After months of waiting, the 2025 high school football season has now officially arrived.
Yes, in the coming days-and-weeks, the 2025 high school football season will begin in every state across the country, marking the start of likely the best time of year for a sports fan.
As with past seasons as well, the high school level in particular is set to feature some of the premier programs nationwide once again. Of this group, many have been among the prep level’s best across the last decade-plus.
However, entering the season, which teams are projected to be the best-of-the-best?
Here is who we here at ITG Next consider the nation’s Top 25 high school football teams as we enter the 2025 season.
25. St. Joseph’s Prep Hawks (PA)
We begin in the state of Pennsylvania with St. Joseph’s Prep, who are coming off a season in which the Hawks went 11-2 overall to win the PIAA Class 6A state title. The Hawks this fall will feature the likes of defensive lineman Alexander Haskell and safety Brandon Lockley, among others.
24. North Shore Mustangs (TX)
The first-of-multiple Texas teams mentioned, North Shore ended last season at 14-1 overall with a loss in the UIL Class 6A D1 state semifinals. Once again, North Shore will be among the most talented teams in Texas, led by safety Chace Calicut.
23. Sierra Canyon Trailblazers (CA)
The state of California, as expected, places numerous teams within the preseason Top 25 rankings, the first of which is Sierra Canyon. Coming off an 8-4 overall season a year ago, the Trailblazers feature one of the nation’s premier defensive trios in edge rusher Richard Wesley, as well as cornerbacks Havon Finney and Brandon Lockhart.
22. Bergen Catholic Crusaders (NJ)
New Jersey’s Bergen Catholic ended last season at 11-1 overall in order to win the NJSIAA Non-Public A state title. The Crusaders are loaded yet again entering 2025 headlined by names such as cornerback Jordan Thomas, defensive lineman Jermaine Kinsler, and wide receiver Bryan Porter.
21. Thompson Warriors (AL)
Alabama’s Thompson High School is coming off an 11-3 overall season that resulted in the AHSAA Class 7A state title, with all three losses coming by a point. The Warriors are likely expected to be one of Alabama’s best once again in 2025, headlined by quarterback Trent Seaborn and edge rusher Cameron Pritchett, both of which are juniors.
20. Milton Eagles (GA)
Arguably Georgia’s premier team a year ago, Milton is coming off a phenomenal campaign in which the Eagles went undefeated at 15-0 overall to capture the GHSA Class 5A title. A state title contender yet again, Milton will be relying on the likes of tight end Grant Haviland and quarterback Derrick Baker, among others, as they are tasked with replacing a notable amount of production.
19. North Crowley Panthers (TX)
There were few offenses nationally a year ago better than Texas’ North Crowley, who posted an average of 53.7 points per game on their way to an undefeated 16-0 season that resulted in the UIL Class 6A D1 state title. North Crowley should be among Texas’ top teams again in 2025 led by the likes of offensive lineman John Turntine III and cornerback Jerry Outhouse Jr., among others.
18. Santa Margarita Eagles (CA)
California’s Santa Margarita played a challenging schedule a year ago, and are expected to bounce back in a big way this fall. The Eagles ended last season at 5-7 overall, but will be deep this fall featuring names such as defensive lineman Simote Katoanga and wideout Trent Mosley.
17. Corner Canyon Chargers (UT)
Utah’s Corner Canyon will be one of their state’s best coming off a season in which they owned a 13-1 overall record to win the UHSAA Class 6A state title. The Chargers will be a force in Utah yet again this season headlined by the likes of offensive lineman Esun Tafa and quarterback Helaman Casuga.
16. Mission Viejo Diablos (CA)
Mission Viejo should be among the top programs in California this fall, coming off a 10-1 overall campaign in which the Diablos were among the nation’s best. The Diablos will be led by the likes of wide receiver Vance Spafford and cornerback Jeron Jones this fall.
15. Edna Karr Cougars (LA)
Louisiana’s premier program entering the 2025 season is likely the Edna Karr Cougars, who are coming off an undefeated 14-0 season that resulted in the LHSAA Division 1 Select title. The Cougars this season will be led by defensive trio of lineman Richard Anderson, as well as defensive backs Aiden Hall and Hayward Howard Jr..
14. Grimsley Whirlies (NC)
Grimsley High School in North Carolina is coming off a phenomenal 2024 season in which the Whirlies went undefeated at 16-0 overall to win the NCHSAA Class 4A state title, while also outscoring opponents a combined 739-190. The Whirlies will also return quarterback Faizon Brandon this season, who is one of the nation’s premier players.
13. Northwestern Bulls (FL)
Florida’s Northwestern emerged once again on the national scene a year ago under former head coach Teddy Bridgewater, winning the FHSAA Class 3A state title at 12-2 overall. The Bulls, now under a new head coach, will be loaded yet again this fall led by two of Florida’s top seniors in wide receiver Calvin Russell and defensive tackle James Johnson.
12. Centennial Huskies (CA)
Centennial High School in California ended last season at 9-3 overall, and should be one of the state’s premier teams this fall yet again. The Huskies this season will feature the likes of linebacker Jonathan McKinley, among others.
11. St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (FL)
One of the nation’s premier programs across the last decade-plus, St. Thomas Aquinas out of Florida is a state title favorite yet again in 2025. The Raiders are coming off a year where they finished 12-3 overall to win the FHSAA Class 5A state title, and are loaded with talent yet again headlined by the likes of cornerback Justice Fitzpatrick, offensive tackle Mark Matthews, and wide receiver Julius Jones.
10. Duncanville Panthers (TX)
Kicking off the Top 10 is Texas’ Duncanville High School, who will be tasked with replacing a key player in star quarterback Keelon Russell, among others. The Panthers are coming off a season that included a 13-1 overall record, and feature a talented group this fall led by edge rushers KJ Ford and Landon Barnes.
9. Chaminade-Madonna Lions (FL)
Few programs nationally have impressed more in recent years than Florida’s Chaminade-Madonna, who are coming off yet another strong year in which the Lions won the FHSAA Class 1A state title at 13-2 overall. The 2025 version of Chaminade-Madonna is set to be headlined by elite athlete Derrek Cooper, among others.
8. American Heritage Patriots (FL)
Led by one of the nation’s top prospects in quarterback Dia Bell, American Heritage should be one of Florida’s top teams this fall coming off a 12-2 overall season in which the Patriots won the FHSAA Class 4A state title. Others such as wide receivers Brandon Bennett and Ah’Mari Stevens will also be key for American Heritage this fall.
7. Buford Wolves (GA)
Georgia’s top team entering the 2025 season is between two programs, the first of which is the Buford Wolves. Buford ended last season at 12-2 overall, and are loaded with talent in 2025 featuring the likes of defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Wright, athlete Tyriq Green, and offensive lineman Graham Houston, among others.
6. St. Frances Academy Panthers (MD)
Maryland’s St. Frances Academy will be no stranger to elite talent in 2025, led by the likes of elite edge rusher Zion Elee and safety Jireh Edwards, among others. Playing a national schedule, the Panthers are coming off an 8-3 overall season.
5. IMG Academy Ascenders (FL)
Florida’s IMG Academy is coming off a down 2024 campaign by the Ascenders’ standards, one in which they owned a 7-2 overall record with a pair of out-of-state road losses. As with previous years, the Ascenders will be loaded once again in 2025, headlined by names such as edge rusher Jake Kreul, offensive tackle Keenyi Pope, and safety Zech Fort.
4. Grayson Rams (GA)
Arguably the top team in Georgia entering the 2025 season are the Grayson Rams, who are coming off a year in which they finished 14-1 overall to win the GHSA Class 6A state title. A title favorite once again, Grayson is led by one of the nation’s premier linebackers in Tyler Atkinson, along with others such as quarterback Travis Burgess.
3. Bishop Gorman Gaels (NV)
Nevada’s Bishop Gorman High School is coming off an impressive 2024 campaign in which the Gaels won the NIAA Class 5A Division 1 state title at 11-1 overall, outscoring opponents a combined 573-111. The Gaels this season return one of the nation’s top safeties in Jett Washington, as well as others such as edge rusher Prince Williams and cornerback Hayden Stepp.
2. St. John Bosco Braves (CA)
California’s St. John Bosco is back as a national power this fall coming off a 2024 campaign in which the Braves went 11-2 overall where both losses came against Mater Dei. St. John Bosco will feature a loaded group yet again featuring wide receiver Madden Williams and cornerback Jailen Hill, among others.
1. Mater Dei Monarchs (CA)
The back-to-back CIF Open Division state champions, California’s Mater Dei will enter this season riding a 19-game winning streak dating back to Oct. 2023, a span which included a 2024 campaign in which the Monarchs went undefeated at 13-0 overall. Mater Dei will yet again be loaded in 2025 with a roster headlined by tight end Mark Bowman, offensive tackle Kodi Greene, and wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., each of which are among the nation’s best at their respective positions.
