We expand our MaxPreps Top 25 to look at more top teams from across the country.
The Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings were released last week and we now expand our look at the next 75 best in the game.
The teams in the top 100 all have excellent pedigree, a tradition of success and big-time players fueling their expectations of jumping up into the MaxPreps Top 25 as the season progresses. Some are returning state champions while others are hungry to bring home a title in 2022.
Our expanded list is dominated by the "Big Four" states — California, Florida, Georgia and Texas — which place 56 teams on the slate. Florida and Texas tied with the most with 16 each followed by California (13) and Georgia (11).
In total, 27 different states along with the District of Columbia are represented. Sixteen of the 27 states had multiple teams selected and Arizona (4) along with Ohio (5) join the big four states as the only six with at least four.
The Braves begin the season ranked No. 1 for the first time since 2018 and have 29 players rated as a three-star or higher.
The Panthers are 42-2 since 2017 and have one of their most talented teams in program history.
The Ascenders have finished ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 seven consecutive years and roll into this season with 18 players rated as a four-star or higher.
The Raiders won their third straight 7A state title last season and are loaded once again, headlined by Penn State commit
Conrad Hussey and four-star safety
King Mack.
Brought home its 18th state championship in 2021 and will be tested early this season with out-of-state matchups against No. 2 Mater Dei (Calif.), No. 52 Corner Canyon (Utah) and No. 64 Hamilton (Ariz.).
Defensive coordinator Tony Salazar was promoted to head coach after Todd Dodge retired. The three-time defending state champs head into this season riding a 40-game winning streak.
The top-rated player in the Class of 2024 —
Dylan Raiola — transferred to Chandler in December and adds to the Wolves great list of quarterbacks in program history.
Jon Kay led the Mustangs to their third UIL 6A Division 1 state title in four years last season and will be in the mix to add another.
Bryant Appling has gone three-for-three in leading the Wolves to state titles as head coach and has his most talented team yet heading into 2022.
Have made it to the state championship game six consecutive years and have won four during that span (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021).
The three-time defending 7A state champs open the season looking to make a statement against No. 11 Buford (Ga.) in the Freedom Bowl on Aug. 19.
Reginald Samples will have a young team in 2022 but they are some of the best football players in the state led by five-star defensive end
Colin Simmons, four-star defensive back
Ka'Davion Dotston and Class of 2025 standout
Dakorien Moore.
The Cadets' defense allowed less than seven points per game last season and will have a big-time defense again in 2022 headlined by 2023 Clemson commit
David Ojiegbe.
The New Jersey power ran the table in 2021 and finished ranked No. 3. They have to replace some key players on offense but the Crusaders are loaded on defense led by
Sydir Mitchell and
D.J. Samuels.
Will be one of the favorites to win the AAAAAAA state title in 2022.
Legendary head coach Bill Castle enters his 47th season and has his most talented team since they won the 7A state title in 2018.
Gary Joseph enters his 19th season as head coach and has won at least 10 games every year.
Only two losses last season came against the teams who played in the AAAAAAA championship. Will be led by the top-rated recruit in the state in
Caleb Downs.
The 7A state runner-up is loaded heading into 2022 and with three players rated in the top 150 in 247Sports composite rankings for the Class of 2023 —
A.J. Harris (25),
Tomarrion Parker (80) and
Karmello English (141).
Riley Dodge has gone 52-5 since taking over as head coach in 2018.
The Hawks open the 2022 season on Aug. 27 with a huge matchup at No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas.
Bill McGregor enters his fourth season as head coach during his second stint at DeMatha and will have his most talented team yet.
The back-to-back 5A state champs will be led by three-star quarterback
Danny O'Neil, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns against two interceptions in 2021.
Matt Dubuc has led the Chiefs to three state titles in four years and has gone 42-8 during that span.
Four-star wide receiver
Johntay Cook II and 2023 Texas commit
Tre Wisner give Claude Mathis two of the most dynamic playmakers in the Lone Star State.
The defending 8A state champs face three teams in the Top 100 — No. 3 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), No. 13 Chaminade-Madonna (Fla.) and No. 41 Northwestern (Miami).
Expect the Spartans to bounce back in a big way after missing the CIF state bowl games for the first time since it started in 2006.
Five-star quarterback
Malachi Nelson and four-star athlete
Makai Lemon headline a talented roster that made it to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs in 2021.
David Simoneaux led the Bears to a 12-1 record and Division 1 state title in his first season as head coach and returns a lot of talent headlined by five-star wide receiver
Shelton Sampson Jr.
Became the first school from Dallas ISD to win a state title since 1958 and have eight players rated as a three-star or higher returning this season.
The Silver Foxes have gone 77-2-1 since 2016 and won five 5A state titles during that span.
Have won three straight 5A state titles and bring back the talent to make it a four-peat in 2022.
Lee Wiginton takes over for Chad Morris and in his first game as head coach for the Eagles they host No. 1 St. John Bosco in one of the biggest games of the year.
Made the state championship game for the first time in school history and will be one of the best teams in the Buckeye State again in 2022.
After being limited to only playing in-state opponents in 2021, the defending Open Division state champs have one of the toughest schedules headlined by matchups against No. 1 St. John Bosco (Calif.) and No. 3 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) in a 13-day span.
Eric Kjar has led the Utah power to a 63-3 record during his first five seasons as head coach and one of the top-rated quarterback prospects from the Class of 2024 —
Isaac Wilson — takes over under center.
Trent Dilfer led the Mustangs to their first state title since 2007 and are favorites to repeat in 2022.
The Eagles have a strong returning cast and added some impact transfers that should make them the third-best team in the Trinity League.
Every year the Flyers have one of the best teams in the Midwest and that will be the case again in 2022.
Won the school's first state title in 2021 after beating the back-to-back state champs Chamber (Charlotte) in the 4A championship.
Hank Carter has won at least 10 games in 11 of his 12 seasons as head coach and will have one of the best quarterbacks in the state in 2023 Michigan State commit
Bo Edmundson.
The back-to-back AAAAA state champs have gone 26-3 over the last two years.
The Fighting Crusaders were the only team to beat No. 24 St. Edward (Ohio) last season and made it to the Division 1 semifinals.
Only loss last season came against No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas in the Class 7A title game.
Made the Open Division playoffs in 2021 and have nine players rated as a three-star or higher, headlined by 2023 Oregon commit
Cole Martin.
Malachi Singleton has accounted for over 6,000 yards of total offense and 81 touchdowns over the last two years. Expect a huge senior campaign for the Arkansas pledge.
The defending Class 5A Division 1 state champs have a new head coach in 2022 as former Denton Ryan offensive coordinator Lonnie Teague takes over for B.J. Gotte. He will have a talented team that includes the top-rated player in Texas,
David Hicks Jr.
After a season-opening 48-44 loss against East St. Louis (Ill.), the Cadets won 13 games in a row including a 48-21 win over Liberty North (Liberty) in the Class 6 state championship.
The Spartans begin the 2022 season with the second-longest active winning streak at 49.
The back-to-back 6A state champs have won 28 games in a row.
Have gone 83-4 since 2016 and have won three state titles during that span (2018, 2020, 2021).
Chris Scott has led the Tigers to a 35-3 record and two state titles during his first three years as head coach.
Went 14-1 last season and will be in the mix to win its first state title behind 2023 North Carolina commit
Tad Hudson.
Four-star running back
Cedric Baxter Jr. leads the way for one of the best teams in Florida.
The Firebirds have gone 26-7 since Tom Bolden became head coach in 2019 and have made it to the Division 1 quarterfinals in each of the last two seasons.
Scott Altenberg led the Cavaliers to their first state title since 2012 and will have one of the best secondaries in the country in 2022.
Snapped Allen's (Texas) 122-game home win streak last season and became the first team to win at Eagle Stadium.
Toby Collums led the Jaguars to their first state title since 1999 in his first year as head coach and has his leading passer (
Vic Sutton), rusher (
De'Andre Pullen) and receiver (
Isaiah Spencer) returning.
Sean Calhoun returns to Colquitt County, this time as head coach. He was the offensive coordinator for the Packers when they won state titles in 2014 and 2015. He spent the last six years as head coach at Vestavia Hills (Ala.) and went 55-18.
Five-star cornerback
Javien Toviano is one of the best all-around players in the country and leads the way for one of 16 teams from Texas featured in the top 100.
Dan Jones led the Indians to their first state title since 2012 last season and 18th in school history.
Stoney Pryor takes over as head coach for the runner-up in 5A Division 1. The only loss for the Cougars last season was a 27-24 overtime defeat against Paetow (Katy) in the state championship.
Elijah Williams brings back a talented team that won 11 games and added four-star linebacker
Malik Bryant, who returned to the Tigers after spending the past two years at IMG Academy.
Steve Hagerty has won over 100 games during his career at Amat and has the Lancers back on track to being one of the top teams in Southern California.
John King enters his 19th season as head coach and returns 15 starters from last year's team led by four-star wide receiver
Jalen Hale and Class of 2024 standout
Taylor Tatum.
Three-star quarterback
Brady Drogosh returns for the defending Division II state champs after accounting for over 3,200 yards of total offense and 39 touchdowns as a junior.
The Bulldogs are 49-5 over the last four years and will be in contention to win their first state title since 2018 and 16th overall.
The defending 6A state champs went 15-0 in 2021 and have a huge matchup against the top-ranked team in the state No. 14 Thompson (Alabaster) on Sept. 23.
The four-time defending 7A state champs get a big opportunity to put Arkansas on the map when they face No. 31 Denton Ryan (Texas) on Sept. 2 in Louisiana.
