The Most Intriguing TXHSFB Programs Moving UP in 2026-28 Realignment

Prosper Walnut Grove - Jumping from 5A DII to 6A

Prosper Walnut Grove is the only team in Texas jumping all the way from Class 5A DII to Class 6A. The Wildcats are 23-3 in their first two seasons of varsity football and won back-to-back District Championships. But do not mistake them as a program that feasted on overpowered teams because they had hundreds more kids in the school. Prosper Walnut Grove played in a loaded 5A DII district with Melissa (11-3), Anna (10-3) and Lovejoy. 

Prosper Walnut Grove’s 2025 season was magical. In three straight weeks, the Wildcats scored 28 unanswered points to beat Anna 45-38, beat Lovejoy 29-26 and then secured the district title with a 38-35 win over Melissa. But with a move up to 6A, and the loss of 2,400-yard rusher Cam Newton, will Walnut Grove still win these tight ball games? 

Matt Stepp’s latest mock realignment has Walnut Grove in a district with Prosper, Prosper Rock Hill, McKinney, McKinney Boyd, Little Elm and Frisco Wakeland. It would be the third-smallest school, rather than the largest by far, as last year.

Cedar Park Timberwolves - Jumping from 5A DI to 6A

As a 4A and 5A school, Cedar Park had a case to be named the “Team of the 2010s”. In the 11 years from 2010 to 2020, the Timberwolves reached four state championship games and had just one season with single-digit wins. Their “worst season” was a second-round playoff exit.

But since the last state championship game in 2020, Cedar Park is 34-26. Now, the program is moving to Class 6A for the first time ever. The good news for the Timberwolves? Six of the eight teams from their 5A DI district are moving up with them. The bad news? Matt Stepp’s latest mock realignment has them in a district with Austin Westlake, Lake Travis and Austin Vandegrift.

Aledo Bearcats - Jumping from 5A DI to 6A

Aledo’s 12 state championships are the most in TXHSFB. For the first time next year, they’ll play schools with the most students.

The move was expected within the program. In the 2024-26 realignment cycle, Aledo submitted an enrollment figure that was eight students below the 6A cutoff. And, honestly, Coach Robby Jones believes there’s a chunk of the fan base that’s ready for it. Aledo has not lost a district game since October 2007, before any student in the 2027 senior class was born. The Bearcats have played Denton Guyer in the non-district schedule every year since 2022, and faced off against 6A Cedar Hill in 2020, the year Cedar Hill reached the championship. 

What Aledo did not expect, however, was how far they might have to travel to face 6A district opponents. In Matt Stepp’s latest mock realignment, Aledo is in a district with Odessa, Odessa Permian, Midland, Midland Legacy and San Angelo Central, all of which are around four hours away.

Fort Bend Crawford Chargers - Jumping from 4A DI to 5A DII

After going 12-2 in just their second season as a varsity program, the Chargers are moving up to Class 5A DII. But don’t expect head coach David Jackson to change his expectations.

“We’ve set a standard here, and that’s the standard we want to live up to,” Jackson said. “We’ll do it in 5A and when the time comes and we grow big enough, we’ll do it in 6A because we have a solid foundation.” 

Jackson and company have expected this move. Fort Bend Crawford High School, the newest of 12 high schools in Fort Bend ISD, has the largest square footage and largest zoning area of the district.

Crawford has been built for a 6A blueprint, but they have the goods to take 5A by storm in 2026. The Chargers return District 12-4A DI MVP Alvin Mosley (1,138 receiving yards, 20 TD), Offensive MVP Braylon Fisher (3,342 passing yards, 39 passing TD) and Defensive MVP Camron Alakija (127 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 7 sacks).

Hitchcock Bulldogs - Jumping from 3A DI to 4A DII

On the one hand, Hitchcock is moving up to the larger Class 4A DII classification. On the other hand, the Bulldogs leave the vaunted District 12-3A DI, where each of the last two state champions (Columbus and Yoakum) hail. 

Don’t make a mistake: Hitchcock will be ready for the competition in 4A. The Bulldogs have played a team that made the state championship every year since 2020. 

The move to Class 4A might also mean less travel for Hitchcock, the smallest of 11 high schools in Galveston County. Columbus is 115 miles away, Yoakum is 170 miles away and Hallettsville is 137 miles away. In Matt Stepp’s latest mock realignment, Hitchcock would be in a district with La Marque (four miles away) and Freeport Brazosport (50 miles away). 

Hitchcock started seven sophomores at the skill positions last season a 7-5 season, experience that should pay dividends in 2026.

Hamilton Bulldogs - Jumping from 2A DI to 3A DII

Hamilton is the only 2025 State Champion moving up an entire number classification. The Bulldogs are now the second-smallest Class 3A DII school in the state. 

But head coach Ryan Marwitz says his team is confident heading into a new league. Hamilton was 6-0 in the last two years against 3A schools. While the Bulldogs will have plenty of new faces on offense, freshman phenom Easton Marwitz returns after compiling 163 tackles and 16 tackles for loss in 2025. He’ll pair nicely with defensive back Colton DeLaGarza (137 tackles, 6 interceptions). 

Because Hamilton played 3A teams in non-district the last two years, their non-district schedule for 2026 and beyond is in limbo, as those opponents could be in their district. 

Matt Stepp’s latest mock realignment has the Bulldogs in a district with Tolar, Rio Vista, Dublin and Clifton. There is also a chance Hamilton could go west with Comanche and Breckenridge.