Carthage and Troup have secured the top rankings in the #bEASTTexas preseason polls for the 2026 season, continuing their dominance from the previous year. Carthage, after a remarkable 16-0 season marked by their 11th state championship, received 11 out of 15 first-place votes in the 6A/5A/4A division. Troup, with a 12-1 record last season, dominated the Class 3A/2A/TAPPS rankings with nine first-place votes. Following Carthage in the big schools poll are Kilgore and Longview, with Texas High also in the top five. In the smaller schools category, Westwood and Gladewater trail Troup.

By the Numbers
  • Carthage went 16-0 last season, winning their 11th state championship.
  • Troup finished 12-1, with their only loss in the playoffs.
State of Play
  • Carthage leads the 6A/5A/4A rankings with 214 points and 11 first-place votes.
  • Troup tops the 3A/2A/TAPPS rankings with 208 points and nine first-place votes.
What's Next

With the preseason polls set, both Carthage and Troup will be under scrutiny to maintain their dominance throughout the upcoming season. Fans and analysts will closely monitor their progress as they strive for repeat successes in their respective divisions.

Bottom Line

The strong standings of Carthage and Troup in the preseason polls reflect their successful prior seasons. As they aim to build on their achievements, expectations for their performances in the upcoming games will be high.