There's a popular refrain on social media and message boards that "too many teams make the TXHSFB playoffs." But in 2024, 23 No. 4 seeds advanced past the bi-district round — and one of them, Joaquin, made it all the way to the state semifinals.

So, which No. 4 seeds will bust brackets in 2025? Here are five worth watching.

DCTX Playoff Central

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Humble Atascocita: Atascocita a four seed? Yes, you saw that correctly. The injury-riddled Eagles fought through the brutal 23-6A slate and claimed the final playoff spot with a 6-4 record. They still have Cardae Mack, who can put a team on his back, and the Eagles have had Dickinson’s number in recent years. If AHS can get out of the bi-district round, they could play for a while.

Amarillo: The Sandies were the talk of the Texas High School Football world as they earned a playoff spot via a three-way coin flip at a gas station in Plainview. Don’t let the 2-8 record and fourth place finish fool you. This is a good football team that was 8-2 on the field before six forfeits. They get a first-round rematch with El Paso El Dorado, a team they beat 45-14 a year ago in the playoffs. If they get past that game, Amarillo should be favored in the second round as well.

Tyler Chapel Hill: Jeff Riordan’s Bulldogs have made a living making deep runs after finishing third or fourth. In 2020, they went three deep after finishing fourth. In 2022 they finished fourth again and ran all the way to the state semifinals. In 2023 they advanced to the state semifinals after a third-place finish and last year they went to the regional finals after finishing third. All that’s to say, this isn’t your normal fourth-place team and going on the road to Bridge City will not scare the Bulldogs at all.

Orange Grove: At 8-2, Orange Grove was slated to pick up the No. 1 seed out of 15-3A Division I going into Week 11, but the Bulldogs dropped all the way to the four-seed after falling to 38-35 to London. OGHS owns a regular season win over three-time regional champion Edna, so there’s no question of its up-side. The Bulldogs got a tough draw with unbeaten Raymondville in the first round. If they can get through that game they could see a Thanksgiving practice.

Mart: Powerful Mart is going through a bit of a rebuild under first-year head coach Chris Lancaster as it navigated a brutal non-district slate and a tough district with a 5-5 record. The Panthers will enter the bi-district round as a favorite against Cumby and they’ll have a punchers chance in the area round against a good Lovelady squad. Mart’s playoff pedigree will be a factor.