2026 Florida Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings

St. Thomas Aquinas is the early No. 1 after winning state and going 14-1 in 2025.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Thomas Frey
By
Aug 3, 2026, 12:00pm
State champion St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) enters 2026 as the top-ranked team in the MaxPreps preseason top 25 for Florida.

The Raiders defeated Lakeland 29-0 to capture its seventh straight FHSAA state championship. Texas A&M left tackle commit Mark Matthews returns after helping the offense average nearly 400 yards per game.

Other players to watch from the Sunshine State this season include five-star seniors Nick Lennear of Carol City (Miami), Jamarin Simmons of Godby (Tallahassee) and Zyron Fortstall of IMG Academy (Bradenton).

Reigning Florida state champions include Lake Mary in 7A, West Boca Raton (Boca Raton) in 6A, American Heritage (Plantation) in 4A, Raines (Jacksonville) in 3A, Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota) in 2A and Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach) in 1A.
St. Thomas Aquinas heads into 2026 ranked No. 1 in Florida and is led by Texas A&M commit Mark Matthews, the No. 1 left tackle in the Class of 2027. (PHOTO: Jeff Klein)
St. Thomas Aquinas heads into 2026 ranked No. 1 in Florida and is led by Texas A&M commit Mark Matthews, the No. 1 left tackle in the Class of 2027. (PHOTO: Jeff Klein)
MaxPreps Preseason Florida Top 25
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 14-1 in 2025
2. IMG Academy (Bradenton), 9-0
3. Carol City (Miami), 6-5
4. American Heritage (Plantation), 9-5
5. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood), 11-3
6. Central (Miami), 10-2
7. West Boca Raton (Boca Raton), 13-2
8. Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota), 14-1
9. Lakeland, 12-3
10. DeLand, 12-1
11. The First Academy (Orlando), 5-5
12. Venice, 9-4
13. Vero Beach, 14-1
14. Raines (Jacksonville), 14-0
15. Columbus (Miami), 4-8
16. Jones (Orlando), 12-3
17. Buchholz (Gainesville), 12-2
18. Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach), 12-3
19. Northwestern (Miami), 13-1
20. Lake Mary, 12-3
21. Mandarin (Jacksonville), 11-2
22. Atlantic (Delray Beach), 10-2
23. Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach), 12-2
24. Southridge (Miami), 11-2
25. Bolles (Jacksonville), 13-2

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