Each week we preview a game that we consider to be the national Sporting News Game of the Week in high school football.
This has included marquee matchups like the SN No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs at the SN No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders in the season opener last month and, most recently, last week's SN No. 8 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels at the SN No. 13 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles.
So far in 2025, every game we've featured has been a matchup of Top 25 teams in The Sporting News High School Football Top 25. But this week, there are no matchups between teams ranked in our national list of the best teams, so we're turning to YOU to let you decide which game you think should be the game of the week.
We've picked out 10 interesting matchups that we consider to be among the nation's best games this week, and we've added them to our ballot here. And now, it's your turn to vote and let us know which game you believe is most deserving. Our ballot will stay open until midnight on Wednesday night, and based on the results of this poll, we will present the game of the week this coming Thursday.
Game capsules below are presented in order of this week's schedule; NR — Not Ranked
Thursday, October 2
NR Lone Peak [Highland, UT Knights (5-2) at NR Skyridge [Lehi, UT] Falcons (5-2) — 9 p.m. EST (7 p.m. MST local)
It's been a wild four weeks for these two top Utah programs starting with Lone Peak's 35-14 loss at Bishop Gorman back on September 5. That game that ended early when many of the Knights' players left the bench area during an altercation. Those players were ejected, and the game was called as the Knights didn't have enough players to continue. They bounced back with home wins against the Farmington [UT] Phoenix and the SN Top 25 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers before losing, 31-28, at the American Fork [UT] Cavemen last week.
Skyridge has also had a rocky three weeks with big losses on the road at Colorado's top-ranked Cherry Creek [Greenwood Village, CO] Bruins (51-28) and that same Corner Canyon squad (49-14) that lost to Lone Peak. In between, they managed a win against their hometown rival Lehi [UT] Pioneers in a 42-38 barnburner.
The loser here will be 5-3, but the winner will still have the opportunity to make a big statement heading into Utah's playoffs in a few weeks.
Friday, October 3
SN NEXT No. 18 The First Academy [Orlando, FL] Royals (4-2) at SN No. 5 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers (4-1) — 7 p.m. EST local
The First Academy had the misfortune to start the season with back-to-back games against the SN Top 25 Milton [GA] Eagles and one of Alabama's top-ranked programs in the Central [Phenix City, AL] Red Devils. They were 0-2 before the season had even really kicked into high gear, but they've bounced back with four solid wins headed into this trip to Baltimore, hoping to make a statement.
As for St. Frances Academy, their only loss is 21-14 setback at the nation's current No. 1 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves a few weeks ago, and they still might be the nation's second-best team.
SN NEXT No. 3 Archbishop Moeller [Cincinnati, OH] Fighting Crusaders (5-1) at NR Elder [Cincinnati, OH] Panthers (6-0) — 7 p.m. EST
It's games like this that make Cincinnati's Greater Catholic League-South one of the best high school football leagues in the country. And this game between Moeller and Elder will also be played at one of the nation's great high school football venues – Elder's legendary stadium known as "The Pit" where many classic battles between these two schools have been played. This figures to be another one, and the winner will get consideration for the SN Top 25.
SN NEXT No. 1 McEachern [Powder Springs, GA] Indians (5-0) at NR Harrison [Kennesaw, GA] Hoyas (5-0) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
Georgia's McEachern has been sitting in the pole position in SN's NEXT 25 "bubble" rankings for a couple of weeks now. They finally get their chance to prove they are worthy of the SN Top 25 in this road trip to face the undefeated Harrison Hoyas. And for the hosts, it's an opportunity to raise their own profile and, at the very least, to state their own case for inclusion in the SN NEXT 25.
SN NEXT No. 34 Baylor [Chattanooga, TN] Red Raiders (5-0) at SN No. 41 McCallie [Chattanooga, TN] Blue Tornado (5-1) — 7:45 p.m. EST local
These two Chattanooga, Tennessee, rivals are currently ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in Tennessee by most selectors, but the order varies depending on who you ask. In our latest composite rankings, Baylor is set to move ahead of McCallie, and the winner of this game between the Red Raiders and the Blue Tornado will be well-positioned to make a play for the SN Top 25.
NR St. Augustine [New Orleans, LA] Purple Knights (4-0) at SN No. 13 Edna Karr [New Orleans, LA] Cougars (4-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
Edna Karr owns a win over the SN Top 25 American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots who were booted from the Top 25 following their loss to the Cougars. From here out, Karr can only build its national resume against in-state Louisiana competition, and this is one of the better opponents remaining on the schedule. The Cougars have to win games like this to keep climbing the national ranks, and while a national championship probably is out of reach, the national Top 10 is only three spots away.
SN No. 21 Aledo [TX] Bearcats (5-0) at SN NEXT No. 13 Ryan [Denton, TX] Raiders (4-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
It just doesn't get much better than this during district play in Texas as the undefeated Aledo Bearcats pay a visit Friday night to the Ryan Raiders in Denton, Texas. Aledo is set to debut tomorrow morning in the SN Top 25 while the Raiders have been hanging out in the SN NEXT 25 rankings for a couple of weeks now. Aledo will bolster its Top 25 credentials with a win while Ryan is likely to take the Bearcats' place if they can pull the upset at home.
NR Brother Rice [Chicago, IL] Crusaders (5-0) at No. 39 Mt. Carmel [Chicago, IL] Caravan (5-0) — 8:30 p.m. EST (7:30 p.m. CST local)
Brother Rice beat Mt. Carmel 16-13 a year ago, and while Mt. Carmel is the team that's spent time in the SN Composite Rankings in 2025, it wouldn't be a complete shock if the Crusaders upset the Caravan again. And, if they do, it's not out of the question that Brother Rice could enter the Top 25 somewhere in one of the rankings that comprise our composite index.
SN No. 4 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs (3-1) at SN NEXT No. 5 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers (3-2) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
Mater Dei has to win out to stay in the national championship picture, but if they do, they will be in solid position because that scenario would include a win against the current No. 1 St. John Bosco in the regular season finale along with a number of big wins in California's CIF playoffs.
In the meantime, they have to avoid any stumbles against opponents they should beat – like this Orange Lutheran squad that started the season strong in Florida with a win over the SN Top 25 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls. Orange Lutheran has since lost two games, but Mater Dei hasn't always looked like the best version of itself either. If the Monarchs stumble into this game without taking the Lancers seriously, it could spell trouble for the nation's No. 4 team.
Saturday, October 4
SN NEXT No. 2 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls (3-1) at No. 37 Central [Miami, FL] Rockets (3-0) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
This is essentially a "play-in" game for the SN Top 25 with the winner almost certain to be ranked in next week's edition. Northwestern opened the season ranked but lost 17-15 at home to SN Top 25 Orange Lutheran of California, and they've been fighting their way back ever since. Central, meanwhile, has been biding its time, waiting for this matchup to prove they are Top 25-worthy. It's a battle between, arguably, the top two teams in Florida that aren't currently in the SN Top 25.
MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HEADLINES
- How the nation's top teams fared last week
- Last week's Roadmap to the National Championship
- High School Football by the Numbers