The 2021 high school football season in Minnesota kicks off next week and MaxPreps has your look at the state's top teams. After outsourcing opponents 244-48 in 2020 en route to a 7-0 record, perennial state power Eden Prairie is back to claim the top spot in our preseason rankings.
The Eagles are the most dominant football team in the state over the last decade with four AAAAAA titles (2012, 2013, 2014, 2017) and one AAAAA crown (2011) while finishing second in 2016 and 2018.
They appeared on their way to another championship in 2020, but the pandemic stopped the season in its track during the middle of the playoffs. No state champions were crowned.
The last state championships occurred in 2019 when the following teams earned titles: Wayzata (AAAAAA), Chaska (AAAAA), Racori (AAAA), Pierz (AAA), Caledonia (AA), Blooming Prairie (A) and Mountain Lake/Mountain Lake Christian (9-man).
There's much unfinished business to complete as 14 ranked teams finished 2020 undefeated in a pandemic-shortened season.
See the complete list below.
Carson Hansen (28) and his ninth-ranked Lakeville South teammates hope to celebrate more in 2021.
File photo by Sara Henderson
2.
Moorhead, 7-0
3.
Andover, 6-0
4.
Mankato West (Mankato), 6-0
5.
Rocori (Cold Spring), 7-0
6.
Becker, 4-2
7.
Cannon Falls, 7-0
8.
Bemidji, 5-2
9.
Lakeville South (Lakeville), 8-0
10.
Chanhassen, 6-0
11.
Elk River, 4-3
12.
Waseca, 6-1
13.
Spring Lake Park, 6-1
14.
Mayer Lutheran (Mayer, Minn.), 7-0
15.
Hutchinson, 5-2
16.
Caledonia, 3-0
17.
Rogers, 5-2
18.
Chaska, 4-3
19.
St. Michael-Albertville (Albertville), 6-2
20.
Prior Lake, 4-4
21.
Barnesville, 7-0
22.
Rosemount, 6-0
23.
Albany, 8-0
24.
Blooming Prairie, 5-0
25.
Monticello, 5-2
