High school football rankings: East St. Louis headlines Illinois Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

The 2023 high school football season in Illinois kicks off later this month and MaxPreps has your look at the state's top teams. Defending state champion East St. Louis owns the No. 1 spot in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25.

East St. Louis captured the program's 10th state championship and first since 2019-20 last season with a 57-7 victory over Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge) in the Class 6A state title game. The Flyers begin the 2023 campaign ranked No. 41 nationally in the expanded MaxPreps rankings.

Starting quarterback Robert "Pops" Battle returns after throwing for 1,794 yards and rushing for 593 yards with nine total touchdowns last season. Purdue commits safety Leontre Bradford and wide receiver Jesse Watson are other key returners from 2022.

Including East St. Louis in Class 6A, other defending state champions include Loyola Academy (Wilmette) in Class 8A, Mt. Carmel (Chicago) in Class 7A, Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park) in Class 5A, Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield) in Class 4A, Immaculate Conception (Elmhurst) in Class 3A, St. Teresa (Decatur) in Class 2A and Lena-Winslow (Lena) in Class 1A.

Rankings are computer-generated, factoring in past results and adjustments such as returners and statistical data when available. Illinois Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

1. East St. Louis, 12-2 record in 2022

2. Loyola Academy (Wilmette), 13-1

3. Mt. Carmel (Chicago), 14-0

4. Immaculate Conception (Elmhurst), 13-1

5. Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort), 13-1

6. Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park), 10-4

7. St. Rita (Chicago), 10-3

8. Palatine, 10-2

9. Batavia, 10-4

10. Sycamore, 12-1

11. York (Elmhurst), 12-1

12. Lyons (LaGrange), 9-3

13. Providence Catholic (New Lenox), 9-5

14. Hersey (Arlington Heights), 10-1

15. Marist (Chicago), 7-4

16. Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield), 14-0

17. Lena-Winslow (Lena), 14-0

18. Brother Rice (Chicago), 7-5

19. Maine South (Park Ridge), 9-3

20. Prospect (Mt. Prospect), 9-2

21. Naperville North (Naperville), 7-3

22. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn), 10-2

23. Warren Township (Gurnee), 10-2

24. Joliet Catholic (Joliet), 8-3

25. Edwardsville, 7-4