Yes, it's that time again. When RivalsHigh gets ready for the playoffs by rankings all 50 states by overall quality and depth. And fans cheer or complain, depending on their respective ranking.

Remember, like last year, this is based on the quality of team play (not individual talent) in the state.

The success of the top teams in the state is a key factor, but it is just one measure. The depth of talent - and the talent level in all divisions - also is considered. It's why Florida earns the coveted title of best state in the country this season.

Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas is the state's leader (at No. 2 overall) and that's great. Better yet is the presence of four other schools (Armwood, Dwyer, Dr. Phillips and Miami Central) in the Top 25 and 13 total in the Top 100. That's tough to beat.

It's the reason why Florida rates a slight edge over California (which has three in Top 25 but seven in the first 34). And the reason why Ohio (four in the first 26) edges Texas (only two in the Top 25 and just four in the Top 50).

The biggest jumpers were North Carolina (up 10 spots to No. 10) and Alabama (up 10 to No. 13) and Missouri (up nine to No. 19).

The biggest droppers were Michigan (down 12 to No. 21), Tennessee (down 12 to No. 25), Pennsylvania (down 10 to No. 17) and Minnesota (down 10 to No. 32).

With that, a look at our complete ranking of all 50 states:


TIER ONE: The best of the best for high school football around the country.
1. Florida: The Sunshine state has the market cornered in 2010 with elite prospects and high quality high school football teams. Top to bottom, the state has teams that can compete in any state and any classification in America. It is no shock to have Florida No. 1 nationally. How good is it? Plant, the preseason No. 1 team, with three major Division I recruits has been a big disappointment but the state still takes the top spot. (Last Year: 2)
2. California: It is a very good year in California this season as teams from SoCal to Sacto are making their presence felt in the RivalsHigh 100. California is usually one of the top talent producing states but that can be attributed to sheer volume. This year, it is coupled with a crop of very good high school football teams. NorCal being better than last season and not just Grant and De La Salle gives California the boost in stock. (LY: 4)
3. Ohio: Maintaining its position in the Top 3 may need to stop being a surprise and instead become the norm. Ohio has fewer teams than Texas or California but can certainly hang with the big three and does so for the second straight season. In fact, it may be more like Florida than Texas or California, not relying on volume, instead overall quality. The Division I state title will be the hardest state tournament to win in 2010, Divisions III, IV and V also have several very good teams. (LY: 3)
4: Texas: An elite season in Texas it is not. And to say that the Top 15 teams in Texas would be better than the Top 15 in the three states ahead of it would not be true for the first time in a long time. The state is still among the best nationally and takes the cake for the most passion, but even if 5A was just one tournament and not two, it is unlikely to be more difficult to win that Ohio Division I. The year of the running back in the Lone Star state - sorry Malcom Brown, Aaron Green, Herschel Sims, and Brandon Willams - fell a little flat on the team level. (LY: 1)
TIER TWO: A solid group of states. Long in tradition with quality depth as well as high level players.
5: South Carolina: We had South Carolina circled at the beginning of the season for a breakout year and the Palmetto State did not disappoint. Some casual fans will dismiss the state based solely on the performance of the flag-bearer, Byrnes. Fans in the know see that the Upstate region is stacked with very good teams like Dorman, Northwestern and Greenwood among others and good players like No. 1 overall recruit Jadeveon Clowney and QB wonder Justin Worley. (LY: 8)
6: Louisiana: Class 5A is a little down while 4A and 2A are competitive as ever, keeping Louisiana as a very complete state for high school football. Next year could be a little down as a lot of elite players will be leaving the high school ranks. This year, though, can still be celebrated. More teams are taking the steps to national relevance like Franklinton, Salmen and Dutchtown. That will continue to build quality depth. (LY: 5)
7: Mississippi: The same thing we said last year remains true: Mississippi is an underappreciated state nationally for high school football (even at No. 7). This may be the best season for Class 6A (and the RivalsHigh No. 1 team, South Panola is still dominating it) as well as a very good season in 5A and 4A. Quality depth like West Point, Wayne County and Southaven not being in the state Top 10 is among the biggest factors when talking about quality depth in state rankings and Mississippi has it. (LY: 10)
8: Georgia: This may be a generous spot for a very proud football state. Both of the state's top classes are down, which can do nothing but hurt the overall perception. However, the middle classes are much stronger than usual - Class AAA Peach County may be the best team in the state, while Class AA Cook knocked off AAAAA Colquitt County as well. It is tough when the perception of the state is being carried by AAA and AA teams. (LY: 6)
9: Virginia: The Tidewater area is tremendous (Phoebus and Oscar Smith) but there are also massive voids in quality football. The state is still among the 10 best this season, but may it have topped out at the No. 9 ranking overall. There are enough traditional states that are down that could pass Virginia in years to come. And unless there is a major movement in the Western side of the state, it is unlikely the state will ever get much higher. (LY: 11)

Little Danny;542694 wrote:^^^ Volume, my friend. California AND Texas have nearly twice as many high schools (read depth of talent) as Ohio. Watch a P10 game and look at the starting lineups of those squads-- everybody has California kids--- particularly the #1 team in the country, Oregon. Do you think they have any brothers in Eugene, OR or Spokaine, Washington?

Ditto for the WAC and some of the MWC conferences schools as well (Boise is loaded with Cali kids, as is Utah and obviously the California schools like Fresno and SD State).

skank;542713 wrote:Good point, but volume is not quality.

Look at rosters from WVA, MSU, UM, PSU, and more, lots of Ohio boys on those rosters also.

Tiernan;543438 wrote:Best way to guage is checking D1 College Top 25 rosters. Most if not all will have a sprinkling of players from FL, CA, OH & TX no matter what part of the country the college is located.

Tiernan;543438 wrote:Best way to guage is checking D1 College Top 25 rosters. Most if not all will have a sprinkling of players from FL, CA, OH & TX no matter what part of the country the college is located.

Tiernan;543593 wrote:The question was - which state has the best HS football all around ? not which individual team is best.