You've seen The Sporting News High School Football Top 25.
And we've introduced you to the The Sporting News Composite Rankings which takes that top 25 and combines it with the rankings from seven other major selectors.
And now it's time for The NEXT 25 presented by The Sporting News.
The NEXT 25 is a weekly list of teams hoping to break into one of those Top 25 rankings in the weeks to come, and as soon as they do, they'll move up to the SN Composite Rankings. And, of course, the Top 25 they crack could be ours. These are essentially the "bubble" teams sitting just outside the composite rankings. They'll hang out here in The NEXT 25 until they get their opportunity to move up – or down if they don't perform in those key contests.
Last week's No. 1 team on this list is now ranked in The SN Top 25. The South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX] Bears, defeated the Longview [TX] Lobos, 20-17, to earn their way into the Top 25, and now the top team here in The Next 25 is from Georgia. The McEachern [Powder Springs, GA] Indians will have to bide their time for a couple of weeks, but they will be well-positioned to make their own jump into the Top 25 if they can keep winning. The result of their game on October 3 at the Harrison [Kennesaw, GA] Hoyas could be their key to cracking one of those Top 25 lists and joining the SN Composite Rankings.
Week 6 ITG Next Coaches Show: Inside McEachern Football with Coach Kareem Reid.
— ITG Next - Georgia (@itgnext_georgia) September 15, 2025
Coach Reid joins us for a 20-minute conversation to reflect on the Indians’ season so far, highlight key players making an impact on both sides of the ball, and preview what fans can expect as… pic.twitter.com/bJazAQeuJN
MORE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HEADLINES
- The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Offense
- The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Defense
The NEXT 25 presented by The Sporting News
The ratings for opponents below are presented first by SN's Composite Ranking followed by The Sporting News (SN) Top 25 ranking, if applicable.
No. 1 McEachern [Powder Springs, GA] Indians
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 2
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Paulding County [Dallas, GA] Patriots (1-3)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — McEachern 34, NR Campbell [Smyrna, GA] Spartans 7 (3-1)
W/L Streak: 4 wins
McEachern takes on a 1-3 Paulding County squad with a chance to head into a bye week undefeated at 5-0. They should get there successfully, and then on October 3, they'll visit a Harrison [Kennesaw, GA] Hoyas' squad that could also be 5-0 if it can get past the Campbell Spartans' team that McEachern beat, 34-7, last week. A win there could potentially push the Indians up into the composite rankings.
No. 2 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls
2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 3
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Columbus [Miami, FL] Explorers (0-3)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Northwestern 49, NR Norland [Miami, FL] Vikings 21 (2-2)
W/L Streak: 2 wins
Northwestern will host a Columbus Explorers' squad that doesn't appear to be up to its usual standards. If the Explorers can't find a way to beat the Bulls, they'll be 0-4, matching their loss total for all of 2024 when they finished 9-4. They haven't lost five games in a season since 2016, but Northwestern comes in on a hot streak and is looking to climb their way back into the Top 25. If they don't overlook the Explorers, an October 4 visit to the Central [Miami, FL] Rockets – ranked No. 5 here in the NEXT 25 – could be the ticket that gets one of those teams into the national rankings.
No. 3 Archbishop Moeller [Cincinnati, OH] Fighting Crusaders
2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 4
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. St. Xavier [Cincinnati, OH] Bombers (4-0)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Archbishop Moeller 49, NR Christ Presbyterian Adademy [Nashville, TN] Lions 28 (1-3)
W/L Streak: 2 wins
Moeller's only loss to date is to the Mt. Carmel [Chicago, IL] Caravan, currently ranked in a tie at No. 31 with the Brownsburg [IN] Bulldogs in the SN Composite Rankings. This game against a national Top 100 St. Xavier contingent could get the Fighting Crusaders back into a Top 25 list somewhere – possibly, even in the SN Top 25.
No. 4 Baylor [Chattanooga, TN] Red Raiders
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 5
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Christ Presbyterian Academy [Nashville, TN] Lions (1-3)
Next Game: 9/12/2025 — Baylor 42, NR Lift for Life Academy [St. Louis, MO] Hawks 30 (2-1)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Prior to the season, the Red Raiders' game with CPA could have been a launching pad to the Top 25. The Lions were on a 26-game win streak entering the season, but have stumbled to a 1-3 start against a top-heavy schedule. That includes a loss to a Tennessee Top 5 Oakland [Murfreesboro, TN] Patriots' team along with two teams ranked here in the NEXT 25 (No. 10 Tupelo and No. 3 Archbishop Moeller). Now, it's Baylor's turn to take on the Lions, and while the game may not have the luster it had in the preseason, it's still an important stepping stone for the Red Raiders as they try to scratch their way into SN's Composite Rankings.
No. 5 Central [Miami, FL] Rockets
2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 7
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots (1-2)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Central 58, Booker T. Washington [Miami, FL] Tornadoes 14
W/L Streak: 2 wins
Central enters the toughest two-game stretch of the season with a visit to the American Heritage Patriots' who were ranked in SN's Top 25 at No. 18 until last week's loss at the SN No. 19 Edna Karr [New Orleans, LA] Cougars. It was Heritage's second straight loss to a team ranked in the SN Top 25, including a 28-24 setback at home to the Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions two weeks ago. The Patriots will be desperate to redeem themselves against a visiting Central squad that carries a name with some cachet. A Rockets' win here, on the other hand, could send them into the SN Composite Rankings ahead of an October 4 date with those NEXT No. 2 Northwestern Bulls above.
No. 6 East St. Louis [IL] FLyers
2025 Record: 0-2
Last Week: No. 26
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at Alton [IL] Redbirds (0-3)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — No. 3/SN No. 2 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels 35, East St. Louis 10
W/L Streak: 2 losses
East St. Louis has faced one of the more difficult opening two-game stretches of the 2025 season. It started with a visit to Ocean City, New Jersey, to take on Top 25 Bergen Catholic in its own backyard before traveling to Las Vegas last weekend for a date with the now No. 1 Bishop Gorman Gaels. The Flyers lost both of those games, so for now, it's back to Illinois state business where they'll pay a visit to the winless Alton Redbirds. It should be the Flyers in a rout, and they'll have to be satisfied with piling up a few wins against in-state competition before a visit to current No. 3 IMG Academy on October 25. A win there could give them a chance to re-enter the Top 25 before starting the Illinois playoffs.
No. 7 Lone Peak [Highland, UT] Knights
2025 Record: 4-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 8
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. No. 12/SN No. 15 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers (5-0)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Lone Peak 34, NR Farmington [UT] Phoenix 7 (2-3)
W/L Streak: 1 win
Lone Peak's big opportunity has arrived as they host the SN No. 15 Corner Canyon Chargers Friday night. Corner Canyon will essentially be playing for its ranking while Lone Peak could end up in the Top 25 somewhere themselves with a win. This is definitely one of the games of the year in Utah.
No. 8 Catholic [Baton Rouge, LA] Bears
2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 9
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at NR University Lab [Baton Rouge, LA] Cubs (1-1)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Catholic 35, NR St. Thomas More [Lafayette, LA] Cougars 28 (0-2)
W/L Streak: 2 wins
Catholic is out of the gate in strong fashion at 2-0, and they'll look to keep it going against a solid University Lab squad that is 1-1. They won't get many opportunities until the playoffs to earn Top 25 consideration, but that starts with taking care of business in games like this.
No. 9 Dutch Fork [Irmo, SC] Silver Foxes
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 10
Last Game: 9/19/25 — vs. Oceanside Collegiate Academy [Mt. Pleasant, SC] Landsharks (2-2)
Next Game: 9/12/2025 — Dutch Fork 42, NR Gray Collegiate Academy [West Columbia, SC] War Eagles 14 (1-2)
W/L Streak: 24 wins
Dutch Fork's schedule doesn't provide many opportunities moving forward to earn national recognition, but as long as they keep winning, they'll enter the South Carolina playoffs with the chance to make some noise late in the season.
No. 10 Tupelo [MS] Golden Wave
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 11
Last Game: 9/19/25 — at Oxford [MS] Chargers (3-0)
Next Game: 9/12/2025 — Tupelo 45, NR Houston [Germantown, TN] Mustangs 7 (0-4)
W/L Streak: 17 wins
Tupelo made it two in a row against the Volunteer State with a 45-7 win over Tennessee's Houston Mustangs last week. Now, it's back to strictly Mississippi business, and that will make it hard for Tupelo to get noticed on the national stage. Like some of the teams above them, it's about consistently winning now, and hoping to break into at least one set of Top 25 rankings down the road to raise the Golden Wave's profile on the national scene.
No. 11 Cherry Creek [Greenwood Village, CO] Bruins
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 12
Last Game: 9/25/2025 — at Pine Creek [Colorado Springs, CO] Eagles (2-1)
Next Game: 9/12/2025 — Cherry Creek 51, No. 36 Skyridge [Lehi, UT] Falcons 28 (4-1)
W/L Streak: 17 wins
Cherry Creek's win over Utah's Skyridge, the No. 36 team in the SN Composite rankings, was an important step for the Bruins as they continue their pursuit of the Top 25. It's still an uphill climb, but the margin of their victory in that 51-28 win rippled across the lower fringes of the Top 25.
No. 12 Rabun Gap [GA]-Nacoochee Eagles
2025 Record: 2-2
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 13
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — at Providence Day [Charlotte, NC] Chargers (4-0)
Next Game: 9/12/2025 — Rabun Gap-Nacoochee 42, NR Ambassador Christian School [Huntersville, NC] Lions 0 (2-1-1)
W/L Streak: 2 wins
Rabun Gap might still be the second-best team in Georgia, and the Eagles have a solid opportunity to make another step toward the Top 25 against a highly-regarded Providence Day squad. The main problem for Rabun Gap is the two losses they already have, but at least they both came against higher ranked teams – the No. 3/SN No. 5 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams, and Tennessee's top-ranked Baylor squad ranked No. 4 on this list. They'll need Baylor to climb into the Top 25 before they can even think about that happening, and it's unlikely it will happen this season.
No. 13 Lakeland [FL] Dreadnaughts
2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 14
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at NR Booker T. Washington [Miami, FL] Tornadoes (0-4)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Lakeland 32, Lake Mary [FL] Rams 13
W/L Streak: 1 win
Lakeland's big opportunity for national recognition came in a 10-6 loss at the De La Salle [Concord, CA] Spartans three weeks ago. For now, they'll have to be satisfied with picking up wins against a Florida schedule that doesn't really have many names that resonate on a national level. That will change starting with a home game against the The First Academy [Orlando, FL] Royals on October 31 and continue for as long as they are able to stay alive in Florida's FHSAA Class 5A playoffs.
No. 14 West Boca Raton [Boca Raton, FL] Bulls
2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: SN Next No. 15
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at NR Treasure Coast [Port St. Lucie, FL] Titans (0-4)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — West Boca Raton 42, NR Seminole Ridge [Loxahatchee, FL] Hawks 0 (0-3)
W/L Streak: 1 win
Similar to Lakeland above, West Boca Raton had an opportunity to make a statement at the national level two weeks ago in a 21-14 home loss to the current No. 13/SN No. 12 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders. They'll have to plug along for now content to roll up some wins against Florida opponents before getting bigger opportunities to make a splash in the postseason.
No. 15 Celina [TX] Bobcats
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 17
Next Game: 9/5/2025 — vs. NR Franklin [TX] Lions (1-1)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Celina 43, NR Gunter [TX] Tigers 19 (2-1)
W/L Streak: 19 wins
With back-to-back wins over La Vega and Gunter, Celina moves up a spot in our Texas rankings this week, and that's enough to move them up a couple of spots here in The NEXT 25. Unfortunately, like Carthage, they toil in the Texas Class 4A ranks, and it will be all they can do to hold off some of the emerging 5A and 6A powers that are winning below them in the rankings.
No. 16 Carthage [TX] Bulldogs
2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 16
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. NR Chapel Hill [Tyler, TX] Bulldogs (3-0)
Next Game: 9/12/2025 — Carthage 47, NR Liberty-Eylau [Texarkana, TX] Leopards 0 (0-2)
W/L Streak: 17 wins
Carthage is one of the best teams in Texas, but playing at the UIL Class 4A Division II level, they just don't get a lot of opportunities to raise their profile beyond the Lone Star State's wide-ranging borders. That being said, their game against Chapel Hill this weekend features one of the better opponents they'll see in the regular season.
No. 17 Archbishop Hoban [Akron, OH] Knights
2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 18
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Brush [Lyndhurst, OH] Arcs (2-2)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Archbishop Hoban 52, NR East [Akron, OH] Dragons 0 (2-2)
W/L Streak: 2 wins
For Archbishop Hoban, it's about being consistent for now and piling up some wins. The Top 25 is out of reach for now, partly due to a 58-28 loss to the Archbishop Spalding [Severn, MD] Cavaliers, but a Top 10 position here on The NEXT 25 is within reach by season's end.
No. 18 Galena Park North Shore [Houston, TX] Mustangs
2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 19
Last Game: 9/25/25 — vs. at Humble [TX] Wildcats (1-2)
Next Game: 9/12/2025 — Galena Park North Shore 55, NR Westfield [Houston, TX] Mustangs 0 (0-3)
W/L Streak: 2 wins
North Shore is behind Celina and Carthage for now in the Texas Top 25, but the Mustangs have a better schedule that is backloaded with opportunities to leap over that duo and make a run at the SN Top 25, heading into the playoffs. In particular, an October 24 date with the Atascocita [Humble, TX] Eagles and a November 7 matchup with the Summer Creek [Houston, TX] Bulldogs, both of whom are also in the Texas 25, will give North Shore a chance to make a leap.
No. 19 Jenks [OK] Trojans
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 20
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — vs. No. 24 Bixby [OK] Spartans (2-0)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Jenks 48, NR Union [Tulsa, OK] Redhawks 30 (0-3)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Jenks gets a week off before facing the No. 24 Bixby Spartans in a game that will define the regular season for the Trojans. A win would potentially send them into the SN Composite Rankings where they've already spent some time. A loss would likely lock them out of the Top 25 for good.
No. 20 Westlake [Austin, TX] Chaparrals
2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 22
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Steele [Cibolo, TX] Knights (3-0)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Westlake 35, NR Atascocita [Humble, TX] Eagles 28 (2-1)
W/L Streak: 2 wins
Westlake beat a very highly-regarded Atascocita team last week, and it's enough to jump them over La Vega in our Texas Top 25. That gets them two spots higher here in The Next 25, as well, headed into a game this weekend against undefeated Steele.
No. 21 La Vega [Waco, TX] Pirates
2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 21
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. NR Brownwood [TX] Lions (1-2)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — La Vega 44, NR West Orange-Stark [Orange, TX] Mustangs 20 (1-2)
W/L Streak: 1 win
La Vega lost a spot to Westlake this week, and it will continue to be a struggle to hold off teams like the Ryan [Denton, TX] Raiders in the weeks to come due to the nature of their Class 4A schedule. It just doesn't give them the same opportunities that Ryan will get at the Class 5A level.
No. 22 Ryan [Denton, TX] Raiders
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: Unranked
Next Game: 9/26/25 — at Granbury [TX] Pirates (1-2)
Last Game: 9/11/2025 — Ryan 43, Fossil Ridge [Keller, TX] Panthers (1-2)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Ryan is steadily moving into position to make a big statement here in a couple of weeks against the Aledo [TX] Bearcats, ranked No. 30 in the SN Composite Rankings. A win there would almost certainly propel Ryan into the composite index, and it may even be enough to earn them a spot in the SN Top 25. For now, they get a week off to prepare for a 1-2 Granbury squad next Friday night on the road.
No. 23 Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 25
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at Mays [Atlanta, GA] Raiders (1-3)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Creekside 70, NR Forest Park [GA] Panthers 0 (1-2)
W/L Streak: 4 wins
Creekside's main issue at the moment is the lack of any real names on the schedule that have pull at the national level, and they'll have to ride this out for a while content to win against the lineup of Georgia opponents on the upcoming docket.
No. 24 Langston Hughes [Fairburn, GA] Panthers
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 25
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at Dutchtown [Hampton, GA] Bulldogs (0-4)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Langston Hughes 42, NR Banneker [College Park, GA] Trojans (1-3)
W/L Streak: 4 wins
Langston Hughes is one step behind their Fairburn, Georgia, neighbors from Creekside, but the upside for the Panthers, is greater. They are still a few steps back in Georgia's pecking order, but playing at Georgia's Class 5A level, they'll get bigger opportunities when they get to the playoffs. If they can get there undefeated, then the opportunity to crack the Top 25 at some point is very realistic.
No. 25 Skyridge [Lehi, UT] Falcons
2025 Record: 4-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 25
Next Game: 9/18/2025 — vs. Lehi [UT] Pioneers (4-1)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — SN Next No. 12 Cherry Creek [Greenwood Village, CO] Bruins 51, Skyridge 28
W/L Streak: 1 loss
Skyridge saw its chances of making a run at the Top 25 take a severe blow last week in a 51-28 road loss at Colorado's top-ranked Cherry Creek. They've got a couple of more high-profile matchups coming up starting next weekend in a trip to Draper to face the current No. 12/SN No. 15 Corner Canyon Chargers, followed by a home game with Lone Peak. They could either rocket up this list – or drop completely off depending on the outcome in those games.
MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HEADLINES
- How the nation's top teams fared last week including the teams ranked in our composite rankings
- Streak Busters Week 5 – double-digit win streaks fall across the country
- National 20-game active win streaks
- Last week's Roadmap to the National Championship