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AJC Varsity

Buford picks up second No. 1 national ranking

Class 6A finals opponent Carrollton also has a No. 1 national ranking, setting up national championship game Tuesday.
Buford students celebrate during a game against Milton at Phillip Beard Stadium on Aug. 14. Buford won 20-13. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Buford students celebrate during a game against Milton at Phillip Beard Stadium on Aug. 14. Buford won 20-13. (Jason Getz/AJC)
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13 hours ago

Buford picked up its second No. 1 national ranking this week heading into Tuesday’s Class 6A championship game against Carrollton, a team with a No. 1 national ranking of its own.

Buford is now No. 1 in the ESPN High School Football Top 25, jumping from No. 4 after defeating Valdosta 39-7 in the semifinals.

IMG Academy of Florida fell to No. 2 despite a 9-0 record. Unlike Buford, IMG does not participate in state playoffs.

ExploreBuford football debuted new $62 million stadium in 2025 opener

Buford also is ranked No. 1 by USA Today. Carrollton is ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps.

The most recent Georgia team to win a national title was Colquitt County in 2015 by High School Football America.

The most recent to finish atop USA Today’s poll, the oldest active one, dating to 1982, was LaGrange in 1991.

Buford has won 14 state titles, and Carrollton has won seven, but neither has won a national title.

About the Author

Todd Holcomb covers high school sports across the state. He rejoined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2025 and has worked with the AJC in varying capacities since 1985. He is a co-founder and editor of Georgia High School Football Daily.

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