rankings, is probably the favorite.

2. Florida FHSAA 8A
Defending champion: Apopka (Fla.)
Favorite: Manatee (Bradenton)
Sleeper: Plant (Tampa)
In many years, some of the medium-sized brackets in the state of Florida have the deepest fields This season, Class 8A presents the most intrigue. Manatee and Miramar are both nationally ranked. Apopka boasts an historically potent offense. Deerfield Beach is unbeaten, with a victory over St. Thomas Aquinas. Perennial powers Dr. Phillips and Plant are also still alive in this loaded field.

3. California CIF Southern Section Pac 5
Defending champion: Long Beach Poly
Favorite: St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Sleeper: Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Football fans in Southern California are once again in for a treat this fall. St. John Bosco has lived up to its billing thus far this year, but will need to win three more big games in order to earn a berth into the CIF Bowl Games. Undefeated Mission Viejo is a legitimate threat, as is defending champion Long Beach Poly. Four teams remaining in the bracket have been ranked in the Xcellent 25 at various points this season.

4. Georgia GHSA AAAAAA
Defending champion: Norcross
Favorite: North Gwinnett (Suwanee)
Sleeper: Camden County (Kingsland)
Nearly every team remaining in this bracket could legitimately make a run at the title -- that's how deep the field of teams is. Norcross entered the season as one of the nation's top teams, and when it's playing well, it can certainly be in that discussion. North Gwinnett has a very impressive resume and is likely the favorite in the bracket. North Cobb and McEachern are both explosive on offense and could get hot and win some shootouts.

5. Ohio OHSAA Division I
Defending champion: Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)
Favorite: Colerain (Cincinnati)
Sleeper: St. Ignatius (Cleveland)
It's hard not to like Ohio's largest bracket, featuring traditional powerhouse teams from all parts of the state. Top-ranked Colerain will do battle with defending champion Moeller this weekend. St. Edward, which would be in contention for a national title if not for a loss to rival St. Ignatius, could exact revenge in the semifinals if both teams win this weekend. Hilliard Davidson, the 2009 champ, is also still alive.

6. Florida FHSAA Class 6A
Defending champion: Central (Miami)
Favorite: Central
Sleeper: Columbia (Lake City)
Nationally ranked Central is clearly at the top of the pecking order in this group, but it's a deep field. Always dangerous is Armwood, led by head coach Sean Callahan. Gainesville, which reached the title game last year, is not quite as dangerous as a year ago but is certainly formidable. Columbia is receiving tremendous reviews in the northern part of the state, while always-talented Mainland lurks as a threat to win its region.

7. Pennsylvania PIAA Class AAAA
Defending champion: North Allegheny (Wexford)
Favorite: Central Catholic (Pittsburgh)
Sleeper: Wilson (West Lawn)
Making -- let alone winning -- the AAAA finals bracket is challenging, as the likes of La Salle and Pennsbury were bounced during district tournaments. This year's bracket features resurgent private school powers from opposite sides of the state in Central Catholic and St. Joseph. McKeesport has won 10 games in a row while Parkland, Neshimany and unbeaten Wilson will all be tough outs.

8. California CIF Southern Section Inland
Defending champion: Centennial (Corona)
Favorite: Centennial
Sleeper: Upland (Calif.)
The defending champion thrives in December, as evidenced by its multiple CIF Bowl Game appearances. Despite the graduation of superstar Su'a Cravens, Vista Murrieta has proven to be just as strong in 2013, losing just once this season in a road matchup with Cathedral Catholic. Rancho Cucamonga is another dangerous team, as is Norco. With its wealth of talent, Upland has the potential to make a run.

9. New Jersey NJSIAA Non-Public Group IV
Defending champion: Paramus Catholic
Favorite: Paramus Catholic
Sleeper: St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City)
Noticeably absent from this year's bracket is defending runner-up Bergen Catholic. Still, this bracket features some very good teams. Don Bosco Prep, which has defeated Paramus Catholic in the regular season each of the last two seasons, will once again be a challenge to the defending champion Paladins. St. Peter's Prep has the offensive firepower to hang with either, but it needs to get past St. Augustine first.

10. Indiana IHSAA Class 6A
Defending champion: N/A (Indiana had five classes last season)
Favorite: Carmel
This bracket is already down to its final pair: Carmel vs. Warren Central, two traditional state powers accustomed to success. In its first year, the Class 6A bracket featured nearly all of the state's best teams, including Pike, Penn and Center Grove.