2026 UIL 6A Division II Playoff Preview and My Predictions
The 2026 UIL 6A Division II playoffs begin November 12 through 14. The state championship is scheduled for December 18 at 7 p.m. at AT&T Stadium.
North Crowley is my overwhelming favorite to win it all. Behind the Panthers, I have C.E. King, Austin Westlake and Alvin Shadow Creek as the strongest challengers. However, being one of the best teams does not guarantee a favorable bracket.
Region I: Southlake Carroll Gets My Pick
The Southlake Carroll Dragons enter at 8-2 after beating Saginaw Boswell 54-7 and completing a 7-0 district schedule. They open against Weatherford. For me, Carroll is the strongest team in this region, even with two regular-season losses.
Meanwhile, the Denton Guyer Wildcats finished 8-2 after defeating Flower Mound 40-21. Their opener brings Prosper Rock Hill. I consider Guyer the biggest threat to Carroll’s semifinal hopes. On defense, Logan Lokey has 12.5 sacks. His ability to disrupt passing downs gives the Wildcats another way to change a close game.
Denton Braswell also deserves attention. The Bengals enter at 7-3 after a 20-19 victory over Hebron and open against Prosper Walnut Grove. Rather than meeting Carroll for the regional championship, Braswell could face the Dragons in round three.
My projection has Carroll defeating Braswell in round three and then Guyer in the regional final. The Dragons are my pick to represent Region I in the state semifinals.
Region II: North Crowley Is the Team to Beat
The North Crowley Panthers enter at 10-0 after defeating Red Oak 62-3. A week earlier, they beat Mansfield 72-10. That combined 134-13 margin reinforces my confidence in a team I expect to win six more games.
Defensively, Antonio Smith has 10 sacks, while Braylen Cunningham has three interceptions. Those contributions matter when a playoff opponent needs to throw to keep pace.
First comes Lake Belton, with Wylie East a possible area-round opponent. North Crowley cannot skip ahead, but I would take the Panthers against anyone in this field.
Meanwhile, The Woodlands College Park Cavaliers finished 7-3 after beating Caney Creek 48-14. They open against Spring Dekaney. I have College Park reaching the regional semifinals, where my pick is North Crowley.
On the other side, the Longview Lobos enter at 9-1 following a 42-20 victory over Forney. They begin against Garland Rowlett. Longview is my strongest alternative to North Crowley in Region II.
Cypress Falls also enters at 9-1 after defeating Cypress Woods 30-16. The Golden Eagles open against Magnolia. Their potential third-round meeting with Longview would put two of my regional contenders against each other.
Ultimately, I have Longview defeating Cypress Falls before falling to North Crowley in the regional championship.
Region III: C.E. King Faces an Early Test
The C.E. King Panthers enter at 9-1 after shutting out Channelview 49-0. Their regular season also included a 42-21 victory over North Shore. That result is a major reason I consider King the strongest challenger to North Crowley.
King opens against Clear Springs, while the Alvin Shadow Creek Sharks face Houston Heights. Shadow Creek finished 9-1 after beating Pasadena Sam Rayburn 70-10.
However, these teams could meet in the area round. I rank Shadow Creek fourth in this bracket, but I am picking King in that potential second-round matchup.
Fort Bend Ridge Point presents another significant challenge. The Panthers finished 10-0 after defeating Fort Bend Hightower 26-14 and open against Katy Taylor. They also beat Shadow Creek 28-7 earlier this season, giving them a notable win over another contender.
Should both teams advance, King and Ridge Point could meet in the regional semifinals. My pick is King, but that would follow an already demanding second-round test.
On the other side, the Humble Atascocita Eagles enter at 6-4 after a 23-17 loss to Summer Creek. They open against Barbers Hill. Unlike King, Shadow Creek and Ridge Point, Atascocita occupies the opposite half of the region.
Because of that placement, I have Atascocita reaching the regional championship despite ranking the other three teams higher. Ultimately, King is my selection to advance to the state semifinals.
Region IV: Westlake Leads the Contenders
The Austin Westlake Chaparrals enter at 9-1 after beating Round Rock Stony Point 68-33. They also defeated Cedar Ridge 56-21 in their previous game. Westlake opens against Buda Hays, with the Pieper versus Churchill winner awaiting if the Chaparrals advance.
For me, Westlake is the clear favorite in Region IV and the third-best championship contender in Division II.
Meanwhile, the Dripping Springs Tigers finished 8-1 after defeating Del Valle 74-6. Their opening opponent is Round Rock Cedar Ridge, which enters at 9-1 after beating Round Rock 35-32.
Cedar Ridge also defeated Lake Travis 35-34 during the regular season. That gives the Raiders a result worth considering before treating Dripping Springs as an automatic winner.
Still, I am picking Dripping Springs in that opener. The Tigers are my strongest regional alternative to Westlake, but Cedar Ridge is a difficult first test.
From there, my projected regional championship features Westlake defeating Dripping Springs. The Chaparrals are my choice to represent Region IV in the state semifinals.
My Final Four and State Champion Predictions
My predicted Final Four features the Southlake Carroll Dragons, North Crowley Panthers, C.E. King Panthers and Austin Westlake Chaparrals.
In the state semifinals, I am picking North Crowley over Carroll and C.E. King over Westlake. That would put my top two teams in the championship game.
Although King would be a legitimate threat, North Crowley remains my overwhelming favorite. I am picking the Panthers to complete an undefeated season and finish with the state title.
My prediction for the 2026 UIL 6A Division II state champion: North Crowley Panthers.
