Three-time defending state champ Buford enters 2022 as the No. 1 team in the High School Football America Georgia Top 25, powered by NFL Play Football. The Wolves, who are moving-up to Class 7A this season, are also ranked No. 3 nationally.
A fourth straight state title could put Buford in position for a possible national championship. That possibility will be tested out of the gate Friday night when it plays three-time defending Alabama state champ Thompson in the Freedom Bowl at Milton High School. Thompson is ranked No. 17 in our preseason poll that is created with our proprietary algorithm.
Related: Preseason National Rankings
The Thompson game will be follow-up by a matchup with North Carolina’s Mallard Creek, ranked No. 234 in our Top 300. Then on September 2, the Wolves will host No. 2 North Cobb in a big non-region game.
One of the toughest schedules in the nation will continue when Buford gets to regional play. Joining the Wolves in Region 8 are defending 7A champ Collins Hill and Mill Creek, ranked No. 11 and No. 6 respectively in our Top 25. Central Gwinnett, Dacula and Mountain View are the other schools the region.
North Cobb’s non-region games are against four teams in Top 25. The Warriors open this weekend against No. 16 Westlake and then have a bye week before they face top-ranked Buford on September 2. Then Warriors play Marietta on September 9, No. 24 Northside (Warner Robins) on September 16 and No. 7 Milton on September 23.
NC moves into Region 5, which includes No. 9 Walton. Those two region favorites meet October 7, after the Warriors’ bye week.
Two-time defending state champ Warner Robins opens at No. 3. The Demons play three straight head-to-head Top 25 games. It starts Friday against No. 14 Lee County, followed by a matchup with Northside, in the battle for Warner Robins, and then No. 15 Valdosta on September 9.
Big things are expected out of Langston Hughes, which just missed upsetting Buford in last year’s 6A title game. The Panthers are loaded with top talent and are considered the favorites in 6A this year.
Related: Top Georgia Players
Rounding-out the Top 5 is a very talented Grayson team. The Rams, who finished runner-up in 7A last year, will open Saturday against Marietta, just outside of the Top 25, in the Corky Kell Classic at Mercedes Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons.
In all, 27 teams from Georgia are ranked in the HSFA 300 national rankings.
High School Football America Georgia Top 25
| Team | Record | 2022 National Rankings |
| No. 1 Buford | (14-1) | 3 |
| No. 2 North Cobb | (10-2) | 16 |
| No. 3 Warner Robins | (14-1) | 22 |
| No. 4 Langston Hughes | (13-2) | 30 |
| No. 5 Grayson | (10-4) | 35 |
| No. 6 Mill Creek | (11-2) | 37 |
| No. 7 Milton | (13-2) | 65 |
| No. 8 Colquitt County | (8-3) | 75 |
| No. 9 Walton | (9-4) | 78 |
| No. 10 Brookwood | (10-3) | 80 |
| No. 11 Collins Hill | (15-1) | 103 |
| No. 12 Cedar Grove | (12-3) | 105 |
| No. 13 Lowndes | (10-3) | 117 |
| No. 14 Lee County | (11-2) | 142 |
| No. 15 Valdosta | (4-6) | 155 |
| No. 16 Westlake | (9-3) | 163 |
| No. 17 Rome | (8-3) | 173 |
| No. 18 Creekside | (11-3) | 181 |
| No. 19 Cartersville | (11-1) | 197 |
| No. 20 Calhoun | (12-3) | 201 |
| No. 21 Kennesaw Mountain | (10-2) | 202 |
| No. 22 Woodward Academy | (11-1) | 208 |
| No. 23 North Gwinnett | (6-6) | 210 |
| No. 24 Northside (Warner Robins) | (9-4) | 219 |
| No. 25 Roswell | (10-3) | 241 |
Editor’s Note: The High School Football America national, regional and state rankings are developed using our proprietary algorithm.
