THE BIG THREE: WHO’S REALLY #1 IN TEXAS?

Texas high school football doesn't have one answer at the top right now.

It has a problem.

Three of the state's most dangerous programs — Allen, North Crowley and North Shore — have all reached Week 5 without a loss, but they've taken completely different routes to get there.

And that's what makes the conversation so interesting.

ALLEN HAS THE RESUME

Allen entered 2026 with expectations that come with being Allen.

The Eagles haven't just survived those expectations. They've attacked them.

A 26-7 win over Duncanville started the season before Allen dismantled DeSoto 50-6. Southlake Carroll became the next victim in a 56-35 shootout, and Prosper was the latest team to find out how quickly this offense can turn a game.

Allen won that one 51-21 after Prosper briefly grabbed momentum early.

The Eagles have now scored 183 points through four games and have won every game by at least 19 points.

But the most important part isn't the point total.

It's who they've done it against.

Duncanville, DeSoto, Southlake Carroll and Prosper gave Allen one of the more difficult non-district stretches in the state.

The Eagles came through it 4-0.

NORTH CROWLEY HAS ITS OWN ANSWER

If Allen has the schedule, North Crowley has the statement wins.

The Panthers opened the year by shutting out Aledo 26-0, then followed with a 40-10 demolition of Southlake Carroll.

Summer Creek was next.

North Crowley won 41-20.

Then came Duncanville.

The Panthers walked into Panther Stadium and left with a 47-30 victory, turning what was expected to be one of the biggest games of Week 4 into another addition to an already impressive résumé.

North Crowley is 4-0, and the wins haven't come against pushovers.

The Panthers have already beaten two teams that entered the season among the state's most respected programs.

Now they enter district play with momentum — and with a target getting bigger every week.

THEN THERE'S NORTH SHORE

North Shore doesn't need to introduce itself.

The Mustangs have spent years building one of the most recognizable programs in Texas, and 2026 has brought another undefeated start.

Their Week 4 performance was particularly loud.

North Shore shut out Crosby 58-0, a result that pushed the Mustangs to 4-0 and kept them near the top of the statewide rankings.

But the bigger story is what North Shore represents.

While Allen and North Crowley have spent the opening month making noise with high-scoring wins, North Shore carries something different into every season: the expectation that November is the goal.

They're not chasing relevance.

They're trying to add to a legacy.

THREE PROGRAMS. ONE QUESTION.

The numbers make the debate easy to understand.

All three are undefeated.

All three are ranked among the state's elite.

And all three have already played games that would headline almost any Week 4 schedule.

But there isn't a clean answer to which team is the best.

Dave Campbell's Texas Football has North Shore at No. 2, North Crowley at No. 3 and Allen at No. 4 in its Week 5 Class 6A rankings.

Meanwhile, the Massey-based rankings published by On3 currently have Allen No. 1, North Shore No. 15 and North Crowley No. 5 nationally.

Different systems.

Different answers.

Same three names.

THE SEASON IS ABOUT TO GET REAL

This is where the debate gets harder.

Non-district football gave all three programs opportunities to make a statement.

Now district play takes over.

North Crowley has to navigate District 11-6A, where Waxahachie is also undefeated and currently sits at No. 1 in the AP/Dave Campbell rankings.

Allen begins District 6-6A play with a target on its back after beating Prosper in its opener.

North Shore enters another season where anything short of a deep playoff run will be viewed through a different lens.

The games will get bigger.

The stakes will get higher.

And eventually, these conversations won't be decided by rankings.

They'll be decided on the field.

THE REAL TEXAS 6A RACE

Maybe the most interesting part of this season is that the race hasn't produced one clear runaway favorite.

Allen has the résumé.

North Crowley has the statement wins.

North Shore has the pedigree.

And right behind them, teams like Waxahachie, Katy, Ridge Point and others are waiting for an opportunity to change the conversation.

That's what makes 2026 different.

There isn't one throne everyone is simply waiting to see occupied.

There are multiple programs trying to take it.

And for now, three undefeated teams are sitting directly in the middle of the fight.

Allen. North Crowley. North Shore.

The debate is wide open.