High school football: Top 10 toughest schedules for 2024 season

No. 1 Mater Dei, No. 4 St. John Bosco, No. 24 Orange Lutheran, Santa Margarita all included from Southern California's Trinity League.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Zack Poff
By
Aug 7, 2024, 12:00pm
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. 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. 25 — vs. Servite (Anaheim)
Nov. 1 — at No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Full schedule

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

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
Full schedule

Aug. 23 — vs. No. 6 Milton (Ga.)
Sept. 6 — at No. 9 Chaminade-Madonna
Sept. 20 — at No. 15 Central (Miami)
Oct. 12 — at Norland (Miami)
Full schedule

Aug. 24 — at Mission Viejo
Aug. 30 — vs. No. 8 Centennial
Oct. 4 — vs. No. 1 Mater Dei
Oct. 11 — at No. 4 St. John Bosco
Oct. 18 — at No. 24 Orange Lutheran
Oct. 25 — vs. JSerra Catholic
Nov. 1 — vs. Servite
Full schedule

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
Full schedule

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
Full schedule

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
Full schedule

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