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The Standard-Times predicts new football districts ahead of 2024-2026 realignment

paul witwer, san angelo standard-times
·3 min read

In October, before the football season concluded, Texas schools sent their enrollment numbers to the University Interscholastic League for the upcoming realignment in 2024. In December, the UIL released its cutoff numbers for the new classifications and divisions that will determine the new districts teams will compete in during the 2024-2026 seasons.

UIL will release the new districts on February 1, but before that happens, the Standard-Times will do its best to predict the new football districts in West Texas.

Class 6A

  • Midland

  • Midland Legacy

  • Odessa

  • Odessa Permian

  • San Angelo Central

  • Wolfforth Frenship

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

No changes to the Little Southwest Conference this realignment. The closest school in the area to be close to 6A is Abilene, but they just missed the mark again this realignment.

Class 4A Division I

  • Andrews

  • Big Spring

  • Brownwood

  • Pecos

  • San Angelo Lake View

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area

*Indicates an opt-up

With Lubbock-Estacado moving down to Division II and new school Lubbock-Cooper-Liberty coming online, Lake View could see itself in a district with former district foes Brownwood, Big Spring, Pecos and Andrews.

The Lake View football team runs out of the tunnel at San Angelo Stadium on Sept. 15, 2023.
The Lake View football team runs out of the tunnel at San Angelo Stadium on Sept. 15, 2023.

Class 3A Division I

District 2-3A

  • Clyde

  • Kermit

  • Lamesa

  • TLCA San Angelo

  • Tuscola Jim Ned

  • Sweetwater

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

TLCA San Angelo broke the threshold for 3A Division I football this season and could form a new district of West Texas powerhouses including Sweetwater — down from 4A — and Jim Ned.

Class 3A Division II

  • Coahoma

  • Crane

  • Odessa Compass Academy

  • San Angelo Grape Creek

  • Stanton

  • Wall

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

With Ballinger and TLCA San Angelo moving in opposite directions after cutoff numbers were announced, Wall and Grape Creek will face teams from further west than they did after last realignment.

  • Brady

  • Comanche

  • Dublin

  • Early

  • Eastland

  • Merkel

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

Brady and Early will also break from the former District 2-3A Division II and form a district with some familiar big country staples including Eastland.

Class 2A Division I

  • Big Lake Reagan County

  • Christoval

  • Colorado City

  • Forsan

  • Ozona

  • Sonora

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

One of the best class 2A districts in Texas adds another West Texas team in Colorado City to create one of the biggest districts in the area.

  • Ballinger

  • Bangs

  • Coleman

  • Hamilton

  • Harper

  • Johnson City

  • Mason

  • San Saba

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

Ballinger moves down to Class 2A after turning in a 244 enrollment number in on Snapshot day. It could join one of the best districts in Region II with the departure of Tolar to Class 3A.

Class 2A Division II

  • Eldorado

  • Iraan

  • McCamey

  • Sterling City

  • Van Horn

  • Wink

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

Water Valley spent two years in 11-man football and moved back down to six-man football, while Van Horn will make the jump up from six-man.

District 8-2A Division II

  • Albany

  • Cross Plains

  • Goldthwaite

  • Hamlin

  • Miles

  • Roscoe

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

Goldthwaite barely missed the 2A Division I cutoff and will join one of the best districts in Division II that includes back-to-back state champions Albany.

  • Brackett

  • Centerpoint

  • D'Hanis

  • Junction

  • La Pryor

  • Rocksprings

  • Sabinal

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

Junction is the last reamaining team from District 14-2A Division I as the district could be torn apart during this realignment. The Eagles join a competitive district that has a couple of opt-up teams in Rocksprings and D'Hanis.

Class 1A Division I

  • Gail Borden

  • Garden City

  • Lenorah Grady

  • Rankin

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

Ackerly Sands moved out of Division I after turning in an enrollment number of 58 on snapshot day which is just under the 59.5 cutoff number.

  • Irion County

  • Robert Lee

  • Veribest

  • Water Valley

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

After Water Valley decided not to opt-up, this district could see a bit of a shake-up with Eden and Menard leaving and Water Valley joining to make it a four-team district.

  • Eden

  • Menard

  • Paint Rock

  • Santa Anna

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

Paint Rock made it over the Division I cutoff this realignment and could form a new district with Eden and Menard, which were previously in District 13.

Class 1A Division II

  • Blackwell

  • Bronte

  • Loraine

  • Trent

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

Nothing changes for this district after realignment.

  • Brookesmith

  • Cherokee

  • Lohn

  • Richland Springs

  • Rochelle

Schools in bold are part of the Standard-Times' coverage area.

Nothing changes for this district after realignment.

This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: High school football: 2024-2026 West Texas mock realignment