High school football rankings: Buford finishes No. 1 in final MaxPreps Top 25

Wolves become first team from Georgia to be crowned national champion during MaxPreps era.

Final MaxPreps Top 25 Football Rankings | 2025 Season 2,136 views 1:48

After going 15-0 and winning the Class AAAAAA state championship in Georgia, Buford has been crowned the 2025 MaxPreps National Champions. The Wolves capped their perfect season with a 28-21 win over then-No. 1 Carrollton in the title game.

Buford went 5-0 against top 100 teams en route to becoming the first final No. 1 from Georgia since MaxPreps began recognizing national champions in 2005.

In the season-ending win over Carrollton at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia-bound Tyriq Green showed his versatility by rushing for 184 yards and two touchdowns while also recording five tackles on defense. With the game tied 21-21 in the final three minutes, Green sprinted 82 yards to the house for the go-ahead and ultimately game-winning score.

The Buford defense forced three interceptions to help the suburban Atlanta school capture its 15 state title.

For the season, Buford averaged 44.1 points per game while limiting opponents to just 10.5. The defense held 11 opponents to 14 points or less.

Buford featured 14 players rated as a three-star recruit or higher including Green (Georgia), Bryce Perry-Wright (Texas A&M), Graham Houston (Georgia), Dre Quinn (Ohio State), Nassir McCoy (Ole Miss), Dylan McCoy (North Carolina State), Ben Mubenga (Arkansas) and Dayton Raiola.

2025 BUFORD WOLVES: Schedule | Roster | Stats

The season began with a 20-13 win over two-time defending state state champion Milton as Buford unveiled its new $62 million stadium, opening a stretch against four of the best teams in the state.

The Wolves followed with a 42-14 win over Class AAAA state runner-up Benedictine (Savannah), 65-21 victory over Roswell and 34-26 triumph over Douglas County (Douglasville).

Buford clinched the Region 8-AAAAAA title with a 35-3 win over Mill Creek (Hoschton) to close out the regular season.

In the opening three round of the playoffs, the Wolves outscored Richmond Hill, Newton (Covington) and Douglas County 106-29.

Buford had to travel nearly 300 miles to face Valdosta on the road in the semifinals. The defense dominated as the Wolves rolled to a 39-7 win.

Past MaxPreps National Champions

2005 — Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas)

2006 — Southlake Carroll

2007 — St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio)

2008 — St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

2009 — Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)

2010 — South Panola (Batesville, Miss.)

2011 — Don Bosco Prep

2012 — John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)

2013 — Booker T. Washington (Miami, Fla.)

2014 — Allen (Texas)

2015 — Katy (Texas)

2016 — Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

2017 — Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

2018 — North Shore (Houston, Texas)

2019 — St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

2020 — IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

2021 — Mater Dei

2022 — St. John Bosco

2023 — Bishop Gorman

2024 — Mater Dei

Final MaxPreps Top 25 football rankings

1. Buford (Ga.)

Record: 15-0 | Last week: 5

Class AAAAAA state champions.

2. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)

Record: 9-1 | Last week: 2

3. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Record: 11-1 | Last week: 3

Open Division state champions.

4. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

Record: 11-3 | Last week: 4

Open Division state champions.

5. Carrollton (Ga.)

Record: 14-1 | Last week: 1

Class AAAAAA state runner-up.

6. Edna Karr (New Orleans, La.)

Record: 14-0 | Last week: 6

Division I Select state champions.

7. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

Record: 9-0 | Last week: 7

8. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)

Record: 11-2 | Last week: 8

9. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Record: 8-3 | Last week: 9

10. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Record: 14-1 | Last week: 10

Class 5A state champions.

11. Thomas County Central (Thomasville, Ga.)

Record: 15-0 | Last week: NR

Class AAAAA state champions.

12. Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C.)

Record: 15-0 | Last week: 11

Class 7A state champions.

13. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

Record: 12-1 | Last week: 12

14. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)

Record: 11-0 | Last week: 13

WCAC champions.

15. Bixby (Okla.)

Record: 13-0 | Last week: 14

Class 6A-I state champions.

16. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)

Record: 12-0 | Last week: 15

Division II Class AAA state champions.

17. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)

Record: 10-1 | Last week: 16

18. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

Record: 9-2 | Last week: 17

19. Creekside (Fairburn, Ga.)

Record: 15-0 | Last week: 18

Class AAAA state champions.

20. Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, Ala.)

Record: 15-0 | Last week: 20

Class 6A state champions.

21. South Oak Cliff (Dallas, Texas)

Record: 15-1 | Last week: NR

Conference 5A Division 2 state champions.

22. Brownsburg (Ind.)

Record: 14-0 | Last week: 21

Class 6A state champions.

23. DeSoto (Texas)

Record: 12-3 | Last week: 23

Last week: Beat King (Houston) 55-27

Conference 6A Division 2 state champions.

24. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)

Record: 12-1 | Last week: 22

Open Division state champions.

25. Raines (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Record: 14-0 | Last week: 24

Class 3A state champions.

High school football rankings: Buford finishes No. 1 in final MaxPreps Top 25

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