High school football: Top 10 toughest schedules for 2024 season

Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) heads into the 2024 high school football season with the toughest schedule in the country. All 10 of the team's opponents are ranked in our expanded top 100 and five earned a spot in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25.

Ranked No. 24 nationally, the Lancers are one of four programs from Southern California's Trinity League included in our look at the top 10 toughest schedules. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) has the second-toughest slate while No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) and Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) are also featured.

No. 14 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) cracks the list at No. 3. The Panthers will travel approximately 18,540 miles round trip with appearances in seven different states, including a three-week stretch in September with games at Orange Lutheran, No. 7 Duncanville (Texas) and No. 1 Mater Dei.

No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) will face five ranked teams — No. 13 Cocoa (Fla.), No. 14 St. Frances Academy, No. 18 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah), No. 19 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) and No. 22 Central (Phenix City, Ala.).

Read on for a complete look at this season's toughest schedules. All teams listed are included in the top 100. 1. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)

Aug. 23 — at Serra (Gardena)

Aug. 30 — at Rancho Cucamonga

Sept. 6 — vs. No. 14 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)

Sept. 13 — at No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Sept. 21 — at No. 17 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)

Oct. 4 — at No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower)

Oct. 11 — vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)

Oct. 18 — vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)

Oct. 25 — vs. Servite (Anaheim)

Nov. 1 — at No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana)

Aug. 22 — vs. No. 8 Centennial (Corona)

Sept. 6 — vs. No. 2 Bishop Gorman

Sept. 14 — at Kahuku (Hawaii)

Sept. 20 — vs. No. 14 St. Frances Academy

Oct. 4 — at Santa Margarita

Oct. 11 — at Servite

Oct. 18 — at JSerra Catholic

Oct. 25 — vs. No. 4 St. John Bosco

Nov. 1 — vs. No. 24 Orange Lutheran

Sept. 6 — at No. 24 Orange Lutheran

Sept. 14 — at No. 7 Duncanville (Texas)

Sept. 20 — at No. 1 Mater Dei

Oct. 18 — at Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.)

Nov. 1 — vs. No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

Aug. 24 — at No. 9 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)

Sept. 7 — at No. 17 Sierra Canyon

Sept. 14 — at Serra (San Mateo)

Oct. 4 — vs. No. 24 Orange Lutheran

Oct. 11 — vs. Santa Margarita

Oct. 18 — at Servite

Oct. 25 — at No. 1 Mater Dei

Nov. 1 — vs. JSerra Catholic

Aug. 22 — at No. 18 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah)

Aug. 29 — vs. No. 19 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)

Sept. 6 — vs. No. 13 Cocoa

Sept. 20 — vs. Mandarin (Jacksonville)

Sept. 27 — at No. 22 Central (Phenix City, Ala.)

Oct. 4 — at Venice

Oct. 25 — at East St. Louis (Ill.)

Nov. 1 — at No. 14 St. Frances Academy

Aug. 16 — vs. Kahuku

Aug. 24 — at No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas

Sept. 6 — at No. 1 Mater Dei

Sept. 13 — vs. No. 24 Orange Lutheran

Aug. 24 — vs. No. 4 St. John Bosco

Sept. 6 — vs. No. 20 American Heritage

Sept. 19 — vs. Norland

Oct. 11 — vs. No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas

Aug. 24 — vs. No. 2 Bishop Gorman

Sept. 6 — vs. Columbus (Miami)

Oct. 11 — at No. 9 Chaminade-Madonna

Oct. 25 — vs. No. 20 American Heritage