Our updated look at the top HS football teams in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The Great Lakes states
are defined -
in large - by silos, steeples and Friday night stadium lights. With
kickoff upon us, here's our latest take on our annual and
weekly list of
the top high school football programs in the region. Also listed below are
the current MaxPreps computer
rankings for every Great Lakes state.
National acclaim and big-time talent. North Coast football is a force.
@EFrantzMP's High School Football Great Lakes Regional Rankings
11/24/2025 PollLast week’s ranking in parenthesis
1 (1). Brownsburg (Ind.), 13-0 – beat Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) 31-0
2 (2). LaSalle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.), 11-1 – beat Easton Area (Pa.) 49-7
3 (3). Mount Carmel (Chicago, Ill.), 13-0 – beat Fremd (Palatine, Ill.) 42-21
4 (4). East St. Louis (Ill.), 9-3 – beat St. Laurance (Burbank, Ill.) 50-7
5 (5). Anderson (Cincinnati, Ohio), 13-0 – beat Trotwood-Madison (Ohio) 38-7
6 (6). Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.), 13-0 – beat Adams (Rochester, Mich.) 48-22
7 (7). Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 12-1 – beat State College (Pa.) 42-21
8 (9). Detroit Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.), 13-0 – beat East Kentwood (Mich.) 46-6
9 (11). Olentangy Orange (Lewis Center, Ohio), 13-0 – beat Pickerington Central (Ohio) 39-7
10 (22). St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio), 10-2 – beat then-No. 8 Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio) 42-34
11 (12). Avon (Ohio), 12-1 – beat Highland (Medina, Ohio) 36-19
12 (13). Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.), 9-3 – beat Hollidaysburg (Pa.) 55-20
13 (14). St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), 11-2 – beat Mentor (Ohio) 27-7
14 (NR). Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), 11-1 – beat then-No. 10 Hoban (Akron, Ohio) 35-7
15 (15). Peters Township (McMurray, Pa.), 13-0 – beat then-No. 23 Pince Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.) 20-19
16 (16) Westfield (Ind.), 11-2 – beat Carroll (Fort Wayne, Ind.) 35-14
17 (17). New Palestine (Ind.), 13-0 – beat Bloomington South (Ind.) 42-0
18 (18). Bishop Watterson (Columbus, Ohio), 12-0 – beat Steubenville (Ohio) 43-0
19 (8). Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio), 12-1 – lost 42-34 to then-No. 22 St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio); season complete
20 (19). St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.), 5-5 – season complete
21 (20). Harrisburg (Pa.), 13-0 – beat Central York (Pa.) 38-10
22 (21). Brother Rice (Chicago, Ill.), 12-1 – beat Downers Grove North (Ill.) 45-17
23 (10). Hoban (Akron, Ohio), 10-1 – lost 35-7 to Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio); season complete
24 (NR). St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), 10-2 – beat Portage Central (Mich.) 42-7
25 (25). Arrowhead (Hartland, Wis.), 13-1 – beat Bay Port (Wis.) 18-15 in WIAA Division 1 state final; season complete
Dropped Out:
No. 23. Pine Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.), 11-2 – lost to then-No. 15 Peters Township 20-19
No. 24. Nazareth Academy (LaGrange, Ill.), 11-3 – lost 28-27 to Fenwick (Oak Park, Ill.)
Keep an Eye On:
* Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio), 10-4
* Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse, N.Y.), 11-0
* Big Walnut (Sunbury, Ohio), 12-1
* Glens Falls (N.Y.), 12-0
* Iona Prep (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 10-1
* Montini Catholic (Lombard, Ill.), 13-0
* West De Pere (Wis.), 14-0; WIAA Division 2 state champions; season complete
MaxPreps Computer Rankings
Below are the Top 25 teams in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings in each of the Great Lakes states.
Illinois State Rankings
Indiana State Rankings
Michigan State Rankings
Minnesota State Rankings
New York State Rankings
Ohio State Rankings
Pennsylvania State Rankings
Wisconsin State Rankings
