6 takeaways from UIL realignment: North Crowley and Duncanville in same district
The 2026 UIL realignment has shaken up the Texas high school football community.
Here are high school sports editor Charles Baggarly’s main takeaways for Fort Worth-area teams:
North Crowley, Duncanville in 11-6A
In a stunning turn of events, North Crowley was placed in District 11-6A alongside Duncanville, a state power and the 2025 Class 6A Division I runner-up. This changes a lot for the North Crowley Panthers.
It gives newly promoted head coach DeMarcus Harris and company some much-needed district competition after years of uncompetitive blowouts in District 3-6A. It also creates a new rivalry, which can help spark improvements.
There’s another big winner here: the Texas high school football fan.
With DeSoto moving down to 5A Division I, a void was created at the top of the food chain, and North Crowley’s addition to District 11-6A creates a new “best in Texas” rivalry.
Considering the vast majority of district games for top teams are often blowouts, the competition in a new district of doom is much needed, and will provide some interesting matchups, including North Crowley against Waxahachie.
Aledo lands with Arlington ISD 6A squads
Ahead of realignment, many speculated over what district the 12-time state champion Bearcats would be placed in for their first Class 6A season.
Would they move west with teams like Odessa and Midland? Would they be placed with a Fort Worth-area powerhouse like North Crowley, a school that is only 21 miles away?
It turns out, neither theory came to fruition.
The storied program has a historic 135-game district win streak, and it appears the Bearcats will have a great chance to keep defending it throughout the next two seasons.
The Bearcats were placed in District 3-6A with Arlington, Arlington Bowie, Arlington Houston, Arlington Lamar, Arlington Martin, Granbury and Weatherford. Aledo is about 35 miles away from Arlington.
The toughest matchup in the district is unquestionably Arlington Bowie, a defending district champion.
Realistically, the move to this district provides weaker overall competition for Aledo, which had to face Denton Ryan and Richland in its Class 5A Division I league. Only two of Aledo’s opponents in the new 3-6A made the playoffs last season, and both lost in the first round.
Bowie has been drastically improving throughout the past three seasons under head coach Joseph Sam. A return to form for a historically successful program like Arlington Martin could provide a challenge, but the Warriors haven’t made the playoffs the past two seasons.
Arlington Lamar and Arlington have shown flashes of improvements but likely have a long ways to go to compete with Aledo.
Euless Trinity to have new foes
After two seasons in District 4-6A alongside Southlake Carroll and Byron Nelson, the Trinity Trojans are heading to District 8-6A with Grand Prairie, Haltom, Hurst L.D. Bell, Irving, Irving MacArthur, Irving Nimitz and South Grand Prairie.
The past season was a challenge for Trinity, as the Trojans fell to Southlake Carroll 44-6 and Byron Nelson 38-13. They were two uncompetitive games, just one year after Trinity defeated Byron Nelson and took Southlake Carroll to the buzzer in a 56-48 shootout loss.
Trinity then fell 47-38 to Lake Ridge in the Class 6A Division I bi-district round.
With the 2026 realignment changes, Trinity has a fresh start with a favorable schedule to help get the three-time state champion back on track.
A Birdville ISD shakeup
After years of battles with Aledo and Denton Ryan, Richland and Birdville will have a drastic change of scenery.
The two Birdville ISD squads were placed in District 6-5A Division I with Carrollton Creekview, Carrollton Smith, Carrollton Turner, Dallas Highland Park and Garland Naaman Forest.
This grouping still provides plenty of competition for a Richland squad that seems to have a fighting chance against any team in Class 5A.
A competitive district title race
Last season, Fort Worth Arlington Heights had a historic showing that started with a run to a district title that was filled with entertaining bouts.
The Yellow Jackets’ new district could continue to have interesting, close matchups in the district title race. Although Saginaw is leaving for a new scene, another squad is joining the fray: White Settlement Brewer. Heights and Brewer will be joined in District 4-5A Division I by six other Fort Worth ISD schools: North Side, Paschal, Polytechnic, South Hills, Trimble Tech and Wyatt.
Heights and Brewer had a thriller of a bi-district game with the Yellow Jackets taking a 36-23 victory.
Watch out for Wyatt and Brewer to challenge Heights in 2026. The district is a bit top-heavy, but could create one of the more competitive district title races.
Mansfield Timberview is a district front-runner
After an incredibly strong season in coach Jacody Coleman’s first year at the helm, Mansfield Timberview was placed in District 7-5A Division II with Arlington Seguin, Burleson, Corsicana, Ennis, Everman, Joshua and Midlothian Heritage.
The competition is undoubtedly a step down after two years of clashes with Argyle, Colleyville Heritage, Summit and more. Now, the Wolves are arguably a district title favorite, although Midlothian Heritage and Arlington Seguin certainly have showcased an ability to contend.
This story was originally published February 2, 2026 at 10:21 AM.
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