Roadmap to the National Championship: National Week 6 features SN No. 7 Mater Dei at SN No. 1 Bishop Gorman

Kendall Webb

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Roadmap to the National Championship: National Week 6 features SN No. 7 Mater Dei at SN No. 1 Bishop Gorman image

Last week's No. 1 Mater Dei Monarchs will pay a visit to this week's No. 1 Bishop Gorman Gaels in the SN Game of the Week.

The Sporting News National Week 6 schedule features the SN No. 7 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs in a Top 25 matchup at the SN No. 1 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels in The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week.

The Monarchs were knocked off their throne in a wild 43-36 shootout loss at the SN No. 20 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies a week ago. As fate would have it, they'll play at the team that replaced them in that No. 1 spot with their faint hopes of a third-straight national championship hanging in the balance.

It's the only game between teams ranked in the SN Top 25, but there are several other compelling matchups involving teams in what we consider to be "trap" games. All of the matchups involving teams ranked in the SN Top 25 are included below in this week's SN Roadmap to the National Championship.

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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 5 saw Mater Dei fall from grace in stunning loss to Centennial

None of our top contenders were eliminated from the national championship picture last week, although Mater Dei's loss to Centennial makes the Monarchs' path to a third straight national title exceedingly narrow.

There were several teams that saw their chances increase, of course, with Mater Dei at least temporarily out of the way. Bishop Gorman is the first beneficiary, moving into the top spot vacated by the Monarchs, and ironically, those two teams will square off in Vegas Friday night. Bishop Gorman is 0-4 against Mater Dei historically so there is no precedent for the Gaels beating the Monarchs.

But this clearly hasn't been the Mater Dei of the past two years, and the most direct comparison we have suggests this could be Bishop Gorman's night. The Gaels won at the Kahuku [HI] Red Raiders in a 38-0 rout just three weeks ago, and the following week, Kahuku came to the mainland and gave the Monarchs all they could handle in a 21-18 loss. With this game being at Gorman, there's nothing to suggest at the moment that Mater Dei is the better team.

No. 2 St. John Bosco and No. 3 IMG Academy are also in prime position now to state their cases in the national title race as well.

Roadmap to the National Championship: National Week 6

That brings us to the roadmap for National Week 6, 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 6

The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week

  • Fri, 9/19 —SN No. 7 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs at SN No. 1 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST 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.

Thursday, September 18

  • NR Rockwall [TX] Yellowjackets (2-2) 37, SN No. 10 North Crowley [Fort Worth, TX] Panthers 35 (3-1)
  • SN No. 19 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers (5-0) 41, NR Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers 9 (3-2)

Friday, September 19

  • SN No. 3 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders (3-0) at Mandarin [Jacksonville, FL] Mustangs (4-0) — 6:30 p.m. EST local
  • SN No. 11 Mission Viejo [CA] Diablos at McCallie [Chattanooga, TN] Blue Tornado (3-1) — 7 p.m. EST local
  • SN No. 4 Duncanville [TX] Panthers (1-0) at Waxahachie [TX] Indians (2-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
  • NR Trinity [Euless, TX] Trojans (3-0) at SN No. 17 Southlake [TX] Carroll Dragons (3-0) —8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
  • NR Lone Peak [Highland, UT] Knights at SN No. 15 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers (5-0) — 9 p.m. EST (8 p.m. MST local)

The Easy Road

These games involve Top 25 teams in matchups that would be major upsets if the unranked team prevailed.

Thursday, September 18

  • SN No. 24 Randle [Richmond, TX] Lions (4-0) 51, NR Fort Bend Marshall [Missouri City, TX] Buffalos 9 (2-1)
  • SN No. 25 South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX] Bears (3-1) 59, NR Spruce [Dallas, TX] Timberwolves 0 (1-3)

Friday, September 19

  • NR Hewlett Sports Academy [Waldorf, MD] Eagles (1-2) at SN No. 6 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers (2-1) — 7 p.m. EST local
  • SN No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders (3-1) at McArthur [Hollywood, FL] Mustangs (2-1) — 7 p.m. EST local
  • SN No. 21 Grimsley [Greensboro, NC] Whirlies (3-0) at NR Southwest Guilford [High Point, NC] Cowboys (1-3) — 7 p.m. EST local
  • NR Mt. Zion Prep Academy [Lanham, MD] Warriors (0-4) at SN No. 22 DeMatha [Hyattsville, MD] Stags (3-0) — 7 p.m. EST local
  • NR Grovetown [GA] Warriors (3-1) at SN No. 5 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams (4-0) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
  • NR Discovery [Lawrenceville, GA] Titans (0-3) at SN No. 9 Buford [GA] Wolves (4-0) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
  • NR Chattahoochee [Alpharetta, GA] Cougars (1-3) at SN No. 20 Milton [GA] Eagles (3-1) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
  • NR McDonogh 35 [New Orleans, LA] Roneagles (1-1) at SN No. 18 Edna Karr [New Orleans, LA] Cougars (2-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
  • NR St. Louis [Honolulu, HI] Crusaders (3-0) at SN No. 2 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves (4-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
  • SN No. 13 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies at Rancho Cucamonga [CA] Cougars (1-3) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
  • NR Mountain View [Mesa, AZ] Toros (2-1) at SN No. 23 Basha [Chandler, AZ] Bears (3-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)

Saturday, September 20

  • NR Pope John XXIII [Sparta, NJ] Lions (1-2) at SN No. 12 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders (3-0) — 1 p.m. EST local

IDLE

SN No. 14 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions (2-1); SN No. 16 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles (3-1)

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 7

Sat, 9/27/25 — SN No. 16 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles at No. 1 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels

NATIONAL WEEK 8

There are currently no games scheduled between two teams ranked in our Top 25.

NATIONAL WEEK 9

Fri, 10/10/25 — SN No. 16 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles at SN No. 7 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs

NATIONAL WEEK 10

Fri, 10/17/25 — SN No. 2 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves at SN No. 16 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles

NATIONAL WEEK 11

There are currently no games scheduled between two teams ranked in our Top 25.

NATIONAL WEEK 12

Fri, 10/31/25 — SN No. 7 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Monarchs at SN No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) Braves
Fri, 10/31/25 — SN No. 14 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, FL) Lions at SN No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) Raiders

NATIONAL WEEK 13

Fri, 11/7/25 — SN No. 6 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) Panthers at SN No. 3 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 SN 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 SN 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 SN No. 7 Grayson Rams only led once against the SN 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.

The loss knocked Thompson out of the national championship picture, and indeed, out of the SN Top 25. The Warriors weren't the only team to see their dreams of national glory end.

The SN 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 SN 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 SN No. 17 East St. Louis [IL] Flyers saw their own faint national title hopes end in a 22-21 loss to the SN No. 18 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders – but at least it came against another team ranked in the SN Top 25.

National Roadmap Games featuring SN Top 25 teams in head-to-head matchups

Upsets involving SN Top 25 teams against unranked teams

Top 25 Teams Eliminated from SN 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

NATIONAL WEEK 4: Bellflower, California

The SN No. 3 St. John Bosco Braves held off the SN No. 4 St. Frances Academy Panthers, 21-14, in the The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week.

While the result didn't completely end St. Frances's hopes of a national title, it did make the path very narrow, and the Panthers would need a lot of help moving forward to navigate back into the championship picture.

National Roadmap Games featuring SN Top 25 teams in head-to-head matchups

Upsets involving SN Top 25 teams against unranked teams

Top 25 Teams Eliminated from SN National Championship Consideration — SN No. 8 American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots; SN No. 12 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers; SN No. 23 Liberty [Peoria, AZ] Lions

NATIONAL WEEK 5: New Orleans, Louisiana

In The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week, the SN No. 19 Edna Karr Cougars held off the SN No. 18 American Heritage Patriots, 24-17, in overtime.

While the win wasn't likely to lift Edna Karr into the national title conversation, it certainly reverberated across the country with the Cougars beating one of the top teams in Florida in a game played in the Caesars Superdome.

National Roadmap Games featuring SN Top 25 teams in head-to-head matchups

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Kendall Webb

Kendall Webb is a freelance writer with The Sporting News and the former publisher of the College Football America Yearbook. He is a proud alumnus of Kilgore College (AA), the University of Texas at Austin (BJ), Middle Tennessee State University (BS), and Harvard University (ALM). Webb has attended a high school or college football game in more than 40 states during his career as a freelance journalist, and he remains an avid follower of team sports at all levels.