Preseason favorite runs the table for best finish in eight-year program history.
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) finishes the year where it began as the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings. The Ascenders have been named the MaxPreps National Champion for the first time in the program's eight-year history.
The Ascenders earned the title under first-year coach Bobby Acosta, who took over in Bradenton for Kevin Wright. IMG Academy's previous best finish was No. 2 in 2017. The program has finished in the top 10 of the MaxPreps Top 25 for the sixth straight season, compiling a 56-2 record during that span.
IMG Academy went 8-0 in 2020, winning each contest by at least 27 points while notching victories against No. 16 Duncanville, No. 38 Northwestern (Miami), Edgewater (Orlando), Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.) and TRU Prep Academy (Miami Gardens, Fla.).
Michigan-bound quarterback
J.J. McCarthy finished with nearly 1,500 yards passing and 16 touchdowns without an interception. Alabama-bound
J.C. Latham, Michigan signee
Greg Crippen and four-star junior offensive tackle
Tyler Booker led the way in the trenches for the nation's best offensive line.
Record: 8-0
Record: 14-0
Record: 14-0
Record: 6-0
Record: 10-0
Record: 14-0
Record: 14-1
Record: 15-0
Record: 14-0
Record: 10-0
Record: 11-0
Record: 14-0
Record: 10-0
Record: 8-1
Record: 12-2
Record: 10-2
Record: 13-1
Record: 8-1
Record: 13-1
Record: 10-2
Record: 11-2
Record: 8-1
Record: 15-0
Record: 10-0
Record: 11-0
Past MaxPreps National Champions
2008 – St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
2009 – Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
2010 – South Panola (Batesville, Miss.)
2011 – Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
2012 – John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)
2013 – Booker T. Washington (Miami, Fla.)
2014 – Allen (Texas)
2015 – Katy (Texas)
2016 – Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)
2017 – Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2018 – North Shore (Houston, Texas)
2019 – St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
