It's a reset year in Class 6A. Outside of Southlake Carroll, every TXHSFB Blue Blood program has a sizeable question mark somewhere on its football team. The race to state is wide open.

Greg Tepper and Matt Stepp's quotes are pulled from Tep&Stepp's Class preview podcasts.

Class 6A DI

Magazine Prediction: North Crowley

The road is tough and there are holes to fill, but the Panthers have the talent, the coaching and the pedigree to go back-to-back.

Greg Tepper: Katy

"There has been a new world order in the Houston area, and there's going to be a couple teams we talk about who are the shiny new toy in Houston. But Katy has just been rolling along. Even by their standards, with two down years, they went 21–4. By the way, I think they're going to be pretty stinkin' good this year. We know what Katy is going to be about: running game and defense. I think their defense is going to be really, really good with linebacker Jeremiah Smith (two-time First Team All-District selection) and defensive back Isaiah McMillan (47 tackles, four interceptions). Like, I'm talking vintage defense." 

Matt Stepp: Fort Bend Ridge Point

"Ridge Point is loaded. I think 24 players have FBS offers right now. Their offensive line with Avery Morcho (Texas A&M commit), Hugh Smith (Arkansas commit) and Jordan Burnett (TCU commit) may be the best offensive line in Class 6A. They're loaded at the skill spots. They have one huge question lingering: Who takes over for Austin Carlisle at quarterback. If Carlisle had one more year of eligibility left, I think we'd have a real debate on who's the preseason No.1-team in the state of Texas. Talking to Coach LaFavers, he says they have two guys they feel really good about, they're battling it out. We'll see, because two at quarterback sometimes equals zero. They've got to find a guy, but this is a team who's personnel is state championship worthy. Last year, they beat Bridgeland, and Bridgeland got all the way to the regional final and gave Duncanville a great game. So we know Ridge Point can put it together."

Carter Yates: Lake Travis

The Cavaliers will need to get over the Westlake hump. The Cavaliers are 1–6 against their Austin-area rival since 2017, including two heart-breakers in the fourth-round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons. If Austin Bowie makes the playoffs, as projected in the magazine, Westlake goes Division II in the playoffs and therefore won't cross paths with Lake Travis. But even if Westlake does go DI, I believe Lake Travis has the edge in the trenches. The defensive line is headlined by TCU commit Carter Buck (80 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks) and Kentucky commit Ben Duncum (65 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks). The offensive line returns three starters from a unit that paved the way for RB Vann Hopping's 1,531-yard season. 

Class 6A DII

Magazine Prediction: Southlake Carroll

A year older and a year wiser from last year's close call, the Dragons bring home their first championship since 2011.

Greg Tepper: Southlake Carroll

"They bring back 19 starters, and one of the players they lost (Jack VanDorselaer) might count for two starters because he was a tight end and defensive end. They also bring back the state's returning leading passer in Class 6A in Angelo Renda (Pitt committ), one of the state's leading returning receivers in Brock Boyd (Ohio State commit). They are loaded everywhere: Boyd, running back Davis Penn, safety William Chen, defensive end Zac Hayes. They have an awesome kicker in Gavin Strange. They have been close to a state championship. This is the year to get over the hump. I think the conversation within that building is that it's got to happen this year. On paper, this is as close to a sure-thing as you can find in Class 6A to start the year."

Matt Stepp: Southlake Carroll

"There is a scenario where Southlake goes Division I, but that scenario involves Keller Central (0–8 in district play in 2024) and Justin Northwest (graduated heavy) making the playoffs. Probably not going to happen. It lines up for Carroll to get it done this year. All due respect to Division II, it's not as deep or strong of a bracket as Division I. The top of 6A DII is great, but in DI you're playing other top ten teams in the second or third round." 

Carter Yates: Southlake Carroll

The safest bet in the classification that's hardest to predict. According to my summer position group rankings, the Dragons have the best quarterback/wide receiver duo in Class 6A and the third-best offensive line to protect them with Tristan Dare (Michigan commit) and First Team All-District selections Luke Wilson and Carey Clayton. Southlake alos boasts the best secondary unit in Class 6A with five First Team All-District selections. Coach Riley Dodge is due for a state championship after falling to Austin Westlake in 2020 and narrowly losing to Austin Vandegrift last year with a team that most consider a year too early because of all the injuries it sustained. Don't overthink this.