MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings

It's playoff time. Win or go home. Plain and simple.

Postseason play begins this week for the premier programs that Southern California has to offer. League titles were successfully secured by several teams a few short days ago, though those accomplishments will likely not mean nearly as much as a CIF championship ring. 

Six Southern California teams hold Top 10 spots in the Farwest region in the Regional Computer Rankings Top 10 and three are featured in the most recent MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.

Also be sure to visit the most recent California Bowl Game rankings.

That said, the quest for the bling begins Friday when the first-round playoffs open up in the CIF Southern Section, Los Angeles City Section and San Diego Section. Check back on the California football page Thursday for the Southern Section playoff preview story.

Here's a look at the top teams around and their first opponent standing in the way of a championship.

MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings

1. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta)
Overall record: 10-0
Previous rank: 1
Upon further review: Defeated Chaparral (Temecula), 38-0 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: South Hills (West Covina) on Friday.

2. Narbonne (Harbor City)
Overall record: 10-0
Previous rank: 2
Upon further review: Defeated Gardena, 53-7 / Box score
Countdown to kickoff: Locke (Los Angeles) on Friday.

3. St. Bonaventure (Ventura)
Overall record: 9-1
Previous rank: 4
Upon further review: Defeated Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 30-21 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Cabrillo (Long Beach) on Friday.

4. Mission Viejo
Overall record: 10-0
Previous rank: 3
Upon further review: Defeated El Toro (Lake Forest), 49-7 / Qwixcore / Story / Video
Countdown to kickoff: Westlake (Westlake Village) on Friday.

5. St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Overall record: 6-4 (Four forfeits)
Previous rank: 5
Upon further review: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 42-15 / Qwixcore / Photos
Countdown to kickoff: Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita) on Friday.

6. Centennial (Corona)
Overall record: 9-1
Previous rank: 6
Upon further review: Defeated Santiago (Corona), 70-28.
Countdown to kickoff: Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga) on Friday.

7. Upland
Overall record: 10-0
Previous rank: 7
Upon further review: Defeated Etiwanda, 57-39 / Qwixcore / Photos
Countdown to kickoff: Great Oak (Temecula) on Friday.

8. Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Overall record: 8-2
Previous rank: 9
Upon further review: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 36-22 / Box score / Photos
Countdown to kickoff: Lakewood on Friday.

9. Alemany (Mission Hills)
Overall record: 8-2
Previous rank: 12
Upon further review: Defeated Loyola (Los Angeles), 45-17 / Box score
Countdown to kickoff: Moorpark on Friday.

10. Chaminade (West Hills)
Overall record: 9-1
Previous rank: 13
Upon further review: Defeated Cathedral (Los Angeles) 62-26 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Pacifica (Oxnard) on Friday.

11. El Toro (Lake Forest)
Overall record: 9-1
Previous rank: 11
Upon further review: Lost to Mission Viejo, 49-7.
Countdown to kickoff: Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) on Friday

12. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)
Overall record: 8-2
Previous rank: 10
Upon further review: St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 42-15.
Countdown to kickoff: El Toro (Lake Forest) on Friday.

13. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)
Overall record: 8-2
Previous rank: 8
Upon further review: Lost to St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 30-21.
Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) on Friday.

14. Edison (Huntington Beach)
Overall record: 9-1
Previous rank: 14
Upon further review: Defeated Huntington Beach, 34-0 / Box score / Photos
Countdown to kickoff: Esperanza (Anaheim) on Friday.

15. Lompoc
Overall record: 10-0
Previous rank: 16
Upon further review: Defeated Cabrillo (Lompoc), 66-0 / Box score
Countdown to kickoff: St. Francis (La Canada) on Friday.

16. Crenshaw (Los Angeles)
Overall record: 9-1
Previous rank: 19
Upon further review: Defeated Manual Arts (Los Angeles) 52-0 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Arleta on Friday.

17. Serra (Gardena)
Overall record: 8-2
Previous rank: 19
Upon further review: Defeated Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood), 35-8.
Countdown to kickoff: Oxnard on Friday.

18. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks)
Overall record: 7-3
Previous rank: 23
Upon further review: Defeated Bishop Amat (La Puente), 49-28 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) on Friday.

19. Bishop Amat (La Puente)
Overall record: 7-2-1
Previous rank: 15
Upon further review: Lost to Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 49-28 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Long Beach Poly on Friday.

20. Tustin
Overall record: 10-0
Previous rank: 20
Upon further review: Defeated Kennedy (La Palma), 48-0.
Countdown to kickoff: El Dorado (Placentia), on Friday.

21. Rancho Cucamonga
Overall record: 8-2
Previous rank: 21
Upon further review: Defeated Alta Loma, 31-6 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Santiago (Corona) on Friday.

22. Oceanside
Overall record: 9-1
Previous rank: 22
Upon further review: Defeated El Camino (Oceanside), 34-0 / Box score
Countdown to kickoff: San Diego Section second-round game on Nov. 16.

23. La Mirada
Overall record: 9-1
Previous rank: 24
Upon further review: Defeated Mayfair (Lakewood), 28-10 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Arcadia on Friday.

24. Palmdale
Overall record: 10-0
Previous rank: 25
Upon further review: Defeated Eastside (Lancaster), 53-6 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Atascadero on Friday.

25. Crespi (Encino)
Overall record: 8-2
Previous rank: 18
Upon further review: Did not play.
Countdown to kickoff: Season is over.

Sean Ceglinsky has covered prep and college sports in Southern California for the better part of the past 15-plus years. Follow him on twitter: @SeanCeglinsky