Texas Football Magazine Predicts Playoff Appearances for Three Area Teams as State Title Hopes Rise Across Competitive High School Landscape
Every summer, the release of Texas Football Magazine signals the unofficial start of football season across the Lone Star State. For decades, the magazine has served as the Bible of Texas high school football, offering fans, players, and coaches a comprehensive preview of the season to come. With in-depth analysis, expert predictions, and detailed team breakdowns, its annual projections often stir heated debates and raise expectations across communities. This year’s edition comes with particular buzz, as the magazine has projected playoff appearances for three high-profile area teams, sparking excitement across a region long known for its fierce football culture.
The magazine’s projections, while never guarantees, are taken seriously by those within the game. Coaches use them as motivational tools, players see them as validation or challenges, and fans use them as bragging rights fodder. Being named as a projected playoff team in Texas Football Magazine carries weight—it’s an acknowledgment of talent, coaching, and momentum. It’s also a spotlight that brings pressure. With thousands of programs vying for limited postseason spots, being singled out is both an honor and a burden.
Among the three area teams earning that distinction this year are perennial contenders and rising programs alike. Each brings a unique story, strengths, and challenges into the 2025 season, and their inclusion in the playoff forecast reflects a mix of recent success, returning talent, and favorable district alignments.
The first team highlighted by the magazine is a powerhouse known across the state: Westlake High School. The Chaparrals have long been a fixture in deep playoff runs, with a storied tradition that includes multiple state championships and alumni like Drew Brees and Sam Ehlinger. Their return to the spotlight comes as little surprise, especially considering the returning core of experienced players and an elite coaching staff led by a program that understands how to win.
Westlake’s 2024 campaign ended in the semifinals, a result that left the team both proud and hungry. This year, expectations are even higher. Texas Football Magazine points to their dominant offensive line, a returning quarterback with Division I interest, and a fast, disciplined defense as key factors in their playoff projection. The Chaps are battle-tested, having faced stiff non-district competition every year. Their schedule again includes several top-ten opponents, but Westlake is expected to navigate it with their trademark poise and physicality.
Next up is a program that’s seen a rapid rise in recent seasons: Dripping Springs High School. Once viewed as a middle-tier team in the Central Texas scene, the Tigers have transformed into a legitimate contender thanks to outstanding development, innovative coaching, and a culture shift driven by recent success. Their inclusion in the playoff projections is a testament to how far the program has come in just a few short years.
Texas Football Magazine highlights Dripping Springs’ explosive offense as a key reason for its prediction. A standout junior quarterback, who threw for over 3,500 yards last season, returns alongside a talented group of receivers and running backs. The team’s ability to put points on the board quickly and stretch defenses vertically has made them one of the more difficult matchups in their region. Defensively, while not elite, the Tigers return seven starters and boast improved size and speed across the board. The staff believes that with better tackling and fewer penalties, this could be the year they push past the third round and make a real run.
Then there’s the third team on the list—a surprising but not undeserved projection: Liberty Hill High School. Known for its distinctive Slot-T offense and physical play, Liberty Hill has been a nightmare matchup for years. While their unorthodox system often faces criticism in the modern spread-heavy game, it remains brutally effective, especially when executed with precision and discipline.
Liberty Hill’s playoff prediction stems from its offensive continuity. Returning most of its starting backfield, including two 1,000-yard rushers, the team is poised to pound the rock and control the clock once again. The defense, which struggled in spots last year, is expected to take a step forward with more experience and a better grasp of assignments. Their district alignment also plays a role in their projection. With a winnable district and a strong chance at a favorable playoff seed, Liberty Hill has the opportunity to avoid early postseason powerhouses and potentially march deep into December.
Of course, with every prediction comes controversy. Not every deserving team made the list, and several traditional powerhouses in the area were left out of the magazine’s playoff picks. Fans from neighboring programs have taken to social media to question the criteria, pointing out returning starters, offseason improvements, and JV success. But Texas Football Magazine editors stand by their process, which includes film study, interviews with coaches, historical data, and on-the-ground observations from offseason practices and 7-on-7 tournaments.
Still, the predictions serve as more than just forecasts—they’re fuel. For the teams that made the list, there’s pressure to live up to the hype. For those left off, there’s motivation to prove everyone wrong. Coaches often use perceived slights as rallying cries, posting excerpts from the magazine in weight rooms and locker rooms as a reminder of the work left to be done.
What’s particularly exciting about this year’s projections is that all three teams have the potential not just to make the playoffs, but to go deep. Westlake, with its pedigree and returning talent, is a legitimate state title threat. Dripping Springs, though less proven, has the offensive firepower to challenge anyone on any given night. And Liberty Hill, with its grind-it-out style and cohesion, is the kind of team no one wants to face in the playoffs. Each team brings a different style, a different strength, and a different approach—making the regional playoff picture one of the most compelling in recent memory.
The magazine also points to broader trends that favor these programs. For example, population growth in Central Texas has led to expanded talent pools. As suburbs grow, so do youth football leagues, middle school programs, and feeder systems. That growth has particularly benefited schools like Dripping Springs and Liberty Hill, which are seeing enrollment spikes that translate into deeper rosters and more athletic competition.
Additionally, NIL talk and transfer portal exposure at the collegiate level have trickled down into high school football. While high school athletes can’t profit from their image in the same way, the visibility of college-level recruiting has placed even more importance on program exposure. Schools that consistently make playoff runs are naturally more attractive to families with serious football aspirations. That dynamic has contributed to talent clustering at schools like Westlake, which already has the infrastructure to develop and showcase top talent.
The projected playoff berths also raise intriguing implications for district and regional matchups. If all three teams advance, they could potentially face off in the later rounds, creating must-see games with statewide attention. Past playoff matchups between these programs have been dramatic, high-stakes affairs, and this season promises more of the same.
As summer fades and two-a-days begin, the chatter around Texas Football Magazine’s predictions will only intensify. Local radio shows, parent booster meetings, and preseason scrimmages will buzz with speculation. The players know what’s at stake. For seniors, this is the final shot at glory. For juniors, it’s a chance to build a legacy. For underclassmen, it’s the first taste of what could be.
In Texas, high school football isn’t just a game—it’s a culture, a tradition, and a proving ground. The magazine’s projections may not always be right, but they capture the spirit of the sport: competitive, passionate, and full of possibility. For Westlake, Dripping Springs, and Liberty Hill, the stage is set. Now it’s up to the players to live up to the hype, meet the moment, and chase the greatness that’s been predicted. The path to December begins now, and every snap will count.
