From the list of top high school teams, Georgia boasts a strong representation with 12 teams, including notable ones like Buford, Milton, and Westlake (Atlanta). Tennessee, on the other hand, has two teams featured: Lipscomb Academy from Nashville and Baylor from Chattanooga. Both states showcase the depth and talent of their high school football programs on the national stage.
Football is an American pastime, and nowhere is this more evident than in high school sports. Zack Poff, in a recent article for MaxPreps, expanded the typical Preseason Top 25 rankings to showcase the top 100 high school football teams in the nation as the 2023 season commences.
Significantly, more than half of the teams listed hail from just four states. Both California and Texas have 14 teams each, followed closely by Florida with 13 and Georgia with 12. This overwhelming representation demonstrates the gridiron prowess and passion in these states.
The No. 1 spot is held by Mater Dei from Santa Ana, California. It leads a list of 14 teams from the Golden State, with St. John Bosco and Centennial also making notable appearances. Texas showcases its football pedigree with Duncanville, North Shore, and DeSoto being its flagbearers. Meanwhile, Florida’s representation is headlined by the likes of IMG Academy and Miami Central, and Georgia boasts teams such as Buford and Carrollton in the top ranks.
Beyond the dominance of the aforementioned states, the list also features teams from a total of 28 states and the District of Columbia. This diverse representation underscores the nationwide love for football and highlights emerging football powerhouses in various regions.
The full list of 100 teams from MaxPreps is below. MaxPreps features a detailed breakdown of each team, and in depth insight, which you can see on their website.
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
3. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
4. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
5. Miami Central (Miami)
6. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
7. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)
8. Duncanville (Texas)
9. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
10. Buford (Ga.)
11. St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia)
12. Carrollton (Ga.)
13. North Shore (Houston)
14. Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Ga.)
15. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
16. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
17. DeSoto (Texas)
18. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)
19. Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.)
20. Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.)
21. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
22. Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)
23. Columbus (Miami)
24. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
25. Belleville (Mich.)
26. St. John’s (Washington, D.C.)
27. Gainesville (Ga.)
28. Westlake (Austin, Texas)
29. Serra (San Mateo, Calif.)
30. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)
31. Mission Viejo (Calif.)
32. Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah)
33. Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
34. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
35. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)
36. South Oak Cliff (Dallas)
37. Walton (Marietta, Ga.)
38. Katy (Texas)
39. Los Alamitos (Calif.)
40. Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
41. East St. Louis (Ill.)
42. Homestead (Fla.)
43. Liberty (Peoria, Ariz.)
44. Milton (Ga.)
45. Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.)
46. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
47. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
48. Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.)
49. Chandler (Ariz.)
50. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
51. Atascocita (Humble, Texas)
52. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
53. Aledo (Texas)
54. Carlsbad (Calif.)
55. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
56. Lakeland (Fla.)
57. Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.)
58. Guyer (Denton, Texas)
59. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
60. Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.)
61. Kahuku (Hawaii)
62. Parish Episcopal (Dallas)
63. Hoover (Ala.)
64. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
65. Vandegrift (Austin, Texas)
66. Ware County (Waycross, Ga.)
67. Folsom (Calif.)
68. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
69. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
70. Highland Springs (Va.)
71. Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.)
72. Christian Brothers (St. Louis)
73. Yelm (Wash.)
74. Freedom (Woodbridge, Va.)
75. Saraland (Ala.)
76. Edgewater (Orlando, Fla.)
77. Longview (Texas)
78. Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C.)
79. Norland (Miami)
80. John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)
81. Frederick Douglass (Lexington, Ky.)
82. Springfield (Ohio)
83. Booker T. Washington (Miami)
84. Catholic-B.R. (Baton Rouge, La.)
85. Westlake (Atlanta)
86. Western (Davie, Fla.)
87. Edna Karr (New Orleans)
88. Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio)
89. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
90. Bixby (Okla.)
91. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
92. Cathedral (Indianapolis)
93. Starkville (Miss.)
94. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
95. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
96. Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.)
97. Skyridge (Lehi, Utah)
98. Westfield (Houston)
99. Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.)
100. Lee’s Summit North (Lee’s Summit, Mo.)
The comprehensive list of the top 100 teams serves as a testament to the talent, dedication, and passion that high school football players, coaches, and their communities bring to the sport. As the 2023 season kicks off, these rankings set the stage for intense competition, memorable moments, and the emergence of future football stars. Whether your team made the list or not, the spirit of the game remains the true winner.
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