The Sporting News National Week 4 schedule will feature its first Top 5 matchup of the season as the TSN No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers will fly across the country to take on the TSN No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves.
The winner will add a major bullet point to its national championship resume while the loser will have an uncertain path forward. More on that matchup below, but first things first, let's take a look back at last week.
With Texas finally joining the party last weekend, we'll start to get an idea of how good our ranked teams are from the Lone Star State and whether or not there might be a team there truly capable of making a serious run at the The Sporting News High School Football National Championship.
But if Week 1 was any indication, it could be a bit of an underwhelming year for Texas teams.
We haven't seen our top-ranked Texas team in action, yet, but the TSN No. 6 Duncanville [TX] Panthers get under way Friday night against unranked South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX]. But while the Bears aren't ranked in The Sporting News High School Football Top 25, they did debut as our No. 1 team on the Top 25 "bubble" in the first edition of The NEXT 25 presented by The Sporting News. It's no cakewalk for Duncanville, and a loss by the Panthers would throw our Texas rankings into total disarray.
Last week, our second-ranked Texas team – the TSN No. 11 North Crowley [Fort Worth, TX] Panthers struggled at home to put away an unranked but scrappy Lancaster [TX] Tigers' squad. And the third-ranked Texas team – the previous TSN No. 15 DeSoto [TX] Eagles – imploded in a 70-28 loss in Georgia to the unranked Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles.
Our current TSN No. 17 Southlake [TX] Carroll Dragons were the only nationally-ranked Texas team in action to win comfortably in a 49-0 win over the outmatched Midland [TX] Bulldogs.
Beyond the Top 25, our Texas state rankings were hammered even further with the TX No. 5 Vandergrift [Austin, TX] Vipers, TX No. 6 Westlake [Austin, TX] Chaparrals, and TX No. 8 Galena Park North Shore [Houston, TX] Mustangs all losing as well. By the time it all shook out, we were so thin on Class 5A and 6A options that two UIL Class 4A squads – the Carthage [TX] Bulldogs and the Celina [TX] Bobcats – currently occupy two of the Top 7 spots in The Sporting News Texas High School Football Rankings.
Other upper division teams like the TX No. 6 Randle [Richmond, TX] Lions and TX No. 9 Allen [TX] Eagles are lurking, and they will likely jump into the Texas Top 5 in the coming weeks if they keep winning. In the meantime, California teams rule the roost for now after beating up on Florida teams the past couple of weeks while the top team from our other Big 4 state of Georgia, the TSN No. 7 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams, will have to play the rest of the 2025 season without their 4-star quarterback.
THE SPORTING NEWS PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Offense
The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Defense
The Sporting News Roadmap to the National Championship
Our weekly roadmap is a list of all the upcoming head-to-head games between The Sporting News High School Football Top 25 teams throughout the 2025 season. That will, of course, change as new teams enter and other teams exit after falling out. It will be updated every week with the hope of providing a clearer idea of where things stand heading into each weekend while highlighting the upcoming games that could affect the national championship picture.
Of course, some of those games involve Top 25 teams against highly-regarded but unranked teams that could affect the national championship picture. And we'll also try to identify those teams playing spoiler in our weekly list of "trap" games that provide the best potential for upsets.
National Week 4 will start to answer some questions about our top teams
We have eight undefeated teams at the top of The Sporting News High School Football Top 25 that, for now, are considered among the frontrunners to finish the season in the top spot of our rankings as The Sporting News High School Football National Champion. It would be surprising, in fact, if the eventual national champion doesn't come from that list of teams. And this week will be a week where at least one of those teams sees its chances for a national title all but disappear.
The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week features our No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers at the No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves. While the loser won't necessarily be completely eliminated from national title conversation, it's also true that their path will become an extremely narrow one, dependent on all of the other Top 7 contenders losing at least once. St. Frances is seeking its first national championship while St. John Bosco is hoping to remain in contention for its third.
One of the other top 8 teams also has a high-profile matchup that could alter the national championship picture. The TSN No. 8 American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots will host the TSN No. 15 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions in one of the biggest games of the year on the Florida prep schedule. Chaminade-Madonna was blown out by our TSN No. 4 St. Frances Academy two weeks ago and is, for all intents and purposes, already eliminated from national title consideration. But they could certainly muddy up the picture even further by knocking American Heritage out of the conversation as well.
Three of our other top eight are playing in "trap" games this week. We mentioned No. 6 Duncanville's game against South Oak Cliff above, but our No. 2 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels also have a tough game against an unranked opponent. They should beat Lone Peak [Highland, UT] at home, but the Knights are ranked No. 8 on our list of bubble teams looking to crack the Top 25.
And while those No. 7 Grayson Rams aren't playing a team listed in any of our current rankings, they're still having to traverse the rest of the season without Travis Burgess, one of the nation's top quarterback prospects in the Class of 2026. And this week's visit from the Mallard Creek [Charlotte, NC] Mavericks could prove to be challenging for a team that's already survived a couple of close calls the past two weeks.
Roadmap to the National Championship: National Week 4
That brings us to the roadmap for National Week 4, and these are the games this weekend that will have an impact on the 2025 road to the high school football national championship.
NATIONAL WEEK 4
The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week
- Fri, 9/5 —TSN No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] (1-0) at TSN No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves (2-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
Other National Championship Roadmap Games
Fri, 9/5 — TSN No. 15 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions (1-1) at TSN No. 8 American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots (1-0) — 7 p.m. EST local
Fri, 9/5 — TSN No. 23 Liberty [Peoria, AZ] Lions at TSN No. 16 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers — 9 p.m. EST (7 p.m. MST local)
"Trap" Games
These games present a higher potential for upsets with Top 25 teams facing off against highly-regarded unranked teams. As such, these are games where those unranked teams may also have an opportunity to play their way into the Top 25.
Friday, September 5
- TSN No. 13 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders (1-0) at NR West Boca Raton [Boca Raton, FL] Bulls (1-0) — 6:30 p.m. EST local
- TSN No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders (1-1) at NR Columbus [Miami, FL] Explorers (0-1) — 7 p.m. EST local
- NR Imhotep Charter [Philadelphia, PA] Panthers (1-1) at No. 25 DeMatha [Hyattsville, MD] Stags (1-0) — 7 p.m. EST local
- NR Mallard Creek [Charlotte, NC] Mavericks (2-0) at No. 7 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams (3-0) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
- NR South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX] Bears (1-0) at No. 6 Duncanville [TX] Panthers (0-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- NR Roswell [GA] Hornets (2-0) at No. 10 Buford [GA] Wolves (2-0) — 8 p.m. EST local
- NR DeSoto [TX] Eagles (0-1) at No. 11 North Crowley [TX] Panthers (1-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- NR Archbishop Shaw [Marrero, LA] Eagles (0-0) at No. 20 Edna Karr [New Orleans, LA] Cougars (0-0)
- NR Lone Peak [Highland, UT] Knights (3-0) at No. 2 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels (2-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
- No. 12 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers (2-0) at NR Basha [Chandler, AZ] Bears (1-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
- NR Folsom [CA] Bulldogs (2-0) at No. 14 Mission Viejo [CA] Diablos (2-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
The Easy Road
These games involve Top 25 teams in matchups that would be major upsets if the unranked team prevailed.
Friday, September 5
- NR East Forsyth [Kernersville, NC] Eagles (2-0) at No. 24 Grimsley [Greensboro, NC] Whirlies (2-0) — 7 p.m. EST local
- NR Hebron [Carrollton, TX] Hawks (1-0) at No. 17 Southlake [TX] Carroll Dragons (1-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- NR Kahuku [HI] Red Raiders (2-2) at No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs (1-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
Idle
The following TSN Top 25 teams are idle this week.
No. 5 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders (2-0); No. 22 Milton [GA] Eagles
The Future Roadmap to the National Championship
This future roadmap is updated weekly, depending on results in previous games. As teams fall out of the Top 25, their games here will be deleted (although they may resurface in our weekly trap games). As new teams enter the Top 25, any matchups against other Top 25 teams will be added.
NATIONAL WEEK 5
Fri, 9/12/25 — TSN No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Monarchs at TSN No. 21 Centennial (Corona, CA) Huskies
Fri, 9/12/25 — TSN No. 8 American Heritage (Plantation, FL) Patriots at TSN No. 20 Edna Karr (New Orleans, LA) Cougars
NATIONAL WEEK 6
Thu, 9/18/25 — TSN No. 18 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers at No. 12 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers
Fri, 9/19/25 — TSN No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Monarchs at TSN No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) Gaels
NATIONAL WEEK 7
Sat, 9/27/25 — TSN No. 19 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles at No. 2 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels
NATIONAL WEEK 8
Fri, 10/3/25 — TSN No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Monarchs at TSN No. 12 Orange (CA) Lutheran Lancers
NATIONAL WEEK 9
Fri, 10/10/25 — TSN No. 19 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles at TSN No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs
Fri, 10/10/25 — TSN No. 12 Orange (CA) Lutheran Lancers at TSN No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) Braves
NATIONAL WEEK 10
Fri, 10/17/25 — TSN No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves at TSN No. 19 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles
NATIONAL WEEK 11
Fri, 10/24/25 — TSN No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) Raiders at TSN No. 8 American Heritage (Plantation, FL) Patriots
Fri, 10/24/25 — TSN No. 12 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers at TSN No. 19 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles
NATIONAL WEEK 12
Fri, 10/31/25 — TSN No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Monarchs at TSN No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) Braves
Fri, 10/31/25 — TSN No. 15 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, FL) Lions at TSN No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) Raiders
NATIONAL WEEK 13
Fri, 11/7/25 — TSN No. 4 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) Panthers at TSN No. 5 IMG Academy (FL) Ascenders
Previous Roadmap to the National Championship Results
NATIONAL WEEK ZERO: Kahuku, Hawaii
Both of these teams were unranked, but as our national game of the week, it was still a stop on our 2025 Roadmap to the National Championship.
Kahuku also had an opportunity to get into the national title conversation with games later in the season against the No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Monarchs and the No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) Gaels. The loss to Saint Louis in shutout fashion ended those faint dreams of a national title.
The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week
Sat, 8/9/25 — UNR Saint Louis (Honolulu, HI) Crusaders 20, Kahuku (HI) Red Raiders 0
NATIONAL WEEK 1: Buford, Georgia
This week marked the beginning of the 2025 prep season in the Peach State, and all eyes were on Buford, Georgia, where the Wolves were hosting the first game in their new home.
On opening night at Phillip Beard Stadium at Dexter Wood Field, No. 12 Buford delivered the opening knockout of the season, ending the No. 14 Milton [GA] Eagles' dreams of entering the national title picture for a second straight season in a 20-13 decision.
The Sporting News National High School Football Game of the Week
Thu, 8/14/25 — No. 12 Buford [GA] Wolves 20, No. 14 Milton [GA] Eagles 13
Top 25 Teams Eliminated from TSN National Championship Consideration — No. 14 Milton Eagles
NATIONAL WEEK 2: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
It was the week that California and Florida jumped into the 2025 fray, and the Broward County National Football Showcase gave us some moments to remember.
No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas rallied from a 26-3 deficit to take No. 1 Mater Dei to the wire in a 26-23 loss. That was one night after No. 9 American Heritage climbed out of 28-0 hole to come back and beat No. 20 St. Joseph's Prep, 31-28.
In the end, two Top 25 teams were eliminated from national title consideration with No. 14 Northwestern [Miami, FL] and No. 20 St. Joseph's Prep falling out of the picture. Two Florida teams, meanwhile, saw their national title hopes put on life support with both No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas and No. 10 Chaminade-Madonna moving to the far fringe of the conversation.
The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week
Sat, 8/23/25 — No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs 26, No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas 3
Other National Roadmap Games featuring Top 25 teams in head-to-head matchups
Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 9 American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots 31, No. 20 St. Joseph's Prep [Philadelphia, PA] Hawks 28
Sat, 8/16/25 — No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers 42, No. 10 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] 13
Sat, 8/16/25 — No. 15 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers 17, No. 14 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls 15
Top 25 Teams Eliminated from TSN National Championship Consideration — No. 10 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions, No. 14 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls, No. 20 St. Joseph's Prep [Philadelphia, PA] Hawks
NATIONAL WEEK 3: Loganville, Georgia
The TSN No. 7 Grayson Rams only led once against the TSN No. 14 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors. But that's all it took to get the win in a 24-23 overtime victory The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week.
- Fri, 8/29/25 — TSN No. 7 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams 24, TSN No. 14 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors 23 (OT)
The loss knocked Thompson out of the national championship picture, and indeed, out of the TSN Top 25. The Warriors weren't the only team to see their dreams of national glory end.
The TSN No. 9 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies were upset by the unranked Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles who already had a loss to Mission Viejo. And while the win propelled the Eagles into our latest Top 25 rankings, it essentially ended any hopes for the Huskies of fighting their way into the national title picture.
Ditto for the TSN No. 15 DeSoto [TX] Eagles' hopes in a 70-28 unraveling at the unranked Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles on the road in Georgia.
Finally, the TSN No. 17 East St. Louis [IL] Flyers saw their own faint national title hopes end in a 22-21 loss to the TSN No. 18 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders – but at least it came against another team ranked in the TSN Top 25.
National Roadmap Games featuring TSN Top 25 teams in head-to-head matchups
- Thu, 8/16/25 — TSN No. 18 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders 22, TSN No. 17 East St. Louis [IL] Flyers 21
Upsets involving TSN Top 25 teams against unranked teams
- Thu, 8/28/25 — NR Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] 33, TSN No. 9 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies 27 (OT)
- Sat, 8/30/25 — NR Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles 70, TSN No. 15 DeSoto [TX] Eagles 28
Top 25 Teams Eliminated from TSN National Championship Consideration — No. 9 Centennial [Corona, CA]Huskies, No. 14 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors, No. 15 DeSoto [TX] Eagles, No. 17 East St. Louis [IL] Flyers
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Top 25 Defensive Player of the Year candidates in California high school football
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