Halloween night proved to be even scarier than usual for the previous SN No. 1 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] as the Braves lost, 36-31, to their archrivals, the Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs, last Friday night.
Heading into 2025, St. John Bosco was the only team to beat Mater Dei in the past decade, defeating the Monarchs five times in that span. Throughout this season, they had looked like the better team, and it appeared early on, that they might blow the Monarchs out last Friday night, taking a 24-3 lead in the first half.
But beating Mater Dei consistently has proven to be a challenge for St. John Bosco through the years with the Braves also losing to Mater Dei in each of the five seasons in the past decade in which they also beat the Monarchs. That included three seasons where Bosco won the regular season matchup before losing in a playoff rematch.
If there's a silver lining for St. John Bosco, it's the other two years in that scenario. That is, in the two seasons (2019 and 2022) where the Braves lost to Mater Dei in the regular season before beating them in the playoffs, they went on to win an undisputed national championship. One loss doesn't always kill your chances at winning the national championship if you hail from California's Trinity League, and indeed, the Braves are sitting in the No. 3 spot this week ready to pounce if either of the teams ahead of them stumble down the stretch.
That includes the new SN No. 1 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders who still have a game scheduled with the SN No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers. That game is in flux, however, after originally being scheduled for this coming Friday night. Instead, it appears the game may be moved to December, so Bosco will have to take care of business in the upcoming California CIF Division 1 Southern Section playoffs without knowing whether or not IMG has been cleared out of the way.
And even if the Ascenders do lose to St. Frances (a team that St. John Bosco beat, 21-14, earlier this season), they still will likely need some help to pass the current SN No. 2 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams. Heck, they might even have to hold off the SN No. 6 Buford [GA] Wolves.
But first things first. The Braves will take a week off to prepare for their playoff opener against the Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers. They are one of 17 teams in AllSportsPeople High School Football Top 25 on a bye this week, including top-ranked IMG Academy, of course.
Understanding the SN Top 25 through transparency
Like any set of rankings, things may not always make sense at first glance, and there are as many approaches to ranking teams as there are selectors. Some rankings are simply a reflection of what has happened to date, and many of these are algorithm-based, subject to wild weekly swings like the Massey Ratings that are part of AllSportsPeople Composite Rankings released on Wednesdays.
Other rankings are more predictive – an attempt to account for what has happened, while attempting to line up teams in a way that will reflect potential future results. SN's approach falls somewhere in line with this way of thinking, and each week we first attempt to rank the teams by resume before considering wins and losses and head-to-head results. No system is perfect, but at least understanding our approach can help understand why we have the teams where we do.
Undefeated IMG Academy is in the driver's seat with one game remaining against St. Frances Academy, but a loss to the Panthers would eliminate the Ascenders from contention. Grayson is in position to move into the top position if IMG stumbles, but the Rams have their own treacherous path to tread in Georgia's GHSA Class 6A playoffs.
Further analysis is available each week in SN's Roadmap to the National Championship which attempts to assess which teams have been eliminated from national title consideration.
MORE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HEADLINES
- How the nation's top teams fared last week including the teams ranked in our composite rankings
- Streak Busters Week 12 – double-digit win streaks fall across the country
AllSportsPeople High School Football Top 25
IMG Academy of Bradenton, Florida, takes over as the nation's No. 1 team following Mater Dei's upset win over the previous No. 1 St. John Bosco.
SN No. 1 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders
2025 Record: 9-0
Last Week: SN No. 2
Next Game: TBA — vs. SN No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers (8-1)
Last Game: 11/1/2025 — IMG Academy 31, NR Hun [Princeton, NJ] Raiders 13 (7-4)
W/L Streak: 10 wins
IMG Academy was supposed to play SN No. 4 St. Frances Academy this weekend, but it appears that game will now be rescheduled for December. Whenever it takes place, it will essentially be a high school football bowl game, providing the two top four squads one last opportunity to make their case to be the 2025 national champions.
SN No. 2 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams
2025 Record: 10-0
Last Week: SN No. 3
Next Game: 11/14/2025 — vs. NR Norcross [GA] Blue Devils (6-4)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Grayson 24, NR Archer [Lawrenceville, GA] Tigers 12 (6-4)
W/L Streak: 24 wins
Grayson put the wraps on an undefeated regular season last weekend, and now the Peach State's No. 1 team will take a week off to prepare for a first-round playoff game against the Norcross Blue Devils.
SN No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves
2025 Record: 9-1
Last Week: SN No. 1
Next Game: 11/14/2025 — vs. NR Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers (2-8)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — SN No. 15 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs 36 (7-2), St. John Bosco 31
W/L Streak: 1 loss
For the first time in at least eight years, there's a very real chance that neither St. John Bosco nor Mater Dei will finish the season with a national championship. Bosco has won two national titles in the past eight years with Mater Dei winning six of its own in that span, but both teams now enter the postseason with at least one loss. As always, there's a very real chance they'll meet again in the playoffs in California's CIF Division 1 Southern Section championship on November 28, but in the meantime, they'll both take a bye week before starting the postseason on November 14.
SN No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers
2025 Record: 8-1
Last Week: SN No. 4
Next Game: TBA — vs. SN No. 1 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders (9-0)
Last Game: 11/1/2025 — St. Frances Academy 35, The St. James Performance Academy [Springfield, VA] Strivers 0 (8-1)
W/L Streak: 7 wins
As noted above, St. Frances Academy's season finale with IMG Academy appears as if it will be moved to December. It will be the Panthers' last opportunity to make their case for at least a share of the national championship.
SN No. 5 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies
2025 Record: 9-1
Last Week: SN No. 5
Next Game: 11/14/25 — vs. NR Servite [Anaheim, CA] Friars (6-4)
Last Game: 10/30/2025 — Centennial 60, NR Chaparral [Temecula, CA] Pumas 29 (5-5)
W/L Streak: 8 wins
Centennial has a week off to prepare for their opening round playoff game against the Servite Friars, and if the Huskies survive that, it will likely set up a second-round rematch with Mater Dei. Suffice it to say, it will be quite a gauntlet for the Huskies to run in order to not only win a California state championship, but to also have any chance at a national title.
SN No. 6 Buford [GA] Wolves
2025 Record: 10-0
Last Week: SN No. 6
Next Game: 11/14/2025 — vs. NR Richmond Hill [[GA] Wildcats (6-4)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Buford 35, NR Mill Creek [Hoschton, GA] Hawks 3 (7-3)
W/L Streak: 10 wins
Buford's path to a possible state title is set as the Wolves will take a week off before facing Richmond Hill on November 14. The Wolves arguably have the best path to the Georgia GHSA Class 6A semifinals as No. 1 Grayson will likely have to face Georgia's No. 3 Carrollton in the quarterfinals while Buford's most significant test likely won't come until the semifinals. That's when the Wolves might meet up with an undefeated McEachern [Powder Springs, GA] Indians' squad.
SN No. 7 Southlake [TX] Carroll Dragons
2025 Record: 10-0
Last Week: SN No. 7
Next Game: TBA
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Southlake Carroll 49, NR Keller [TX] Central Chargers (5-3)
W/L Streak: 10 wins
Southlake Carroll wrapped up its regular season undefeated last weekend, and the Dragons now get a week off while Texas teams finish up regular-season play this weekend.
SN No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders
2025 Record: 9-1
Last Week: SN No. 8
Next Game: TBA
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — St. Thomas Aquinas 27, SN No. 10 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions 21 (7-2)
W/L Streak: 9 wins
St. Thomas Aquinas passed the final big test of the regular season, handing the SN No. 10 Chaminade-Madonna Lions a 27-21 loss in the finale. Now, the Raiders wait for the release of Florida's playoff brackets before mounting a defense of their 2024 FHSAA Class 5A state title.
SN No. 9 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs
2025 Record: 7-2
Last Week: SN No. 15
Next Game: 11/14/2025 — vs. NR Mission Viejo [CA] Diablos (9-1)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Mater Dei 36, SN No. 1 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves 31 (9-1)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
It's been an up and down season for Mater Dei with two wins over teams ranked No. 1 at the time (Bishop Gorman and St. John Bosco) to go along with losses to Centennial and the Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles. The Monarchs have played to the level of their competition all year long, and while they've mostly come out on top as usual, it's also cost them dearly.
This Mater Dei team still had the talent to win a national championship, but with two losses already, they are unlikely to work their way back up into the top spot. Instead, they'll set their sites on winning a California state championship, taking a week off to prepare for Mission Viejo, a squad that owns a win over the Santa Margarita team that beat the Monarchs. If Mater Dei can't consistently raise its level of play in the playoffs, though, they will remain ripe for an upset every week.
SN No. 10 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels
2025 Record: 9-1
Last Week: SN No. 9
Next Game: 11/14/2025 — vs. NR Foothill [Henderson, NV] Falcons (7-3)
Last Game: 10/24/2025 — Bishop Gorman 43, NR Shadow Ridge [Las Vegas, NV] Mustangs 0 (8-2)
W/L Streak: 5 wins
It's playoff time in Nevada, and the Gaels get one more week off before taking on the Foothill Falcons in the semifinals of Nevada's NIAA Open Division state playoffs. The Gaels will be heavy favorites to win their 15th state championship in 16 years in the Silver State's highest division.
SN No. 11 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers
2025 Record: 10-0
Last Week: SN No. 11
Next Game: 11/14/2025 — vs. NR Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles (7-3)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Sierra Canyon 52, NR Loyola [Los Angeles, CA] Cubs 3 (4-6)
W/L Streak: 10 wins
Sierra Canyon navigated the regular season successfully, and now the undefeated Trailblazers will face their stiffest test of the season against the Santa Margarita Eagles. They get a week off to prepare before the California playoffs kick off on November 14.
SN No. 12 Allen [TX] Eagles
2025 Record: 9-0
Last Week: SN No. 12
Next Game: 11/6/2025 — vs. NR Plano [TX] East Panthers (2-7)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Allen 63, NR McKinney [TX] Boyd Broncos 0 (1-7)
W/L Streak: 9 wins
Allen is the top-ranked team in action this week, but they won't have any problem handling the Plano East Panthers Thursday night in what should be a lopsided contest.
SN No. 13 Edna Karr [New Orleans, LA] Cougars
2025 Record: 9-0
Last Week: SN No. 13
Next Game: 11/6/2025 — at NR Archbishop Rummel [Metairie, LA] Raiders (6-3)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Edna Karr 48, NR John Curtis Christian [River Ridge, LA] Patriots 26 (7-1)
W/L Streak: 23 wins
Edna Karr faced what was likely to be its most difficult opponent of the regular season last Friday, but the Cougars still came away with a 22-point win a 48-26 decision. They should finish the regular season with another win Thursday night to cap off an undefeated regular season before kicking off Louisiana's LHSAA playoffs.
SN No. 14 DeMatha [Hyattsville, MD] Stags
2025 Record: 9-0
Last Week: SN No. 14
Next Game: TBA
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — DeMatha 42, NR Gonzaga [Washington, DC] Eagles 14 (5-4)
W/L Streak: 19 wins
Like much of The SN Top 25 this week, DeMatha will take a bye while waiting to learn their next opponent in the postseason.
SN No. 15 Randle [Richmond, TX] Lions
2025 Record: 9-0
Last Week: SN No. 16
Next Game: 11/8/2025 — vs. NR Lamar Consolidated [Rosenberg, TX] Mustangs (3-6)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Randle 62, NR Santa Fe [TX] Indians 7 (5-4)
W/L Streak: 25 wins
Randle just keeps piling up the wins, and the Lions will finish off another undefeated season Saturday afternoon against the Lamar Consolidated Mustangs.
SN No. 16 Aledo [TX] Bearcats
2025 Record: 9-0
Last Week: SN No. 17
Next Game: 11/6/2025 — at NR Denton [TX] Broncos (4-5)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Aledo 73, NR Azle [TX] Hornets 0 (2-7)
W/L Streak: 9 wins
Aledo is one win away from a perfect regular season, and they should get it Thursday night when they pay a visit to the Denton Broncos.
SN No. 17 Grimsley [Greensboro, NC] Whirlies
2025 Record: 10-0
Last Week: SN No. 18
Next Game: 10/24/2025 — Grimsley 42, NR Dudley [Greensboro, NC] Panthers 14 (6-4)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Grimsley 45, NR Ben L. Smith [Greensboro, NC] Golden Eagles (2-6)
W/L Streak: 26 wins
Grimsley finished off a 10-0 regular season last weekend, and now the Whirlies get a first-round bye in the NCHSAA Class 7A playoffs. They'll take on the winner of the R.J. Reynolds [Winston-Salem, NC] Demons and the West Cabarrus [Concord, NC] Wolverines next weekend.
SN No. 18 Duncanville [TX] Panthers
2025 Record: 6-1
Last Week: SN No. 19
Next Game: 11/6/2025 — vs. NR Cedar Hill [TX] Longhorns (6-3)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Duncanville 34, NR Mesquite [TX] Skeeters 7 (1-8)
W/L Streak: 5 wins
Duncanville cruised to an easy 34-7 win over Mesquite last weekend, and they'll take on the Cedar Hill Longhorns Friday night in the regular-season finale.
SN No. 19 South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX] Bears
2025 Record: 8-1
Last Week: SN No. 20
Next Game: 11/6/2025 — vs. NR Jefferson [Dallas, TX] Patriots (1-8)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — South Oak Cliff 55, NR Samuell [Dallas, TX] Spartans 0 (6-3)
W/L Streak: 7 wins
South Oak Cliff has beaten six straight opponents in their Dallas ISD district by a cumulative total of 323-0. They haven't been scored on since September 12 in a 20-17 win over the Longview [TX] Lobos, and with the 1-8 Jefferson [Dallas, TX] Patriots on deck, it's likely they'll wrap up the regular season without surrendering a single point in district play.
SN No. 20 Carrollton [GA] Trojans
2025 Record: 10-0
Last Week: SN No. 21
Next Game: 11/14/2025 — vs. NR North Forsyth [Cumming, GA] Raiders (6-4)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Carrollton 55, NR Douglas County [Douglasville, GA] Tigers 22 (6-3)
W/L Streak: 10 wins
The Trojans flexed their muscles in a 55-22 win over a solid Douglas County team that spent time in the SN Composite Rankings earlier this season. They get a week off to prepare for their playoff opener against North Forsyth, but they'll have their work cut out for them in the weeks to come as they are in a bracket that would pit them against Georgia's No. 1 Grayson in the quarterfinals on November 28.
SN No. 21 Don Bosco Prep [Ramsey, NJ] Ironmen
2025 Record: 9-0
Last Week: SN No. 22
Next Game: 11/14/2025 — vs. NR Seton Hall Prep [West Orange, NJ] Pirates (3-6)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Don Bosco Prep 31, NR St. Peter's Prep [Jersey City, NJ] Marauders 6 (7-2)
W/L Streak: 9 wins
The Ironmen finished up the regular season in a 31-6 statement win over the 7-1 St. Peter's Prep Marauders, and now they head to New Jersey's NJSIAA Non-Public A playoffs with a November 14 date against Seton Hall Prep – a team they beat 40-7 on October 18.
SN No. 22 Bixby [OK] Spartans
2025 Record: 9-0
Last Week: SN No. 23
Next Game: 11/7/2025 — at NR Norman [OK] Tigers (6-3)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Bixby 79, NR Deer Creek [Edmond, OK] Antlers 15 (3-6)
W/L Streak: 12 wins
Bixby continues to roll through Sooner State competition with little resistance, and while Friday's opponent, the Norman Tigers, will be better than last week's opponents from Deer Creek, it still figures to be another Spartans' win after it's all said and done.
SN No. 23 Baylor [Chattanooga, TN] Red Raiders
2025 Record: 9-0
Last Week: No. 24
Next Game: 11/14/2025 — TBA
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Baylor 49, NR Knoxville [TN] Catholic Fighting Irish 28 (5-4)
W/L Streak: 9 wins
Tennessee's TSSAA playoffs kick off this weekend, but Baylor is one of four teams in the state's Division II Class AAA ranks to earn a first-round bye. They'll take on the winner of the Knoxville [TN] Catholic Fighting Irish vs. The Christian Brothers [Memphis, TN] Purple Wave on November 14, setting up the possibility of playing Knoxville Catholic in back-to-back games. That's never an easy task, but Baylor was three touchdowns better than the Fighting Irish last weekend.
SN No. 24 Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles
2025 Record: 10-0
Last Week: No. 25
Next Game: 11/14/2025 — vs. NR Dalton [GA] Catamounts (3-7)
Last Game: 10/31/2025 — Creekside 79, NR Midtown [Atlanta, GA] Knights 3 (3-7)
W/L Streak: 10 wins
Creekside has dominated the competition all year long in Georgia, and the Seminoles get a rest before opening up Georgia's GHSA Class 4A playoffs next weekend where they figure to be one of the favorites to win a state title.
SN No. 25 Clay-Chalkville [Pinson, AL] Cougars
2025 Record: 10-0
Last Week: Unranked
Next Game: 11/7/2025 — vs. NR Jackson-Olin [Birmingham, AL] Mustangs (4-6)
Last Game: 10/23/2025 — Clay-Chalkville 51, Pinson [AL] Valley Indians 14 (4-6)
W/L Streak: 7 wins
Clay-Chalkville crushed their crosstown rivals from Pinson Valley, 51-14, two weeks ago, and now the Cougars get ready to kick off what they hope will be a state championship playoff run Friday night against Jackson-Olin of Birmingham.
Weekly Top 25 Schedule
NR – Not ranked
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Thursday, November 6, 2025
__________
- SN No. 12 Allen [TX] Eagles (9-0) at NR Plano [TX] East Panthers (2-7) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- SN No. 13 Edna Karr [New Orleans, LA] Cougars (9-0) at NR Archbishop Rummel [Metairie, LA] Raiders (6-3) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- SN No. 16 Aledo [TX] Bearcats (9-0) at NR Denton [TX] Broncos (4-5) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- NR Cedar Hill [TX] Longhorns (6-3) at SN No. 18 Duncanville [TX] Panthers (6-1) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- NR Jefferson [Dallas, TX] Patriots (1-8) at SN No. 19 South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX] Bears (8-1) — 8:15 p.m. EST (7:15 p.m. CST local)
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Friday, November 7, 2025
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- SN No. 22 Bixby [OK] Spartans (9-0) at NR Norman [OK] Tigers (6-3) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
Playoffs
- NR Jackson-Olin [Birmingham, AL] Mustangs (4-6) vs. SN No. 25 Clay-Chalkville [Pinson, AL] Cougars (10-0) 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
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Saturday, November 8, 2025
__________
- NR Lamar Consolidated [Rosenberg, TX] Mustangs (3-6) at SN No. 15 Randle [Richmond, TX] Lions (9-0) — 12 p.m. Noon EST (11 a.m. CST local)
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IDLE
SN No. 1 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders (9-0); SN No. 2 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams (10-0); SN No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves (9-1); SN No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers (8-1); SN No. 5 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies (9-1); SN No. 6 Buford [GA] Wolves (10-0); SN No. 7 Southlake [TX] Carroll Dragons (10-0); SN No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders (9-1); SN No. 9 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs (7-2); SN No. 10 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels (9-1); SN No. 11 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers (10-0); SN No. 14 DeMatha [Hyattsville, MD] Stags (9-0); SN No. 17 Grimsley [Greensboro, NC] Whirlies; SN No. 20 Carrollton [GA] Trojans (10-0); SN No. 21 Don Bosco Prep [Ramsey, NJ] Ironmen (9-0); SN No. 24 Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles (10-0)
MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HEADLINES
- Derrick Henry's all-time rushing record threatened by Indiana's Myles McLaughlin
- Mater Dei upsets top-ranked St. John Bosco, 36-31
- Indian Valley's Grady Kinsey might be Ohio's Mr. Football