The powerhouse programs have each been crowned national champions twice since 2016. Friday's matchup could go a long way in determining who earns that title in 2026.
Gorman (1-0) opened its season last week with a 41-0 win over
Somerset Academy Losee (North Las Vegas) in a game that was called at halftime due to lightning.
It's the season opener for St. John Bosco, which was ranked No. 1 for part of the 2025 season after starting 9-0.
On Thursday, No. 13
Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.) will play at No. 12
Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.).
Brentwood Academy is coming off an 11-1 record and brings back four-star wideout
Kesean Bowman.
Reigning MaxPreps National Player of the Year and Tennessee commit
David Gabriel Georges of Baylor rushed for over 1,700 yards in 2025 and led the Red Raiders to an undefeated season.
Buford is replacing several key starters including their quarterback. Gainesville went 12-3 last season and returns Clemson commit
Kharim Hughley at quarterback.
Gunner Rivers will be under center for St. Michael's Catholic while
Bo Bryan, the son of country singer Luke Bryan, gets the nod for Battle Ground Academy. Bryan holds five offers including East Tennessee State and North
Alabama.
Read on for a complete look at this week's biggest games.
TOP 10 GAMES THIS WEEK
No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) at No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local) – Watch live MaxPreps YouTube
Players to watch
St. John Bosco: QB
Koa Malau'ulu (6-2, 185), WR
D.J. Tubbs (5-11, 180), OL
Elisha Mueller (6-4, 310), S
Isala Wily-Ava (6-3, 195), LB
Josiah Poyer (6-2, 230)
Bishop Gorman: QB
Ace Amina (6-1, 185), WR
Zyren Menor (6-0, 190), CB
Hayden Stepp (6-3, 195), DL
Tayaun Lawrence (6-4, 250), CB
Kamil Loud (6-1, 185)
No. 13 Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.) at No. 12 Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.) Thursday, 8 p.m.
Players to watch
Brentwood Academy: QB
Crews Jenkins (6-0, 185), WR
Kesean Bowman (6-1, 175), LB
Kenneth Simon Ii (6-3, 210), CB
Troy Porties (5-10, 170), LB
Roman Jennings (6-3, 230)
Baylor: QB
Keegan Croucher (6-4, 205), RB
David Gabriel Georges (6-0, 210), TE
Braxton Rein (6-6, 235), S
Antwaun Adams (6-2, 185), DE
Hans Emery Julien (6-3, 230)
Gainesville (Ga.) at No. 7 Buford (Ga.) Saturday, 5 p.m.
Players to watch
Gainesville: QB
Kharim Hughley (6-0, 200), RB
Nigel Newkirk (5-11, 195), WR
Collin Porterfield (6-3, 190), LB
Darryn Williams (6-1, 210), DB
Zachary Ingram (6-1, 175)
Buford: QB
D.J. Hunter (6-2, 205), RB
Jameer Cantrell (6-0, 185), WR
Ian Chafin (5-11, 170), LB
Brady Wagner (6-0, 220), DB
Silas Nuckles (6-0, 180)
Chicago Mt. Carmel (Chicago, Ill.) at East St. Louis (Ill.) Saturday, 6 p.m.
Players to watch
Chicago Mt. Carmel: QB
Ryder Startz (6-1, 185), WR
Quentin Burrell (6-3, 205), LB
Roman Igwebuike (6-3, 225), CB
Tavares Harrington (6-3, 180), DL
Caleb Tucker (6-5, 355)
East St. Louis: QB
Reece Shanklin (6-2, 200), RB
Myson Johnson-Cook (6-3, 235), WR
Ronnie Gomiller (6-0, 185), S
Jabarri Lofton (6-3, 200), CB
Raheem Floyd (6-2, 175)
Central (Miami, Fla.) at Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
Central: QB
James Perrone (6-1, 180), WR
Kareem Brown Jr. (6-0, 180), CB
Trezavant Boyd (5-11, 160), CB
T'ari Miller (6-4, 185), S
Quartavius Lyons Jr. (6-2, 180)
Orange Lutheran: QB
Reagan Toki (6-1, 185), WR
Nico Bland (6-2, 195), WR
Chris Flores Jr. (5-10, 165), DB
Matthew Zapien (6-1, 185),
Chauncey Washington II (6-2, 190)
West Boca Raton (Boca Raton, Fla.) at No. 15 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
West Boca Raton: QB
Trey Moran (5-11, 185), RB
Quinton Miller Jr. (5-9, 185),
Billy Clancy III (5-10, 160), DT
Jamar Thompson (6-3, 305), LB
Maxwell Reid (6-0, 210)
American Heritage: QB
Neimann Lawrence (6-2, 200), RB
Jonathan Bueno Jr (5-10, 205), WR
Michael Stringer (6-0, 195), DT
Micah Price (6-2, 280), CB
Amare Nugent (6-1, 185)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
Clay-Chalkville: QB
Cornelius Eldridge Jr. (6-0, 175), OL
Christian Bennett (6-4, 290), DE
Keith Richmond (6-3, 225), LB
Quinten Lowe (6-1, 220), DB
Jamario Yadao (5-11, 165)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Players to watch
Trinity: QB
Zane Johnson (6-1, 215), RB
Jamaurion Berry (5-10, 210), WR
Anthony Lowe (5-10, 190), DL
Sebastian Blue (6-3, 277), S
Elijah Burns-Crump (6-2, 180)
Anderson: QB
Owen Scalf (6-2, 190), RB
Jordan Davis (5-10, 200), WR
Tysin Weaver (6-2, 195), CB
Ace Alston (6-0, 185), LB
Antwoine Higgins (6-3, 223)
No. 24 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) at Central (Phenix City, Ala.) Thursday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
Thompson: QB
Trent Seaborn (6-1, 200), WR
Darion Moseley (6-0, 190), DE
Cam Pritchett (6-3, 240), CB
Micah Fleming (5-10, 185), DL
Wesley Gover (6-3, 290)
Central: QB
Bobby Coleman Jr. (6-1, 180), RB
Jayshaun Woodhouse (5-7, 180), WR
Braylen Averett (5-10, 170), OL
Jatori Williams (6-5, 330), DE
Marcus Price (6-2, 240)
Battle Ground Academy (Franklin, Tenn.) at St. Michael Catholic (Fairhope, Ala.) Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Players to watch
Battle Ground Academy: QB
Bo Bryan (6-1, 195), RB
Fletcher Fields (5-8, 175), WR
Maddox Porter (6-3, 190), DT
Justice Pittman (6-4, 295), S
Evan Kellum (6-1, 195)
St. Michael's Catholic: QB
Gunner Rivers (6-4, 230), RB
Nygel Mitchell (5-7, 190), WR
Braedyn Walton (5-11, 180), LB
Cam Kerbl (5-10, 185), LB
Jack Kurth (6-3, 195)
