The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame have announced the state winners of the 2022-23 NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards, which go to the top academic football teams from each level of play within each state. The 60 teams (below) are now finalists for the NFF Hatchell Cup, presented by “The Original” Bob’s Steak & Chop House, which recognizes the top individual high school football team in the nation for excellence in the classroom, on the field and in the community.
“Academic and athletic success go hand-in-hand,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “We are proud to recognize these 60 outstanding high school football teams as the top academic performers in their states. These schools, coaches, players and their families should all be incredibly pleased with their accomplishments, and we look forward to announcing the overall winner of the Hatchell Cup on February 8. We hope by inspiring teams to compete in the classroom with the same competitive spirit that it takes to win on the field, we will better prepare high school football players for success later in life.”
The NFF announced the creation of the award in February 2021. One-year later, Cypress Woods High School (TX), led by Head Coach Cody Simper, claimed the inaugural Hatchell Cup. This season marks the second season the awards are being presented. The initiative is designed to inspire and foster a culture of academic excellence on high school football teams throughout the nation.
Eligibility requirements for the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards include:
- A minimum cumulative team GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Superior academic application and performance.
- Successful football season.
The 60 winners from each division of play were selected by the individual states’ high school coaches associations from a pool of nominees submitted by each school’s head coach. A selection committee, compiled and led by the NFF, will be responsible for choosing one school as the recipient of the Hatchell Cup as the best team in the nation.
The NFF Hatchell Cup is named in honor of NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. Since taking over the helm of the NFF in 2005, Hatchell has overseen numerous programs expanding the NFF’s reach and impact as it continues to promote the scholar-athlete ideal. His career in athletics administration spans more than five decades and includes countless accomplishments, including serving as the first commissioner of the Big 12 Conference and holding the top jobs at the Southwest Conference and the Orange Bowl.
The winner of the Hatchell Cup will be announced February 8.
NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award
2022-23 State Winners
(Name preceded by class/division/level within each state)
Delaware
1A – Charter School of Wilmington
3A – Middletown St. Georges Technical High School
Florida
4M – Tampa Plant High School
Illinois
1A – Forreston High School
3A – Robinson High School
4A – Geneseo High School
7A – Yorkville High School
8A – Lincolnshire Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Indiana
1A – Indianapolis Lutheran High School
2A – Evansville Mater Dei High School
3A – West Lafayette High School
4A – Columbia City High School
5A – Whiteland High School
6A – Indianapolis Cathedral High School
Iowa
A – Grundy Center High School
Louisiana
1A – Monroe Ouachita Christian High School
3A – Iowa High School
4A – Lafayette St. Thomas More Catholic High School
5A – New Orleans Brother Martin High School
5A – Geismar Dutchtown High School
5A – Benton High School
Michigan
1 – Brighton High School
6 – Clinton High School
8 – Marine City Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
8 Man (Div. 1) – Adrian Lenawee Christian High School
Minnesota
1A – Parkers Prairie High School
2A – St. Clair/Mankato Loyola High School
3A – East Grand Forks High School
4A – Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School
5A – Mahtomedi High School
6A – Farmington High School
9 Man – Kittson County Central High School
Nebraska
A – Kearney High School
B – Elkhorn Mount Michael Benedictine High School
C1 – Minden High School
C2 – Malcolm High School
D1 – Hemingford High School
D2 – Elgin High School-Pope John Central Catholic High School (Coop)
D6 – Hampton High School
Oregon
1A – St. Paul High School
2A – Oakland High School
3A – Warrenton High School
4A – Slayton High School
5A – Bend Summit High School
6A – Portland Jesuit High School
Texas
1A – Chester High School
2A – Tioga High School
3A – Spearman High School
4A – Boerne High School
5A – Lake Belton High School
6A – Tomball High School
Private – Houston St. Thomas Catholic High School
Wisconsin
1 – Appleton North High School
2 – Lake Geneva Badger High School
3 – Monroe High School
4 – Madison Edgewood High School
5 – Stratford High School
6 – Cuba City High School
7 – Eau Claire Regis High School
8 Man – Wabeno/Laona High School
