St. Michael’s and Texico Football Programs Earn Academic Honors

The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame has announced the 95 state recipients of the 2025–26 NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards, presented by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation. The annual program recognizes the nation’s top-performing high school football programs for their commitment to excellence in the classroom, honoring one team from each level of play in every state. The initiative aims to promote and reinforce the importance of academic achievement within high school football programs nationwide.

Representing New Mexico among this year’s honorees are St. Michael’s High School and Texico High School, recognizing the outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments of their football programs.

To be eligible for the Academic Excellence Awards, teams must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, demonstrate exceptional academic performance and application, and complete a successful football season.

“The National Football Foundation’s Academic Excellence Awards shine a well-deserved spotlight on what high school football is truly about—developing young people who excel both on the field and in the classroom,” said New Mexico High School Coaches Association Executive Director Angel Castillo. “These recognitions reflect the commitment of our student-athletes, coaches, schools, and communities to academic achievement and character. New Mexico is proud of these programs and grateful for the NFF’s continued emphasis on education as a cornerstone of the game.”

Each state’s high school coaches association selects their respective state’s winners from a pool of nominees submitted by each school’s head coaches.