High school football rankings: Austin Westlake tops Texas Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

The 2021 high school football season in Texas kicks off Aug. 26 and MaxPreps has your look at the state's top teams. Defending 6A Division 1 state champion Westlake (Austin) went 14-0 last season and is back to claim the No. 1 spot in the preseason rankings.

Head coach Todd Dodge announced he's retiring after the season and has led the Chaparrals to an 88-11 record during his tenure. They begin the season as the No. 4 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 and return a lot of talent headlined by Clemson-bound quarterback Cade Klubnik looking to win a third consecutive state title.

North Shore, Duncanville, Katy, Southlake Carroll and Denton Ryan round out the top-six spots and are all featured in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings, giving the Lone Star State the most teams featured in the national poll.

Joining Westlake among the group of teams who won state titles last season ranked in the preseason Top 25 include Katy (6A-D2), Denton Ryan (5A-D1), Aledo (5A-D2), Argyle (4A-D1), Carthage (4A-D2) and Parish Episcopal (TAPPS-D1).

Texas Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

1. Westlake (Austin), 14-0 record in 2020

2. North Shore (Houston), 14-1

3. Duncanville, 10-2

4. Katy, 13-1

5. Southlake Carroll (Southlake), 12-2

6. Ryan (Denton), 15-0

7. Allen, 10-1

8. DeSoto, 10-2

9. Lake Travis (Austin), 6-1

10. Martin (Arlington), 10-2

11. Cedar Hill, 12-2

12. Aledo, 13-1

13. Trinity (Euless), 10-2

14. Rockwall, 10-2

15. Guyer (Denton), 11-3

16. Atascocita (Humble), 7-3

17. Tompkins (Katy), 10-1

18. Rockwall-Heath (Rockwall), 11-3

19. Carthage, 14-0

20. Spring, 9-1

21. Argyle, 16-0

22. Manvel, 9-2

23. Nolan Catholic (Fort Worth), 8-1

24. Hallettsville, 13-3

25. Parish Episcopal (Dallas), 10-1