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.
For the second straight week, the McEachern [Powder Springs, GA] Indians maintain the top spot on this list. The Indians are on a bye this week, but they'll get an opportunity to make a major statement on October 3 when they visit the Harrison [Kennesaw, GA] Hoyas. Until then, they are likely to hang out here in the SN NEXT 25.
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: 5-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 1
Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at NR Harrison [Kennesaw, GA] Hoyas (5-0)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — McEachern 60, NR Paulding County [Dallas, GA] Patriots 0 (1-4)
W/L Streak: 5 wins
McEachern takes a break this week before heading into a game against undefeated Harrison on October 3. Depending on what happens in the Top 25 that week, it could be the game that finally propels McEachern into the SN Composite Rankings – possibly even into the SN Top 25.
No. 2 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls
2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 2
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — at NR Jackson [Miami, FL] Generals (0-5)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Northwestern 41, NR Columbus [Miami, FL] Explorers 6 (0-4)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Northwestern will cruise Friday against winless Jackson, and it's really an October 4 meeting with Central that is the next measuring stick for this Northwestern squad. The winner of that will have a strong case for the SN Top 25.
No. 3 Archbishop Moeller [Cincinnati, OH] Fighting Crusaders
2025 Record: 4-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 3
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — vs. NR La Salle [Cincinnati, OH] Lancers (4-1)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Archbishop Moeller 30, NR St. Xavier [Cincinnati, OH] Bombers 13 (4-1)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Moeller's only loss to date is to the Mt. Carmel [Chicago, IL] Caravan which is currently tied for No. 36 in the SN Composite Rankings. If the Caravan ever cracks the SN Top 25, then Moeller could make a play for a spot on that list as well. They won against a quality opponent last week, and they'll get a chance almost every week until the end of the regular season against highly-regarded Ohio league opponents.
No. 4 Baylor [Chattanooga, TN] Red Raiders
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 4
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — at NR Montgomery Bell Academy [Nashville, TN] Big Red (4-0)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Baylor 48, NR Christ Presbyterian Academy [Nashville, TN] Lions (1-4)
W/L Streak: 4 wins
Baylor is still chasing McCallie after the Blue Tornado's big home win over California's Top 25 Mission Viejo [CA] Diablos last week. They'll get their own shot at McCallie on October 3, but in the meantime, they have to take care of business against a dangerous Montgomery Bell squad in Nashville.
No. 5 Central [Miami, FL] Rockets
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 5
Next Game: 10/4/2025 — vs. SN NEXT No. 2 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls (3-1)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Central 31, No. 40 (tie) American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots 21 (1-3)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Central takes a week off to get ready for their big game against Northwestern on October 4. As noted above, the winner will have a strong case for making the jump to the SN Top 25.
No. 6 East St. Louis [IL] FLyers
2025 Record: 1-2
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 6
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — vs. NR Belleville [IL] West Maroons (2-2)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — East St. Louis 60, NR Alton [IL] Redbirds 6 (0-4)
W/L Streak: 1 win
East St. Louis is plodding through the Illinois portion of its schedule, and the Flyers just need to keep winning prior to an October 25 matchup with IMG Academy. If they win there, they'll have a shot at rejoining the SN Top 25 heading into the Illinois IHSA playoffs.
No. 7 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers
2025 Record: 3-2
Last Week: SN Composite No. 29
Next Game: 10/3/2025 — vs. No. 4/SN No. 4 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs (3-1)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — SN No. 19 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers (5-0) 41, No. 29 Orange Lutheran 9 (3-2)
W/L Streak: 1 loss
Orange Lutheran's loss at the Basha [Chandler, AZ] Bears came as a shock a few weeks ago, knocking the Lancers out of the SN Top 25. They had hung around in the SN Composite Rankings for a couple of weeks after that, but a 41-9 loss last Friday night to a Top 25 Sierra Canyon squad drove home the point that this edition of the Lancers is not Top 25 worthy. They'll take a week off to get ready for SN No. 4 Mater Dei next, but that isn't likely to reverse their freefall down the rankings.
No. 8 Catholic [Baton Rouge, LA] Bears
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 8
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — at NR West Monroe [LA] Rebels (2-1)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Catholic 28, NR University Lab [Baton Rouge, LA] Cubs 14 (1-2)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Catholic is a legitimate Top 100 program, nationally, but if they want to continue to climb the rankings, they have to win games like this Friday's contest against an always-tough West Monroe squad.
No. 9 Tupelo [MS] Golden Wave
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 10
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — vs. NR West Point [MS] Green Wave (3-0)
Last Game: 9/19/25 — Tupelo 20, NR Oxford [MS] Chargers 13 (3-1)
W/L Streak: 18 wins
Last week, Tupelo knocked off undefeated Oxford, and this week the Golden Wave will meet a Green Wave that also enters the game with an unblemished record. The end result should be another Tupelo win as the Golden Wave continues its efforts to climb those national rankings.
No. 10 Cherry Creek [Greenwood Village, CO] Bruins
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 11
Next Game: 9/25/2025 — at NR Pine Creek [Colorado Springs, CO] Eagles (3-1)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Cherry Creek 51, No. 36 Skyridge [Lehi, UT] Falcons 28 (4-1)
W/L Streak: 17 wins
Cherry Creek's big win over Utah's Skyridge turned some heads, and the only thing the Bruins can do at this point is keep ticking away the wins against Colorado competition from here out and hope there is enough of an opening above them that they can eventually crack somebody's Top 25.
No. 11 West Boca Raton [Boca Raton, FL] Bulls
2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: SN Next No. 14
Next Game: 9/25/2025 — vs. NR Dwyer [Palm Beach Gardens, FL] Panthers (0-5)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — West Boca Raton 50, NR Treasure Coast [Port St. Lucie, FL] Titans 6 (0-5)
W/L Streak: 2 wins
West Boca Raton will crush Dwyer Thursday night, but there just aren't that many more opportunities for the Bulls to make a statement that will resonate at a national level – at least until the Florida playoffs begin.
No. 12 Archbishop Hoban [Akron, OH] Knights
2025 Record: 4-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 17
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — vs. NR Walsh Jesuit [Cuyahoga Falls, OH] Warriors (5-0)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Archbishop Hoban 45, NR Brush [Lyndhurst, OH] Arcs 7 (2-3)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Archbishop Hoban's loss to the Archbishop Spalding [Severn, MD] Cavaliers – a team with two losses of its own – is holding the Knights back. But a win against a solid Walsh Jesuit team sporting a 5-0 record won't hurt. They just need to keep collecting wins for now to present a stronger case when the Ohio playoffs arrive.
No. 13 Celina [TX] Bobcats
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 15
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — vs. NR Panther Creek [Frisco, TX] Panthers (4-0)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Celina 33, NR Franklin [TX] Lions 22 (1-2)
W/L Streak: 20 wins
Celina is likely to be stuck here in The NEXT 25 all season, but if they move up to the SN Composite Rankings at some point, it will be a result of winning games like this one against a 4-0 Panther Creek squad.
No. 14 Carthage [TX] Bulldogs
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 16
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — at NR Jasper [TX] Bulldogs (1-3)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Carthage 56, NR Chapel Hill [Tyler, TX] Bulldogs 34 (3-1)
W/L Streak: 18 wins
Carthage gets a relative breather this week against another group of Bulldogs from Jasper. The flipside is that this isn't a game that will do anything to raise Carthage's profile on the national level.
No. 15 Galena Park North Shore [Houston, TX] Mustangs
2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 18
Next Game: 9/25/2025 — at NR Humble [TX] Wildcats (1-2)
Last 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. 16 Jenks [OK] Trojans
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 19
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — vs. No. 21 Bixby [OK] Spartans (3-0)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Jenks 48, NR Union [Tulsa, OK] Redhawks 30 (0-3)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Jenks used its bye week to get ready for its big meeting with Bixby in a game that will feature Oklahoma's top two programs. A Bixby win probably sends the Spartans to the SN Top 25 while a Jenks win could similarly lift the Trojans into the SN Composite Rankings where they've already spent some time this year.
No. 17 Westlake [Austin, TX] Chaparrals
2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 20
Next Game: 10/2/2025 — at NR Akins [Austin, TX] Eagles (4-0)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Westlake 37, NR Steele [Cibolo, TX] Knights 14 (3-1)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Westlake has a schedule that will allow them to rise faster than some of the other teams on this list. That is, if they avoid stumbles against rising teams like this Akins squad that has already beat last year's win total (3-7) in the first four games of 2025. It shouldn't be a problem as Westlake beat the Eagles, 70-0, in 2024. But you only have to look at another Texas team here to realize that a 70-0 win one season won't necessarily translate to a win the following season.
No. 18 La Vega [Waco, TX] Pirates
2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 21
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — at NR Stephenville [TX] Yellow Jackets (4-0)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — La Vega 38, NR Brownwood [TX] Lions 16 (1-3)
W/L Streak: 2 wins
The Pirates have to navigate a tricky situation Friday night when they visit a Stephenville squad that beat them, 38-28, a year ago. The Yellow Jackets are 4-0 with four big wins, so at this point, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if they found a way to win again.
No. 19 Ryan [Denton, TX] Raiders
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 22
Next Game: 9/26/25 — at NR Granbury [TX] Pirates (2-2)
Last Game: 9/11/2025 — Ryan 43, NR Fossil Ridge [Keller, TX] Panthers (1-3)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
This is Ryan's final tuneup before next week's big matchup against Aledo. Provided the Raiders don't slip up here, the game with the Bearcats' next week could send the winner into the SN Top 25.
No. 20 Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles
2025 Record: 5-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 23
Next Game: 9/25/2025 — at NR M.L. King [Lithonia, GA] Lions (5-0)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Creekside 56, NR Mays [Atlanta, GA] Raiders 0 (1-4)
W/L Streak: 5 wins
Creekside's big win over DeSoto early in the season lifted the Seminoles onto the national radar, but they've had trouble climbing Georgia's ranks to get a shot at the SN Top 25. They were briefly in the SN Composite Rankings, however, and it's not out of the question they could find themselves there again with a win over an undefeated M.L. King squad Thursday night.
No. 21 Langston Hughes [Fairburn, GA] Panthers
2025 Record: 5-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 24
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — vs. NR Newnan [GA] Cougars (4-1)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Langston Hughes 56, NR Dutchtown [Hampton, GA] Bulldogs 12 (0-5)
W/L Streak: 5 wins
Like their Creekside neighbors above from Fairburn, Georgia, Langston Hughes is trying to carve a path to the SN Top 25. They've also spent some time in SN's Composite Rankings, and at least one of these Fairburn schools is likely to be ranked somewhere in the weeks to come as long as they keep winning.
No. 22 Skyridge [Lehi, UT] Falcons
2025 Record: 5-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 25
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — vs. No. 38 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers (5-1)
Last Game: 9/18/2025 — Skyridge 42, NR Lehi [UT] Pioneers 38 (4-2)
W/L Streak: 1 win
Skyridge bounced back with a solid win after losing at Colorado's Cherry Creek a couple of weeks ago, and they get what will likely be their last chance to a state a case for the Top 25 when they host No. 38 Corner Canyon Friday night.
No. 23 Hun [Princeton, NJ] Raiders
2025 Record: 4-1
Last Week: Unranked
Next Game: 9/27/2025 — vs. NR Mt. Zion Prep Academy [Lanham, MD] Warriors (0-5)
Last Game: 9/20/2025 — Hun 42, NR Springside Chestnut Hill Academy [Philadelphia, PA] Blue Devils (2-2)
W/L Streak: 4 wins
Hun's only loss to date is a 34-21 setback to the NFL Academy Europe in the season opener played in Ireland. The Raiders have piled up three big shutout wins since then to go along with a 35-28 win over Maryland's No. 2 Archbishop Spalding which, in turn, beat the current No. 12 Archbishop Hoban on this list. The real tests are still to come, however, with a three-week stretch of games beginning on October 17 against the SN No. 5 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers, SN NEXT No. 24 The First Academy [Orlando, FL] Royals, and SN No. 2 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders.
No. 24 The First Academy [Orlando, FL] Royals
2025 Record: 3-2
Last Week: Unranked
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — at NR Gadsden County [Havana, FL] Jaguars (0-3)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — The First Academy 21, NR Venice [FL] Indians 14 (2-2)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
The First Academy was unranked a week ago, and they make their debut here in The Next 25 on the strength of a 21-14 win over the highly-regarded Venice Indians. They should beat Gadsden County, but it's an October 3 date at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore that looms large on the schedule.
No. 25 Highland Park [Dallas, TX] Scots
2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: Unranked
Next Game: 9/26/2025 — at NR Tyler [TX] Lions (1-3)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Highland Park 58, NR Pulaski Academy [Little Rock, AR] Bruins (0-3)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Highland Park is the seventh Texas team in The NEXT 25, and the Scots should add another win to their ledger Friday night against a struggling Tyler squad.
Weekly NEXT 25 Schedule
NR – Not ranked
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Thursday, September 25, 2025
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- SN NEXT No. 20 Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles (5-0) at NR M.L. King [Lithonia, GA] Lions (5-0) — 6 p.m. EST local
- NR Dwyer [Palm Beach Gardens, FL] Panthers (0-5) at SN NEXT No. 11 West Boca Raton [Boca Raton, FL] Bulls (3-1) — 6:30 p.m. EST local
- SN NEXT No. 15 Galena Park North Shore [Houston, TX] Mustangs (2-1) at NR Humble [TX] Wildcats (1-2) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- SN NEXT No. 10 Cherry Creek [Greenwood Village, CO] Bruins (4-0) at Pine Creek [Colorado Springs, CO] Eagles (3-1) — 9 p.m. EST (7 p.m. MST local)
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Friday, September 26, 2025
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- NR La Salle [Cincinnati, OH] Lancers (4-1) at SN NEXT No. 3 Archbishop Moeller [Cincinnati, OH] Fighting Crusaders (4-1) — 7 p.m. EST local
- NR Walsh Jesuit [Cuyahoga Falls, OH] Warriors (5-0) at SN NEXT No. 12 Archbishop Hoban [Akron, OH] Knights (4-1) — 7 p.m. EST local
- SN NEXT No. 2 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls (3-1) at NR Jackson [Miami, FL] Generals (0-5) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
- NR Newnan [GA] Cougars (4-1) at SN NEXT No. 21 Langston Hughes [Fairburn, GA] Panthers (5-0) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
- SN NEXT No. 24 The First Academy [Orlando, FL] Royals (3-2) at NR Gadsden County [Havana, FL] Jaguars (0-3) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
- SN NEXT No. 4 Baylor [Chattanooga, TN] Red Raiders (4-0) at NR Montgomery Bell Academy [Nashville, TN] Big Red (4-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- NR Belleville [IL] West Maroons (2-2) at SN NEXT No. 6 East St. Louis [IL] Flyers (1-2) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- SN NEXT No. 8 Catholic [Baton Rouge, LA] Bears (3-0) at NR West Monroe [LA] Rebels (2-1) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- NR West Point [MS] Green Wave (3-0) at SN NEXT No. 9 Tupelo [MS] Golden Wave (4-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- No. 21 Bixby [OK] Spartans (3-0) at SN NEXT No. 16 Jenks [OK] Trojans (3-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- SN NEXT No. 19 Ryan [Denton, TX] Raiders (3-0) at NR Granbury [TX] Pirates (2-2) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- SN NEXT No. 25 Highland Park [Dallas, TX] Scots (3-1) at NR Tyler [TX] Lions (1-3) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- NR Panther Creek [Frisco, TX] Panthers (4-0) at SN NEXT No. 13 Celina [TX] Bobcats (4-0) — 8:30 p.m. EST (7:30 p.m. CST local)
- SN NEXT No. 14 Carthage [TX] Bulldogs (3-0) at NR Jasper [TX] Bulldogs (1-3) — 8:30 p.m. EST (7:30 p.m. CST local)
- SN NEXT No. 18 La Vega [Waco, TX] Pirates (3-1) at NR Stephenville [TX] Yellow Jackets (4-0) — 8:30 p.m. EST (7:30 p.m. CST local)
- SN NEXT No. 22 Skyridge [Lehi, UT] Falcons (5-1) at No. 38 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers (5-1) — 9 p.m. EST (7 p.m. MST local)
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Saturday, September 27, 2025
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- NR Mt. Zion Prep Academy [Lanham, MD] Warriors (0-5) at SN NEXT No. 24 Hun [Princeton, NJ] Raiders (4-1) — 1:30 p.m. EST local
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IDLE
SN NEXT No. 1 McEachern [Powder Springs, GA] Indians (5-0); SN NEXT No. 5 Central [Miami, FL] Rockets No. 3 (3-0); SN NEXT No. 7 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers (3-2); SN NEXT No. 17 Westlake [Austin, TX] Chaparrals (3-1)
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 6 – double-digit win streaks fall across the country
- National 20-game active win streaks
- Last week's Roadmap to the National Championship