North Carolina High School Football Rankings: Preseason Top 25 teams

North Carolina is home to one of the best prospects in America this season, and talent all across the state will provide for another exciting year of high school football in the Tar Heel State.

The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory. According to the model — defending champion Matthews Weddington is the preseason No. 1 team in the state.

Below are the top 25 programs in North Carolina heading into the 2024 season.

1. Matthews Weddington

A 56-21 win over Wilmington Hoggard in the 4A state championship capped a 14-2 title-winning season for the Warriors. This year, Weddington will face the likes of Charlotte Providence Day, Clemmons West Forsyth and Matthews Butler on its title defense. Weddington’s senior class is led by Ohio State four-star defensive line commit Trajen Odom. The junior class is stacked as well for the Warriors, featuring elite defensive lineman Aiden Harris, four-star linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. and four-star EDGE Andrew Harris.

2. Cornelius William Amos Hough

A 42-35 playoff loss to Greensboro Grimsley ended Hough’s 11-2 season in 2023. This year, the Huskies will open at home on Aug. 23 against Rock Hill (S.C.) Northwestern before taking on Charlotte Myers Park and Charlotte Mallard Creek later in the season. Hough’s junior class is led by four-star cornerback Samari Matthews, the No. 63 overall prospect in the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking.

3. Charlotte Chambers

Weddington knocked Chambers out of the 4A state playoffs last season, resulting in an 8-4 record for the Cougars. Chambers will start 2024 on the road against Clover (S.C.) before facing Hough and Mallard Creek later on in the season. NC State wide receiver commit Arrion Concepcion leads the senior class for the Cougars.

4. Greensboro Grimsley

Clemson EDGE commit Bryce Davis is the nation’s No. 71 overall prospect in the 2025 class and should be a terror for offenses of Grimsley opponents this season. On the other side of the ball, the Whirlies are led by junior five-star QB Faizon Brandon — a Tennessee pledge and the top quarterback in the country, per On3. Grimsley fell to Weddington in the postseason in 2023 after starting the year 13-0.

5. Matthews Butler

Butler started the year 12-1 before falling to Charlotte Independence in the postseason. The Bulldogs will get a chance at revenge at Independence in the final regular season game of 2024 after facing the likes of Rolesville, Weddington and Charlotte Catholic.

6. Charlotte Providence Day

Five-Star Plus+ offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. is the nation’s No. 2 overall prospect and is getting set to announce his college decision here in August. In the junior class, the Chargers are headlined by five-star tight end Kendre Harrison, top-100 offensive tackle Leo Delaney and three-star wide receiver Gordon Sellars. The Chargers went 12-1 in 2023, culminating in an NCISSA Division I championship win over Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Ga.). Weddington, Charlotte Catholic and Charlotte Christian all make appearances on Providence Day’s schedule in 2024.

7. Charlotte Mallard Creek

A 7-5 season in 2023 finished with a 20-14 loss against Boone Watauga for the Mavericks. This year, the Mavs will open with Spartanburg (S.C.). Games against Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson, Hough and Chambers are all on the schedule for Mallard Creek.

8. Kernersville East Forsyth

Four-star North Carolina quarterback commit Bryce Baker is one of the most talented passers in the senior class, ranking No. 10 among quarterbacks in the 2025 On300. Baker will lead an Eagles team looking to improve on its 11-2 2023 season that ended with a loss to Charlotte Independence. East Forsyth will play the likes of AC Reynolds, and West Forsyth in 2024.

9. Rolesville

The Rams started 12-1 last season before a loss to Cardinal Gibbons in the 4A state playoffs. Rolesville will open this year against New Bern with later games against Butler, Grimsley and a rematch with Cardinal Gibbons. Four-star edge rusher Zavion Griffin-Haynes is the No. 111 overall recruit in the junior class.

10. Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons

Cardinal Gibbons made it all to the 4A state semifinals before being ousted by Wilmington Hoggard. The Crusaders will play Mallard Creek and Rolesville in 2024 as they hope to get back to the state Final Four.

11. Charlotte Independence
12. Clayton Cleveland
13. Wilmington Hoggard
14. Indian Trail Porter Ridge
15. Greensboro Dudley

16. Charlotte Christian
17. Monroe
18. Charlotte Catholic
19. Mooresville
20. Charlotte Myers Park

21. Clemmons West Forsyth
22. AC Reynolds
23. Shelby Crest
24. Kings Mountain
25. New Bern