High school football: @EFrantzMP’s 2025 Great Lakes Region Rankings

Our updated look at the top HS football teams in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Eric Frantz
By
Dec 1, 2025, 8:00am
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

12/1/2025 Poll
Last week’s ranking in parenthesis
1 (1). Brownsburg (Ind.), 14-0 – beat then-No. 16 Westfield (Ind.) 38-31 in the IHSAA 6A state final; season complete

2 (2). LaSalle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.), 12-1 – beat North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.) 49-14 in the PIAA 6A state semifinals

3 (3). Mount Carmel (Chicago, Ill.), 13-0 – DNP
4 (4). East St. Louis (Ill.), 9-3 – DNP
5 (8). Detroit Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.), 14-0 – beat then-No. 6 Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.) 42-19 in the MHSAA Division 1 state final; season complete
6 (5). Anderson (Cincinnati, Ohio), 14-0 – beat Big Walnut (Sunbury, Ohio) 29-22 in the OHSAA Division II state semifinals
7 (9). Olentangy Orange (Lewis Center, Ohio), 14-0 – beat then-No. 13 St. Edward (Lakewood, Mich.) 28-0 in the OHSAA Division I state semifinals

8 (7). Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 13-1 – beat then-No. 21 Harrisburg (Pa.) 32-14 in the PIAA 6A state semifinals
9 (11). Avon (Ohio), 13-1 – beat then-No. 14 Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) 38-7 in the OHSAA Division II state semifinals
10 (10). St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio), 11-2 – beat Middletown (Ohio) 21-6 in the OHSAA Division I state semifinals
11 (12). Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.), 10-3 – beat Springfield (Philadelphia, Pa.) 48-20 in the PIAA 5A state semifinals
12 (16) Westfield (Ind.), 11-3 – lost 38-31 to then-No. 1 Brownsburg (Ind.) in the IHSAA 6A state final; season complete
13 (17). New Palestine (Ind.), 14-0 – beat Merrillville (Ind.) 38-17 in the IHSAA 5A state final; season complete
14 (18). Bishop Watterson (Columbus, Ohio), 13-0 – beat Tippecanoe (Tipp City, Ohio) 41-9 in the OHSAA Division III state semifinals
15 (19). Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio), 12-1 – OHSAA D-I regional finalist; season complete
16 (6). Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.), 13-1 – lost 42-19 to then-No. 8 Detroit Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.) in the MHSAA Division 1 state final; season complete
17 (13). St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), 11-3 – lost 28-0 to then-No. 9 Olentangy Orange, Lewis Center, Ohio) in the OHSAA Division I state semifinals; season complete


18 (20). St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.), 5-5 – PCL 6A Runner-Up; season complete
19 (22). Brother Rice (Chicago, Ill.), 12-1 – DNP
20 (24). St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), 11-2 – beat Dexter (Mich.) 51-14 in the MHSAA Division 2 state final; season complete
21 (14). Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), 11-2 – lost to then-No. 11 Avon (Ohio) 38-7 in the OHSAA Division II state semifinals; season complete
22 (23). Hoban (Akron, Ohio), 10-1 – OHSAA D-II regional finalist; season complete
23 (25). Arrowhead (Hartland, Wis.), 13-1 – WIAA Division 1 state champion; season complete


24 (NR). Iona Prep (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 11-1 – beat St. Francis (Hamburg, N.Y.) 42-21 in the NYCHSFL state final; season complete
25 (NR). Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio), 11-4 – beat Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 21-20 in the OHSAA Division III state semifinals
 
Dropped Out:

15. Peters Township (McMurray, Pa.), 13-1 – lost 31-28 to Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.) in the PIAA 5A state semifinals; season complete
21. Harrisburg (Pa.), 13-1 – lost 32-14 to then-No. 7 Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in the PIAA 6A state semifinals; season complete
 


Keep an Eye On:


* Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse, N.Y.), 12-0 – beat Bennett (Buffalo, N.Y.) 34-14 in the NYSPHSAA Class AA state semifinals
* Montini Catholic (Lombard, Ill.), 14-0 – beat Rochester (Ill.) 47-33 in IHSA 4A state final; season complete
* 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 
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1East St. Louis9-328.6
2CMCHS (Chicago)13-040.3
3Brother Rice (Chicago)12-131.3
4MCHS (Lombard)14-024.0
5NA (LaGrange Park)11-229.5
6LWEHS (Frankfort)9-332.4
7Fenwick (Oak Park)10-325.3
8Maine South (Park Ridge)10-224.5
9Oswego11-227.0
10Fremd (Palatine)11-225.0
11St. Rita (Chicago)9-435.0
12Byron14-07.1
13Loyola Academy (Wilmette)4-542.9
14Lockport9-432.3
15Barrington10-226.3
16SCNHS (St. Charles)10-229.6
17Batavia10-328.2
18Carmel (Mundelein)8-327.6
19St. Francis (Wheaton)10-328.6
20GWHS (Glen Ellyn)9-223.6
21PCHS (New Lenox)10-326.1
22DGNHS (Downers Grove)10-324.4
23Wilmington13-18.4
24Bolingbrook9-322.4
25Lyons (LaGrange)8-324.8
26Sandburg (Orland Park)7-330.2
27Lena-Winslow (Lena)13-112.5
28ICCP (Elmhurst)8-426.1
29Rochester12-214.4
30GNHS (Carol Stream)8-425.5
31GSHS (Glenview)8-321.3
32Glenwood (Chatham)10-114.4
33WWSHS (Wheaton)7-426.7
34NNHS (Naperville)6-430.3
35Morris11-218.4
36HCHS (Hinsdale)7-424.1
37HFHS (Flossmoor)6-531.8
38St. Laurence (Burbank)8-530.2
39LWCHS (New Lenox)9-215.1
40Marist (Chicago)3-536.8
41York (Elmhurst)6-423.9
42HHS (Arlington Heights)9-311.9
43Stockton12-18.6
44Warren Township (Gurnee)9-216.9
45Lake Zurich9-315.2
46LWWHS (New Lenox)11-213.9
47Joliet Catholic (Joliet)4-634.7
48Yorkville7-324.0
49Palatine6-528.5
50RBHS (Richmond)12-14.2


Indiana State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1Brownsburg14-044.0
2Westfield11-346.6
3Carmel9-238.2
4New Palestine14-021.8
5Fishers8-445.4
6Center Grove (Greenwood)10-232.5
7Avon6-545.2
8LNHS (Indianapolis)7-331.8
9HSHS (Fishers)6-542.4
10DCHS (Indianapolis)9-328.8
11Cathedral (Indianapolis)7-436.1
12Roncalli (Indianapolis)11-428.3
13Carroll (Fort Wayne)9-427.9
14WCHS (Indianapolis)8-534.6
15FWBD (Fort Wayne)13-223.2
16LCHS (Indianapolis)5-638.0
17FCHS (Indianapolis)5-640.6
18IBCHS (Indianapolis)9-324.8
19East Central (St. Leon)9-320.4
20Zionsville3-745.7
21BSHS (Bloomington)11-219.4
22Cascade (Clayton)15-04.5
23Merrillville11-319.8
24Penn (Mishawaka)11-111.1
25Crown Point10-116.2
26Ben Davis (Indianapolis)3-741.8
27Andrean (Merrillville)13-114.2
28Plainfield7-322.4
29Homestead (Fort Wayne)6-425.7
30Adams Central (Monroe)13-17.1
31Yorktown9-314.2
32PHHS (Pendleton)10-213.8
33BCHS (Brownstown)14-11.6
34GSHS (Fort Branch)12-211.9
35Lapel13-17.5
36FWNHS (Fort Wayne)8-316.0
37LJHS (Lafayette)10-27.4
38Whiteland9-317.8
39SBSJ (South Bend)12-210.0
40HHHS (Lincoln City)12-26.6
41East Noble (Kendallville)11-15.8
42Pike (Indianapolis)3-733.0
43Lawrenceburg10-26.6
44Eastbrook (Marion)12-14.2
45Concord (Elkhart)11-210.5
46Northview (Brazil)8-24.5
47SPHS (Greencastle)13-21.5
48THSV (Terre Haute)7-316.1
49Knox13-14.2
50EMHS (Evansville)9-11.6


Michigan State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1Cass Tech (Detroit)13-09.6
2Catholic Central (Novi)13-026.6
3SMP (Orchard Lake)11-227.9
4Hudsonville11-127.2
5East Kentwood (Kentwood)10-326.9
6Rockford8-328.9
7Clarkston10-221.4
8DeWitt13-010.5
9Divine Child (Dearborn)13-19.9
10LCCHS (Jackson)11-320.6
11Saline10-214.7
12Menominee14-06.1
13Mt. Pleasant13-013.4
14Portage Central (Portage)12-19.2
15Harbor Beach14-08.5
16Grand Blanc10-113.7
17Harper Woods11-114.2
18Dexter12-213.5
19UCHS (Hudsonville)12-214.8
20WCHS (Grand Rapids)12-114.6
21Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac)11-215.1
22Goodrich12-111.2
23Kingsley11-313.7
24Dow (Midland)10-216.7
25CCHS (Grand Rapids)9-112.6
26Williamston11-17.7
27PWHS (Pewamo)11-13.3
28Hudson13-13.4
29Adams (Rochester)10-318.4
30BRHS (Bloomfield Hills)6-527.4
31Ludington9-16.9
32DLSC (Warren)6-728.3
33Howell9-212.0
34Beal City (Mt. Pleasant)11-10.4
35OHHS (West Branch)11-27.1
36EGRHS (Grand Rapids)9-313.6
37Big Rapids10-27.7
38Portland11-14.0
39Davison8-214.6
40Frankenmuth10-23.2
41Jefferson (Monroe)11-25.0
42Byron Center7-420.3
43King (Detroit)7-515.8
44Grandville4-632.4
45Muskegon7-419.7
46Almont12-15.4
47Carlson (Gibraltar)11-13.8
48Brighton7-416.4
49SFHS (Traverse City)7-317.4
50Kent City12-1-0.1


Minnesota State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1JCCHS (Jackson)13-08.6
2Minneota13-03.0
3Marshall11-115.8
4Spring Lake Park13-08.2
5Alexandria9-215.0
6Holdingford12-14.6
7Orono (Long Lake)10-313.3
8Chanhassen11-215.0
9Annandale13-00.3
10Goodhue12-12.8
11Elk River9-314.7
12Byron9-18.2
13Breckenridge13-11.9
14Monticello8-214.0
15STA (Mendota Heights)11-18.9
16KMHS (Kasson)11-25.2
17NCHS (Minneapolis)10-1-0.1
18DGFHS (Glyndon)9-38.8
19Rocori (Cold Spring)8-214.0
20MCCHS (Slayton)9-37.0
21Pillager8-16.9
22EVWHS (Eden Valley)9-38.2
23Waseca12-13.9
24Maple Grove10-15.5
25Pierz10-1-3.5
26Staples-Motley (Staples)8-25.1
27Pine Island10-1-4.2
28Grand Rapids10-2-4.4
29Minnetonka9-38.3
30Caledonia9-36.7
31Edina9-410.3
32Osakis9-23.4
33FCHS (Harmony)10-1-4.5
34Fergus Falls8-310.3
35Eden Prairie8-36.1
36Parkers Prairie9-2-0.5
37Hill-Murray (Maplewood)9-2-0.2
38Dawson-Boyd (Dawson)8-33.3
39Chaska7-38.8
40Bemidji5-515.9
41Stewartville7-32.8
42LSHS (Lakeville)9-33.6
43Zimmerman7-37.1
44CDHHS (St. Paul)7-44.0
45HFCHS (Victoria)8-35.3
46Triton (Dodge Center)7-49.8
47Centennial (Circle Pines)9-2-1.3
48Willmar6-47.4
49Albany8-2-2.3
50Moorhead8-59.7


New York State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1Bronxville11-06.1
2CBA (Syracuse)12-04.7
3Rye13-09.0
4CFHS (Binghamton)12-01.3
5St. Francis (Hamburg)10-216.6
6Saratoga Springs11-212.6
7Sleepy Hollow12-10.9
8CBA (Albany)8-316.8
9Somers (Lincolndale)8-315.9
10SHS (Clifton Park)8-213.7
11Monroe (Rochester)11-0-13.2
12Glens Falls12-1-2.9
13Sayville12-00.0
14Tioga (Tioga Center)11-14.5
15Waverly9-211.7
16Mamaroneck11-25.2
17Massapequa12-0-7.5
18Garden City12-0-10.6
19MVHS (Slate Hill)10-11.5
20Plainedge (Massapequa)10-1-5.5
21OFA (Owego)9-411.5
22Liverpool9-21.0
23Westlake (Thornwood)8-25.9
24MWHS (Central Valley)10-21.8
25Seaford10-2-3.4
26Niskayuna10-2-1.4
27Greenwich11-1-9.8
28LJBOMECE (CO-OP) (Buffalo)10-20.3
29Schuylerville11-1-4.4
30JJHS (Hopewell Junction)10-12.8
31CCHS (New Windsor)9-35.2
32BBPHS (Bayport)10-1-7.6
33Newfane12-0-10.4
34Union-Endicott (Endicott)9-2-0.3
35Fonda-Fultonville (Fonda)10-1-7.3
36Maine-Endwell (Endwell)5-412.7
37Lowville11-1-4.6
38Tuckahoe (Eastchester)10-1-5.4
39Port Jervis9-2-2.3
40Shaker (Latham)6-47.9
41Harrison6-411.8
42New Hartford11-1-5.6
43HSBASGC (CO-OP) (Buffalo)10-1-9.8
44EIHS (Islip Terrace)10-2-2.7
45GHS (Guilderland Center)6-47.1
46Southwestern (Jamestown)10-1-10.9
47CLWB (CO-OP) (Mayville)11-2-10.4
48Babylon10-1-9.2
49CODHS (Trumansburg)7-44.3
50General Brown (Dexter)10-2-7.0


Ohio State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1OOHS (Lewis Center)14-022.9
2Anderson (Cincinnati)14-016.5
3St. Xavier (Cincinnati)11-238.7
4Elder (Cincinnati)12-137.5
5Avon13-123.6
6BWHS (Columbus)13-022.5
7AMHS (Cincinnati)8-443.6
8WJHS (Cuyahoga Falls)11-227.8
9Shelby14-014.2
10Central Catholic (Toledo)11-432.0
11Archbishop Hoban (Akron)10-232.6
12St. Edward (Lakewood)11-332.9
13Liberty Center14-09.5
14Glenville (Cleveland)11-321.2
15Washington (Massillon)9-426.4
16Wheelersburg14-08.6
17CVCA (Cuyahoga Falls)12-114.7
18Highland (Medina)12-113.9
19Big Walnut (Sunbury)12-220.4
20Middletown11-325.3
21Princeton (Cincinnati)9-327.6
22IVHS (Gnadenhutten)12-111.6
23Wadsworth11-114.5
24Ironton9-110.6
25Kirtland14-06.0
26Steubenville9-326.3
27Tippecanoe (Tipp City)13-111.7
28CMHS (Youngstown)10-322.9
29LWHS (West Chester)7-527.4
30MLHS (Maria Stein)12-117.6
31TMHS (Trotwood)8-423.9
32Liberty-Benton (Findlay)12-16.5
33St. Henry12-116.8
34Mentor12-111.8
35PCHS (Pickerington)11-217.6
36London12-113.4
37Indian Hill (Cincinnati)13-15.7
38La Salle (Cincinnati)9-426.5
39Hopewell-Loudon (Bascom)13-19.2
40UAHS (Columbus)10-317.2
41Galion11-214.6
42Hudson10-317.8
43LEHS (Liberty Township)8-425.0
44Springfield8-521.4
45Badin (Hamilton)10-214.2
46Wapakoneta11-110.8
47OLHS (Powell)8-526.6
48VASJ (Cleveland)10-26.9
49SFDS (Columbus)9-320.6
50AFHS (Youngstown)9-217.2


Pennsylvania State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1LSCHS (Wyndmoor)12-137.8
2RCHS (Philadelphia)11-332.8
3SJP (Philadelphia)5-545.0
4CCHS (Pittsburgh)13-121.2
5Easton Area (Easton)14-120.6
6Twin Valley (Elverson)14-05.7
7Harrisburg13-117.8
8PTHS (McMurray)13-117.3
9Avonworth (Pittsburgh)14-011.7
10NL (New Tripoli)15-09.1
11BMDHS (Harrisburg)12-215.0
12Farrell12-29.7
13North Penn (Lansdale)12-319.1
14SL (Center Valley)14-110.9
15Pine-Richland (Gibsonia)11-210.7
16COHHS (Springfield)10-523.2
17IC (Philadelphia)8-521.7
18ICA (Pittsburgh)12-15.0
19Bishop McCort (Johnstown)12-15.8
20Central York (York)11-212.4
21MBAPC (CO-OP) (Drexel Hill)6-525.3
22Springfield14-19.6
23Hollidaysburg13-111.2
24State College10-313.6
25Clairton14-10.7
26STHS (Harrisburg)12-18.7
27Parkland (Allentown)12-18.4
28SCAHS (Catawissa)14-15.6
29Pennridge (Perkasie)13-214.6
30Richland (Johnstown)12-27.7
31Solanco (Quarryville)11-27.4
32Upper St. Clair10-312.4
33DWHS (Downingtown)8-317.0
34Chester13-17.2
35Wyomissing10-27.8
36Coatesville10-315.3
37SAHS (Coal Township)13-12.0
38Aliquippa10-414.4
39BGHS (Altoona)13-28.5
40North Allegheny (Wexford)8-418.3
41Penn Cambria (Cresson)12-34.6
42Liberty (Bethlehem)8-413.4
43NDGP (Easton)12-12.2
44Downingtown East (Exton)8-416.5
45McKeesport9-410.7
46Moon Area (Moon Township)9-414.7
47CVHS (Lancaster)10-11.2
48BRHS (West Chester)10-39.0
49NPHS (Covington Township)13-13.5
50Souderton9-39.7


Wisconsin State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1West De Pere (De Pere)14-012.3
2Arrowhead (Hartland)13-119.1
3Winneconne14-02.8
4Bay Port (Green Bay)11-315.2
5Muskego11-217.0
6Darlington14-05.9
7Grafton13-04.9
8Homestead (Mequon)12-19.5
9NDA (Green Bay)13-15.9
10St. Joseph (Kenosha)16-0-2.2
11Waunakee12-17.3
12Mayville14-03.3
13Badger (Lake Geneva)11-14.9
14BWHS (Baldwin)12-15.8
15Hamilton (Sussex)9-315.6
16Northwestern (Maple)13-11.2
17Aquinas (La Crosse)11-13.1
18Little Chute12-29.2
19Franklin11-04.7
20CFCHS (Fountain City)13-1-1.9
21Stratford10-310.3
22River Falls11-27.6
23Edgar13-11.8
24Amherst10-26.9
25Columbus11-23.5
26CMHS (Waukesha)11-22.7
27Mukwonago7-415.1
28Plymouth11-1-0.8
29Mondovi11-21.9
30Slinger8-311.0
31St. Catherine's (Racine)10-2-0.1
32MLHS (Manitowoc)12-1-1.0
33Regis (Eau Claire)11-1-0.9
34BEHS (Brookfield)8-38.8
35Monona Grove (Monona)10-22.2
36Reedsburg10-46.0
37Altoona8-38.6
38Freedom10-25.7
39Kimberly8-311.8
40De Pere7-513.4
41Boyceville11-1-6.1
42Pulaski7-412.7
43Neenah7-312.2
44New Richmond8-34.0
45LCLHS (Hartland)11-21.5
46Oshkosh North (Oshkosh)10-20.4
47Germantown7-411.4
48Grantsburg11-1-1.6
49Rice Lake10-27.0
50Mosinee9-34.1

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