After playing two hand touch last season, Vermont high school football is in full pads again. Here is our preseason top 25 teams in the state and some thoughts.

1. Burr & Burton Academy

2. Middlebury Union

3. St. Johnsbury Academy

4. Hartford High School

5. Champlain Valley Union

6. Burlington/South Burlington Co-Op

7. Rutland High School

8. Brattleboro Union

9. U-32

10. Bellows Falls Union

11. Mount Anthony

12. Fair Haven

13. BFA St. Albans

14. Poultney

15. Colchester

16. Missisquoi Valley

17. Windsor

18. Otter Valley

19. MT. Mansfield

20. North County Union

21. Lyndon Institute

22. Springfield

23. Bellows Free Academy Lamoille

24. Rice

25. Milton

State Scoop: Burr & Burton Academy is the defending state champion and return the best lineman in the state in David Keys.

Middlebury Union has made nine straight playoff appearances and has won two state titles during that span. A dominant program that will be in the title mix in D1.

St. Johnsbury Academy is another power program in D1. They will be looking to make their fourth straight playoff appearance.

Hartford opens with STJA so they’ll have a pretty good idea as to whether or not that they can compete in D1.

Rutland should once again be a player in D1. They have made the playoffs 19 of the last 20 seasons. That streak should extend to 20 given the amount of talent back.

A strong offensive line makes Brattleboro the team to beat once again in D2. The Colonels won it all in 2019.

Fair Haven and St. Anthony’s are both two programs to watch this fall. Both had solid seasons in 2019 and are on the rise.

Otter Valley will once again be one of the top programs in DIII and a legitimate title contend.