Prediction: Baylor School (Tenn.) goes undefeated, wins state title

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in less than six weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we make our way to the Volunteer State and look at the Baylor School. The Red Raiders are perennial state title contenders in Tennessee and bring back one of the state’s top rosters, setting up for another deep playoff run. Standing in their way, however, is defending champ McCallie School. Can Baylor finally get by McCallie to win the TSSAA’s Class AAA, Division II state championship?

Player Spotlight: QB Briggs Cherry

When you’ve got a quarterback to the talent level like a Briggs Cherry, you can head into any game feeling like you have a chance to win. The Louisville commitment moves into his final season with the Red Raiders hoping to close things out with a state title run. Cherry last season threw for 2,718 yards, 31 touchdowns while completing 69 percent of his passes. With an experienced group of skill players returning with him, Cherry is absolutely primed for a huge senior campaign.

Others to watch: RB David Gabriel Georges, OL Gabriel Osenda, CB Jamyan Theodore, OL Charlie Edgeworth, S Kolby Barrett, OL Xavier Wade

Season Prediction: 9-0

Last season looked like it was lining up to be a state championship on a platter for the Red Raiders, knowing that they would have a meeting with the McCallie School at the very end of the season. That all went to the final minutes in last year’s Class AAA, Division II state championship game, with the Blue Tornado pulling off a narrow 27-21 victory over the Red Raiders. We see this playing out the other way around this season, with Baylor edging out McCallie in another nail-biter, coming away undefeated at 13-0 and a state title in hand. This 2026 senior class for Baylor is super talented and should run the table.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 22 – Santaluces Community (Fla.) Chiefs – W
Baylor School welcomes a team from the Sunshine State and sends them packing with a 42-6 rout of Santaluces.

Aug. 29 – Rabun Gap Nacoochee School (Ga.) Eagles – W
Considered by many to be more of a North Carolina team even though they’re technically out of Georgia, Baylor beats them by 10 in a battle of regional powers.

Sept. 5 – at Brentwood Academy (Tenn.) Eagles – W
First road test goes according to plan as the Red Raiders roll to an easy victory.

Sept. 12 – at Lift for Life Academy (Missouri) Hawks – W
A little trip to the Show Me State ends with a 42-6 drubbing of the Hawks.

Sept. 19 – at Christ Presbyterian Academy (Tenn.) Lions – W
Five up and five down in the win column as the Red Raiders cruise to another blowout win, this time against the Lions.

Sept. 26 – at Montgomery Bell Academy (Tenn.) Big Red – W
Ahead of a state championship rematch with McCallie School, Baylor looks sharp in a 38-14 decision over MBA.

Oct. 3 – McCallie School (Tenn.) Blue Tornado – W
The Red Raiders exact some sort of revenge for losing in state title game last year, winning 28-27 in a thriller.

Oct. 17 – Ambassador Christian (N.C.) Lions – W
Coming off the biggest win of the season, Baylor keeps stacking the victories with another one over the Lions.

Oct. 24 – Ensworth (Tenn.) Tigers – W
Another home pop quiz passes with flying colors as the Red Raiders can smell an undefeated season heading into the finale.

Oct. 31 – Knoxville Catholic (Tenn.) Fighting Irish – W
Baylor caps the regular season with an impressive victory over Knoxville Catholic, securing an undefeated regular season.