Despite being ranked No. 24 in the state in the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine preseason Class 4A Division II rankings, the Brownwood Lions are tabbed to place third in District 13 for the 2026 season.

The Lions, coming off a 7-5 campaign in their first season under head coach Jeryl Brixey, are picked to place behind preseason No. 3 Waco La Vega (11-3) and No. 10 Robinson (9-3). The district favorite Pirates feature the league’s preseason Defensive MVP in linebacker Craig Davis, while the Rockets’ roster includes preseason Offensive MVP quarterback Brice McCurdy.

Behind the Lions, Salado (8-4) is expected to finish in fourth place and claim the district’s final playoff berth, while fifth-place Gatesville (7-4) and sixth-place Waco Connally (3-7) round out the league projections.

***

District 3-3A Division I

In their return to the Class 3A Division I ranks, the Early Longhorns head into head coach Marvin Wilson’s second season picked to place fourth in District 3.

Coming off a share of their first district championship since 2007 with a 5-6 overall record, the Longhorns are anticipated to place behind reigning state champion and fifth-ranked Wall (16-0), No. 14 Llano (13-2), and No. 17 Ingram Moore (7-6) in the league standings.

San Angelo TLCA (0-10) is picked to finish in fifth place in the district, where Llano quarterback Luke Davis is the preseason Offensive MVP and Wall linebacker Slayton Hallmark in the preseason Defensive MVP.

***

District 7-2A Division I

The Bangs Dragons, fresh off their first postseason appearance 2022, are not expected to return to the playoffs in 2026, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine.

The Dragons, who posted a 6-5 record last year under head coach Colton Buzzard, are projected to finish fifth in the league standings behind No. 5 Mason (10-4), No. 21 San Saba (6-5), Johnson City (5-6), and Brady (4-5).

Coleman (2-8) is tabbed to come in sixth in the district, which features Mason athlete Slade Buell as preseason Offensive MVP and Johnson City defensive tackle Carson Metcalf as preseason Defensive MVP.

***

District 10-A Division I

The 16th-ranked May Tigers are anticipated to place second in their league race behind defending state and No. 4 Gordon – despite the Longhorns returning no starters on either side of the ball and just three of 13 lettermen.

May is coming off an 11-2 season under second-year head coach Jacob Brown and, like Gordon, also does not return a starter on either side of the ball, and just two of 12 lettermen from a year ago.

Gorman (4-7), a playoff team in 2025, along with Ranger (4-6) and Lingleville (0-9) comprise the rest of the district.

May’s Kayden Psencik is the preseason Defensive MVP and Gordon’s Keegan Hayes is the preseason Offensive MVP.

***

District 8-A Division II

The Brookesmith Mustangs, led by second-year head coach Blake Hood, are chasing a pair of preseason Top 5 teams in their quest to reach the postseason.

The Mustangs (4-6), who return all six starters on both sides of the ball, are expected to finish fifth in the league standings behind playoff favorites Cherokee (10-2) – the preseason No. 1 team in the state in Class A Division II – and No. 4 Richland Springs (12-2) – which advanced to the state championship a year ago. The Coyotes will be led by new head coach James McIntyre Jr.

Rochelle (4-7) – a playoff team in 2025 – and Lohn (3-7) round out the district.

Richland Springs’ Evan Deeds in the preseason Offensive MVP and Cherokee’s Uriah Valdez is the preseason Defensive MVP.

***

District 12-A Division II

The preseason No. 7 Zephyr Bulldogs are expected to secure a fifth consecutive district championship, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine, as they enter the season ranked in the Top 10.

Zephyr is coming off a 10-2 season and returns five starters on each side of the ball heading into head coach Derek Stevens’ second campaign.

The Blanket Tigers (8-3), who are ranked No. 17, are projected to make a second straight playoff appearance under head coach Jalen Helms, though only two starters return on each side of the ball.

Gustine (6-3) could play spoiler for either Brown County team as it enters the season ranked No. 18 with all six starters back on each side of the ball.

Mullin (2-8) rounds out the district as Priddy (1-9) has already canceled its season.

Zephyr’s Chayden Woodcock is the preseason Offensive MVP and Blanket’s AC French is the preseason Defensive MVP.

***

OUTSIDE OF BROWN COUNTY

District 5-3A Division II

The Comanche Indians are dropping back to the Class 3A Division II and are tabbed to place fourth and grab the final playoff berth from their new league.

The Indians (5-5) return seven starters on each side of the ball, and are projected to place behind 2025 Class 2A Division I state champion Hamilton (14-2) – which is ranked No. 14 after making the move up to 3A – as well as Tolar (4-7) and Clifton (8-3).

Hamilton linebacker Easton Marwitz is the preseason Defensive MVP and Tolar quarterback Briton Rice is the preseason Offensive MVP.

***

District 7-2A Division II

The preseason No. 13 Goldthwaite Eagles are expected to battle No. 6 Albany (10-3) for the District 7 championship.

The Eagles (8-4) return nine offensive and 10 defensive starters from last year’s 8-4 playoff team, as head coach Andy Howard’s squad heads west to play its district games this year after most of the league foes the last two years were east of Interstate 35.

Also in the district, Cross Plains (4-7) was tabbed to place fourth and grab the last playoff berth – though the DCTF website on Tuesday, in its updated projections, moved the Buffaloes down to fifth and out of the playoffs.

The Buffaloes, under head coach Jared Sanderson, return six offensive and seven defensive starters, were picked behind third-place Stamford (7-5) in the magazine and ahead of fifth-place Hamlin (8-3), sixth-place Miles (2-8), and seventh-place Winters (2-8).

Goldthwaite linebacker Hagen Greenway is the preseason Defensive MVP and Albany quarterback Clay Chapman is the preseason Offensive MVP.

***

District 7-A Division I

Santa Anna is also headed west with an entirely new slate of district foes in a six-team league, where the Mountaineers are projected to finish fifth.

The Mountaineers (3-7) return two starters on each side of the ball from last year’s squad, and are expected to place behind league favorite Robert Lee (11-2) and playoff favorite Bronte (7-4), as well as Highland (3-7) and Baird (3-7). Paint Rock (3-7) was tabbed to come in sixth-place.

Robert Lee’s Josh Garcez is the preseason Offensive MVP and Andrew Rico of Bronte is the preseason Defensive MVP.

***

District 11-A Division II

The Rising Star Wildcats and Sidney Eagles will head north instead of south this year, and are expected to fight for the final playoff berth in their new league.

Rising Star (5-5), which returns three starters of each side of the ball, is picked to come in second in District 11, while Sidney (2-8), which brings back two offensive and five defensive starters, is tabbed to place third.

No. 5 Strawn (12-2) is the preseason district favorite, while Moran (0-8) is expected to finish fourth.

Strawn’s Johnny Fraga and Chico Hughes are the preseason Offensive and Defensive MVPs in the district.