Way-Too-Early Wisconsin High School Football Top 25 Rankings

The Wisconsin high school football season begins in less than six weeks and anticipation is building across the Badger State. From powerhouse programs with rich traditions to promising underdogs looking to make a statement, here are the top teams in Wisconsin, according to Massey.

The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

1. Muskego Warriors

Muskego came up just short of winning the Division 1 state championship last year, dropping a 25-18 decision to Bay Port. The Warriors head into the 2025 season looking to recapture the magic from their undefeated state title teams in 2018 and 2019.

Starting quarterback Joey Shaw returns for his junior season. The southpaw, who is also one of the top baseball prospects in the state, threw nine touchdowns and rushed for five more last fall. Running back Jackson Niemiec is also back after leading the team with 1,254 yards and 12 touchdowns.

2. Kimberly Papermakers

Kimberly just couldn’t figure out Neenah in 2024, losing to the Rockets during the regular season and again in the second-round of the state playoffs. It wasn’t all bad for the Papermakers last fall, as they extended their winning streak over rival Appleton North to five games.

Cam Wong enters his senior season as the favorite to replace departing quarterback Braedon Ellefson. Kegan Pleau returns for his senior campaign after leading the team with 743 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Hunter Sprangers is back to anchor Kimberly’s offensive line.

3. Mukwonago Indians

Mukwonago’s state championship drought is old enough to drink after the Indians’ 2024 season ended with a 16-14 loss to Muskego in the state semifinals.

The team enters the fall needing to replace its starting quarterback, leading rusher, top receiver and most disruptive defensive lineman. Gulp. The good news for Mukwonago is that standout linebacker Noah Dodds returns after logging 144 tackles, 7 TFL and 1.5 sacks as a junior.

4. Arrowhead Warhawks

Arrowhead snapped a two-game postseason losing streak to Hamilton last season but fell short against Mukwonago in the Division 1 sectional championship. The Warhawks enter the 2025 season looking to win their first state crown since 2013.

Jacob Siner was the driving force behind Arrowhead’s offense last season and he’s back for his senior season. Western Michigan wide receiver commit Harper Hughes will try to make things easy for new quarterback Nolan Hanson.

5. Waunakee Warriors

Waunakee was again dominant in the Badger Conference last season. The Warriors pushed their regular season winning streak against conference opponents to 31 games. That didn’t translate into the postseason, however, as Waunakee fell in the Division 1 sectional championship to D.C. Everest.

If the Warriors are to return to the top of Wisconsin high school football for the first time since 2021, they’ll need a big season from projected starting quarterback Cole Krause. The 6-foot-2 signal caller passed for 243 yards and two touchdowns in limited action as a junior.

6. Marquette University
7. Neenah
8. Kaukauna
9. West De Pere
10. Bay Port

11. Rice Lake
12. Appleton North
13. Franklin
14. New Richmond
15. Homestead

16. Slinger
17. Verona Area
18. Hamilton
19. Oconomowoc
20. D.C. Everest

21. Hudson
22. Sun Prairie East
23. Chippewa Falls
24. Notre Dame De La Baie Academy
25. Fond Du Lac