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

Our final 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 8, 2025, 8:00am
The Great Lakes states are defined - in large - by silos, steeples and Friday night stadium lights. With kickoff complete, here's our last 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.

Previous @EFrantzMP Great Lakes Region Rankings Champions
@EFrantzMP's High School Football Great Lakes Regional Rankings

12/8/2025 Poll: Final
Last week’s ranking in parenthesis
1 (1). Brownsburg (Ind.), 14-0 – IHSAA 6A state champion; season complete


2 (2). LaSalle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.), 13-1 – beat then-No. 8 Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 34-20 in the PIAA 6A state final; season complete
3 (3). Mount Carmel (Chicago, Ill.), 14-0 – beat Oswego (Ill.) 20-3 in the IHSA 8A state final; season complete

4 (5). Detroit Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.), 14-0 – MHSAA Division 1 state champion; season complete
5 (7). Olentangy Orange (Lewis Center, Ohio), 15-0 – beat then-No. 10 St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio) 28-14 in the OHSAA Division I state final; season complete
6 (9). Avon (Ohio), 14-1 – beat then-No. 6 Anderson (Cincinnati, Ohio) 37-20 in the OHSAA Division II state final; season complete

7 (11). Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.), 11-3 – beat Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.) 28-6 in the PIAA 5A state final; season complete
8 (14). Bishop Watterson (Columbus, Ohio), 14-0 – beat then-No. 25 Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio) in the OHSAA Division III state final; season complete

9 (8). Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 13-2 – lost 34-20 to then-No. 2 LaSalle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.) in the PIAA 6A state final; season complete

10 (12). Westfield (Ind.), 11-3 –IHSAA 6A state runner-up; season complete
11 (19). Brother Rice (Chicago, Ill.), 13-1 – beat St. Rita (Chicago, Ill.) 16-0 in the IHSA 7A state final; season complete
12 (13). New Palestine (Ind.), 14-0 – IHSAA 5A state champion; season complete
13 (10). St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio), 11-3 – lost 28-14 to Olentangy Orange (Lewis Center, Ohio) in the OHSAA Division I state final; season complete
14 (4). East St. Louis (Ill.), 9-4 – lost 38-28 to Fenwick (Oak Park, Ill.) in the IHSA 6A state final; season complete
15 (6). Anderson (Cincinnati, Ohio), 14-1 – lost 37-20 to then-No. 9 Avon (Ohio) in the OHSAA Division II state semifinals; season complete

16 (15). Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio), 12-1 – OHSAA D-I regional finalist; season complete
17 (16). Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.), 13-1 – MHSAA Division 1 state runner-up; season complete
18 (17). St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), 11-3 – OHSAA Division I state semifinalist; season complete



19 (18). St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.), 5-5 – PCL 6A Runner-Up; season complete

20 (20). St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), 11-2 – MHSAA Division 2 state champion; season complete

21 (21). Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), 11-2 – OHSAA Division II state semifinalist; season complete

22 (22). Hoban (Akron, Ohio), 10-2 – OHSAA D-II regional finalist; season complete

23 (23). Arrowhead (Hartland, Wis.), 13-1 – WIAA Division 1 state champion; season complete



24 (24). Iona Prep (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 11-1 – NYCHSFL state champion; season complete

25 (NR). Montini Catholic (Lombard, Ill.), 14-0 – IHSA 4A state champion; season complete
 

Dropped Out:


25. Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio), 11-5 – lost 30-0 to then-No. 14 Bishop Watterson (Columbus, Ohio) in the OHSAA Division III state final; season complete


Next Best:



* Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse, N.Y.), 13-0 – beat Saratoga Springs (N.Y.) in the NYSPHSAA Class AA state final; season complete

* Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio), 12-3 – beat Shely (Ohio) 45-7 in the OHSAA Division IV state final; season complete

* West De Pere (Wis.), 14-0 – WIAA Division 2 state champion; 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. +/-
1CMCHS (Chicago)14-041.6
2Brother Rice (Chicago)13-133.2
3MCHS (Lombard)14-024.9
4Fenwick (Oak Park)11-327.5
5NA (LaGrange Park)11-230.2
6LWEHS (Frankfort)9-332.6
7East St. Louis9-430.2
8Maine South (Park Ridge)10-224.8
9Fremd (Palatine)11-225.4
10Oswego11-329.8
11St. Rita (Chicago)9-537.5
12Loyola Academy (Wilmette)4-544.2
13Byron14-07.2
14Lockport9-432.6
15Barrington10-226.6
16SCNHS (St. Charles)10-230.1
17St. Francis (Wheaton)11-329.7
18Batavia10-328.6
19Carmel (Mundelein)8-328.3
20GWHS (Glen Ellyn)9-224.0
21DGNHS (Downers Grove)10-324.7
22Wilmington13-18.4
23PCHS (New Lenox)10-427.8
24Lyons (LaGrange)8-325.2
25Bolingbrook9-322.6
26Sandburg (Orland Park)7-330.4
27ICCP (Elmhurst)8-426.8
28Lena-Winslow (Lena)13-112.6
29Rochester12-214.4
30Marist (Chicago)4-535.9
31GNHS (Carol Stream)8-425.9
32GSHS (Glenview)8-321.6
33WWSHS (Wheaton)7-427.1
34NNHS (Naperville)6-430.6
35Morris11-218.6
36Glenwood (Chatham)10-113.0
37HFHS (Flossmoor)6-532.1
38HCHS (Hinsdale)7-424.4
39St. Laurence (Burbank)8-529.7
40LWCHS (New Lenox)9-215.1
41York (Elmhurst)6-424.2
42HHS (Arlington Heights)9-312.2
43Warren Township (Gurnee)9-217.2
44Stockton12-18.7
45Lake Zurich9-315.6
46SICP (Chicago)5-733.1
47Joliet Catholic (Joliet)4-635.4
48LWWHS (New Lenox)10-214.8
49Yorkville7-324.4
50BNHS (Belvidere)12-111.0


Indiana State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1Brownsburg14-044.2
2Westfield11-346.8
3Carmel9-238.4
4New Palestine14-022.2
5Fishers8-445.6
6Center Grove (Greenwood)10-232.7
7Avon6-545.4
8LNHS (Indianapolis)7-332.0
9HSHS (Fishers)6-542.6
10DCHS (Indianapolis)9-329.0
11Cathedral (Indianapolis)7-436.4
12Carroll (Fort Wayne)9-428.2
13Roncalli (Indianapolis)11-428.4
14WCHS (Indianapolis)8-534.8
15FWBD (Fort Wayne)13-223.4
16LCHS (Indianapolis)5-638.2
17FCHS (Indianapolis)5-640.8
18Merrillville11-320.8
19IBCHS (Indianapolis)9-325.1
20East Central (St. Leon)9-320.5
21Zionsville3-746.0
22BSHS (Bloomington)11-219.5
23Cascade (Clayton)15-04.6
24Crown Point10-117.4
25Penn (Mishawaka)11-111.6
26Andrean (Merrillville)13-114.8
27Ben Davis (Indianapolis)3-742.0
28Plainfield7-322.6
29Homestead (Fort Wayne)6-425.9
30Adams Central (Monroe)13-17.2
31Yorktown9-314.4
32PHHS (Pendleton)10-214.0
33BCHS (Brownstown)14-11.8
34GSHS (Fort Branch)12-212.0
35Lapel13-17.6
36FWNHS (Fort Wayne)8-316.2
37LJHS (Lafayette)10-27.7
38SBSJ (South Bend)12-210.4
39Whiteland9-317.9
40HHHS (Lincoln City)12-26.7
41East Noble (Kendallville)11-16.0
42Pike (Indianapolis)3-733.3
43Lawrenceburg10-26.7
44Concord (Elkhart)11-211.0
45Eastbrook (Marion)12-14.4
46Northview (Brazil)8-24.6
47SPHS (Greencastle)13-21.6
48THSV (Terre Haute)7-316.3
49Knox13-14.4
50Michigan City8-416.9


Michigan State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1Catholic Central (Novi)14-028.2
2Cass Tech (Detroit)13-112.5
3SMP (Orchard Lake)11-227.7
4Hudsonville11-127.1
5East Kentwood (Kentwood)10-326.9
6DeWitt14-012.3
7Clarkston10-221.2
8Rockford8-328.7
9Divine Child (Dearborn)13-19.7
10Menominee14-06.3
11LCCHS (Jackson)11-320.3
12WCHS (Grand Rapids)13-115.9
13Portage Central (Portage)12-19.1
14Saline10-214.0
15Harbor Beach14-08.5
16Harper Woods11-114.0
17Grand Blanc10-113.3
18Mt. Pleasant13-114.6
19Dexter12-213.3
20UCHS (Hudsonville)12-214.6
21Goodrich12-111.2
22Kingsley11-313.6
23CCHS (Grand Rapids)9-113.1
24PWHS (Pewamo)11-13.6
25Williamston11-17.9
26Dow (Midland)10-215.9
27Hudson13-13.2
28BRHS (Bloomfield Hills)6-527.3
29Ludington9-17.1
30Adams (Rochester)10-317.8
31DLSC (Warren)6-728.5
32OHHS (West Branch)11-27.4
33Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac)11-316.1
34Howell9-211.7
35Beal City (Mt. Pleasant)11-10.5
36Big Rapids10-27.8
37Portland11-14.0
38EGRHS (Grand Rapids)9-313.6
39Davison8-214.2
40Byron Center7-420.3
41King (Detroit)7-515.1
42Jefferson (Monroe)11-24.5
43Frankenmuth10-22.8
44Muskegon7-419.5
45Grandville4-631.7
46Almont12-15.1
47Carlson (Gibraltar)11-13.2
48Brighton7-416.3
49Kent City12-10.0
50SFHS (Traverse City)7-317.1


Minnesota State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1JCCHS (Jackson)13-08.6
2Minneota13-03.1
3Marshall11-115.9
4Spring Lake Park13-08.2
5Alexandria9-215.0
6Holdingford12-14.7
7Orono (Long Lake)10-313.3
8Chanhassen11-215.1
9Annandale13-00.4
10Goodhue12-12.8
11Elk River9-314.7
12Byron9-18.2
13Breckenridge13-11.9
14Monticello8-214.1
15STA (Mendota Heights)11-19.0
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)9-38.3
23Waseca12-13.9
24Maple Grove10-15.6
25Pierz10-1-3.5
26Staples-Motley (Staples)8-25.1
27Pine Island10-1-4.1
28Grand Rapids10-2-4.3
29Minnetonka9-38.3
30Caledonia9-36.7
31Edina9-410.3
32Osakis9-23.5
33FCHS (Harmony)10-1-4.4
34Fergus Falls8-310.3
35Eden Prairie8-36.1
36Dawson-Boyd (Dawson)8-33.3
37Hill-Murray (Maplewood)9-2-0.1
38Parkers Prairie9-2-0.5
39Chaska7-38.8
40Bemidji5-515.9
41Stewartville7-32.9
42LSHS (Lakeville)9-33.6
43Zimmerman7-37.2
44CDHHS (St. Paul)7-44.0
45HFCHS (Victoria)8-35.3
46Willmar6-47.4
47Centennial (Circle Pines)9-2-1.3
48Moorhead8-59.7
49Triton (Dodge Center)7-49.8
50Albany8-2-2.3


New York State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1Bronxville12-07.0
2Rye14-08.8
3Monroe (Rochester)12-0-9.2
4CBA (Syracuse)12-14.7
5St. Francis (Hamburg)10-217.6
6CFHS (Binghamton)12-13.3
7Somers (Lincolndale)8-315.2
8LJBOMECE (CO-OP) (Buffalo)11-12.6
9CBA (Albany)8-314.2
10Sleepy Hollow12-22.2
11Tioga (Tioga Center)13-16.2
12Saratoga Springs11-311.9
13SHS (Clifton Park)8-211.3
14Sayville12-00.0
15Glens Falls12-1-3.6
16Waverly9-210.5
17Massapequa12-0-7.5
18Garden City12-0-10.5
19Plainedge (Massapequa)10-1-5.5
20Mamaroneck11-24.2
21MVHS (Slate Hill)10-10.6
22OFA (Owego)9-410.8
23Seaford10-2-3.4
24Westlake (Thornwood)8-25.0
25Schuylerville11-1-4.4
26MWHS (Central Valley)10-20.5
27Greenwich11-1-10.1
28BBPHS (Bayport)10-1-7.6
29Lowville11-1-4.3
30Niskayuna10-2-2.6
31JJHS (Hopewell Junction)10-12.0
32Fonda-Fultonville (Fonda)10-1-7.4
33Liverpool9-2-1.6
34HSBASGC (CO-OP) (Buffalo)10-1-8.2
35CCHS (New Windsor)9-34.2
36Brighton (Rochester)11-3-0.7
37Maine-Endwell (Endwell)5-411.0
38Newfane12-1-8.7
39Port Jervis9-2-3.1
40New Hartford11-1-5.8
41Harrison6-410.9
42Tuckahoe (Eastchester)10-2-3.4
43EIHS (Islip Terrace)10-2-2.7
44Shaker (Latham)6-45.8
45CODHS (Trumansburg)7-44.9
46Babylon10-1-9.2
47Delaware Academy (Delhi)7-32.1
48Southwestern (Jamestown)10-1-11.1
49CLWB (CO-OP) (Mayville)11-2-10.7
50General Brown (Dexter)10-2-7.2


Ohio State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1OOHS (Lewis Center)15-026.6
2Avon14-127.4
3St. Xavier (Cincinnati)11-340.5
4Elder (Cincinnati)12-137.8
5Anderson (Cincinnati)14-119.3
6BWHS (Columbus)14-024.5
7AMHS (Cincinnati)8-444.3
8WJHS (Cuyahoga Falls)11-228.5
9Liberty Center15-011.8
10Glenville (Cleveland)12-323.7
11Archbishop Hoban (Akron)10-233.5
12St. Edward (Lakewood)11-333.9
13Central Catholic (Toledo)11-533.3
14Ursuline (Youngstown)2-131.0
15Washington (Massillon)9-428.1
16Shelby14-115.7
17Highland (Medina)12-114.7
18CVCA (Cuyahoga Falls)12-115.0
19Big Walnut (Sunbury)12-220.8
20Kirtland15-07.9
21Wadsworth11-115.5
22IVHS (Gnadenhutten)12-112.2
23Middletown11-325.1
24Princeton (Cincinnati)9-327.3
25Wheelersburg14-111.0
26Tippecanoe (Tipp City)13-111.8
27Steubenville9-326.2
28Ironton9-19.8
29St. Henry13-117.7
30MLHS (Maria Stein)12-118.1
31CMHS (Youngstown)10-323.1
32Mentor12-113.3
33Liberty-Benton (Findlay)12-16.9
34LWHS (West Chester)7-527.1
35TMHS (Trotwood)8-423.9
36PCHS (Pickerington)11-218.4
37London12-113.6
38Indian Hill (Cincinnati)13-15.3
39UAHS (Columbus)10-318.3
40La Salle (Cincinnati)9-426.5
41OLHS (Powell)8-528.0
42Hudson10-318.6
43McKinley (Canton)9-320.6
44Badin (Hamilton)10-214.2
45Hopewell-Loudon (Bascom)13-211.0
46Springfield8-521.4
47SFDS (Columbus)9-321.0
48PNHS (Pickerington)9-216.0
49VASJ (Cleveland)10-27.3
50AFHS (Youngstown)9-217.9


Pennsylvania State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1LSCHS (Wyndmoor)13-139.3
2RCHS (Philadelphia)12-333.7
3SJP (Philadelphia)5-546.2
4CCHS (Pittsburgh)13-223.9
5Avonworth (Pittsburgh)15-014.0
6Easton Area (Easton)14-121.4
7Harrisburg13-117.7
8PTHS (McMurray)13-117.4
9North Penn (Lansdale)12-320.3
10SL (Center Valley)15-112.5
11NL (New Tripoli)15-111.2
12Twin Valley (Elverson)14-17.2
13BMDHS (Harrisburg)12-317.3
14COHHS (Springfield)10-524.0
15Farrell13-313.0
16IC (Philadelphia)8-522.1
17Pine-Richland (Gibsonia)11-210.8
18ICA (Pittsburgh)12-16.1
19Clairton15-13.0
20SCAHS (Catawissa)15-18.2
21MBAPC (CO-OP) (Drexel Hill)6-526.0
22Springfield14-110.2
23Central York (York)11-212.4
24Hollidaysburg13-111.3
25Bishop McCort (Johnstown)12-15.0
26Pennridge (Perkasie)13-216.0
27State College10-313.4
28Parkland (Allentown)12-19.0
29STHS (Harrisburg)12-17.9
30DWHS (Downingtown)8-317.5
31Upper St. Clair10-312.5
32Chester13-17.7
33Solanco (Quarryville)11-27.1
34Richland (Johnstown)12-26.8
35SAHS (Coal Township)13-12.7
36Coatesville10-315.8
37Wyomissing10-27.4
38Liberty (Bethlehem)8-414.1
39Aliquippa10-414.4
40North Allegheny (Wexford)8-418.3
41Penn Cambria (Cresson)12-34.3
42Downingtown East (Exton)8-417.2
43McKeesport9-410.9
44Moon Area (Moon Township)9-414.8
45Souderton9-310.9
46NDGP (Easton)12-11.9
47BRHS (West Chester)10-39.4
48CBWHS (Doylestown)7-419.1
49CVHS (Lancaster)10-11.1
50Nazareth Area (Nazareth)7-416.7


Wisconsin State Rankings
# School Rec. Str. +/-
1West De Pere (De Pere)14-012.2
2Arrowhead (Hartland)13-119.0
3Winneconne14-03.0
4Bay Port (Green Bay)11-315.0
5Darlington14-05.9
6Muskego11-216.9
7Grafton13-04.9
8NDA (Green Bay)13-15.8
9Homestead (Mequon)12-19.5
10St. Joseph (Kenosha)16-0-2.7
11Waunakee12-17.2
12Mayville14-03.2
13Badger (Lake Geneva)11-14.8
14BWHS (Baldwin)12-15.8
15Hamilton (Sussex)9-315.5
16Northwestern (Maple)13-11.2
17Aquinas (La Crosse)11-13.1
18Little Chute12-29.2
19CFCHS (Fountain City)13-1-2.0
20Franklin11-04.5
21Stratford10-310.3
22Edgar13-11.8
23River Falls11-27.5
24Columbus11-23.4
25Amherst10-26.8
26CMHS (Waukesha)11-22.4
27Mukwonago7-415.0
28Plymouth11-1-0.7
29Mondovi11-21.9
30Slinger8-310.9
31MLHS (Manitowoc)12-1-1.0
32St. Catherine's (Racine)10-2-0.7
33Regis (Eau Claire)11-1-0.9
34BEHS (Brookfield)8-38.7
35Monona Grove (Monona)10-22.1
36Reedsburg10-45.9
37Altoona8-38.6
38Freedom10-25.7
39Kimberly8-311.7
40De Pere7-513.3
41Boyceville11-1-6.2
42Pulaski7-412.6
43Neenah7-312.1
44New Richmond8-33.9
45LCLHS (Hartland)11-21.3
46Oshkosh North (Oshkosh)10-20.3
47Germantown7-411.3
48Grantsburg11-1-1.6
49Rice Lake10-26.8
50Mosinee9-34.1

Related Content