National High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams - Aug. 14

The 2025 high school football season is officially underway. Hawaii kicked things off with games over the weekend, and teams in Alaska, Georgia, Nevada and Utah will get started this week. More states will follow in the coming days — and multiple must-watch games are on the docket for the opening weeks. Below are the top-25 teams in the Rivals Composite High School Football Rankings, a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings listed in the public domain by respected media and data companies. It includes Massey, MaxPreps, ESPN and SI, creating the industry’s most comprehensive and geographically balanced ranking.

1. Mater Dei Monarchs (Calif.)

The Monarchs are coming off of a perfect 13-0 season that culminated in the California high school football Open Division state championship. They enter the season riding a 19-game winning streak and are favored to defend their title. Mater Dei will have to wait a little longer before its 2025 season starts, as the team’s opener against Florida’s St. Thomas Aquinas – which checks in at No. 14 in these high school football rankings – is set for Aug. 23.

The Monarch’s roster boasts a pair of five-star prospects in tight end Mark Bowman (USC) and wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. (Ohio State). The team has a host of other power conference recruits as well, including other college commitments with quarterback Ryan Hopkins (Wisconsin), wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (Ohio State), offensive tackle Kodi Greene (Washington), wide receiver Gavin Honore (Georgia), cornerback Aaryn Washington and defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui (USC)

2. Bishop Gorman Gaels (Nev.)

Last season, the Gaels finished with an 11-1 record. The team’s lone defeat came against top-ranked Mater Dei. Past that, Bishop Gorman was absolutely dominant – especially on defense. The team kept four opponents off of the scoreboard and only allowed four opponents to score in double-figures.

The defending Nevada Class 5A Division 1 state champions are the favorites to win it all again this year, thanks to their stellar collection of talent featuring quarterback Maika Eugenio, running back Terrance Grant, wide receiver Isaiah Nickels, edge rusher Prince Williams, linebacker Tamatoa Gaoteote, cornerback Hayden Stepp and safety Jett Washington.

3. St. John Bosco Braves (Calif.)

Much like Bishop Gorman, the only blemishes on St. John Bosco‘s 2024 season came against Mater Dei. All eyes will be on the rematch between these two California powers on Oct. 31 but there’s a lot of football to be played before then. The Braves will open their season Aug. 22 against Florida’s Manatee.

St. John Bosco has a talented wide receiver trio in Madden Williams (Texas A&M), Daniel Odom (Oklahoma) and Carson Clark (San Jose State) to go along with running back Maliq Allen.

The Braves have elite playmakers on defense, as well, such as cornerback Jailen Hill, safety Isala Wily-Ava, edge rusher Dutch Horisk (Oregon), cornerback Jacob Whitehead, safety Dillon Davis, linebacker Matthew Muasau (UCLA), defensive lineman Laneselota Olive-Enos (Portland State) and two-way athlete Joshua Holland (USC).

4. St. Frances Academy Panthers (Md.)

The Panthers finished the season with an 8-3 record, with their losses coming against elite squads like Mater Dei, Duncanville and Orange Lutheran. Despite those defeats, their finish still represented an improvement from their 5-6 record in 2023.

St. Frances Academy will begin the season on Aug. 15 and will face a challenging schedule featuring other top teams in the high school football rankings like Chaminade-Madonna, St. John Bosco, St. Joseph’s Prep and IMG Academy.

Five-star edge rusher Zion Elee (Maryland) headlines a stacked roster for the Panthers. He is joined by five-star safety Jireh Edwards (Alabama), linebacker Maurice Medley, edge rusher Alexander Taylor and defensive lineman Jayden Travers, among others

Meanwhile, St. Frances’ offense will heavily rely on tight end Damon Hall (Maryland), interior lineman Edward Baker (Tennessee), tight end Destin Mitchell, running back Jae’Oyn Williams (Virginia) and offensive tackle John Watkins (Temple).

5. Duncanville Panthers (Texas)

The Panthers were in position for a three-peat last season. Unfortunately, North Crowley dashed their hopes with a heartbreaking defeat in the Texas high school football Class 6A Division 1 state semifinals.

Duncanville will have another shot at the title in 2025, and the team’s season will start with a Sept. 5 home game against South Oak Cliff. The key players to watch from Duncanville are four-star edge rushers Kevin Ford (Florida) and Landon Barnes (Ole Miss), wide receiver Trenton Yancey, cornerback Braylon Edwards (SMU), and athletes Ayson Theus (TCU) and Zachery Turner (SMU).

High School Football Rankings: Nos. 6 – 25

6. IMG Academy (Fla.)
7. Buford (Ga.)
8. North Crowley (Texas)
9. Centennial (Calif.)
10. Grayson (Ga.)

11. Bergen Catholic (N.J.)
12. Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Fla.)
13. Milton (Ga.)
14. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.)
15. St. Joseph’s Prep School (Pa.)

16. Mission Viejo (Calif.)
17. American Heritage (Fla.)
18. DeMatha Catholic (Md.)
19. Grimsley (N.C.)
20. Thompson (Ala.)

21. Corner Canyon (Utah)
22. DeSoto (Texas)
23. Liberty (Ariz.)
24. Santa Margarita Catholic (Calif.)
25. Southlake Carroll (Texas)