Ahead of the 2023 high school football season, USA TODAY High School Sports is looking around the country for some of the top programs to watch this year — many of which will likely appear in the inaugural Super 25.
NFHS Network: Stream your high school football team’s games live or watch them on demand
Of course, in 2023, the same argument that bogs down many discussions each season still applies: How do you measure the best when high school football brings so many unknowns into the equation? (Having Highland Springs vs. a team like Riverheads in Virginia is just one example among many: 52 game streaks by a Tier 1 team vs. a Tier 5 team.)
Recognizing that there’s no way—analytical or opinion-based—to present an absolute, arguably concrete ranking among the thousands of teams, we’ve given as much respect as possible to each state’s top programs and chosen the first list. Strength at the QB position and prospects from across the HS coverage area and picked a ‘best of the best’ based on year-over-year progress.
With that in mind, here are our tips…
(Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
Thompson (Alabaster, Alabama)
(USA TODAY)
Lathrop (Fairbanks, Alaska)
(USA TODAY)
Basha (Chandler, Arizona)
(USA TODAY)
Bryant (Ark.)
(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California)
(Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colorado)
(USA TODAY)
New Canaan (Conn.)
(USA TODAY)
Smyrna (Part.)
(USA TODAY)
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)
(file)
Buford (Ga.)
(YouTube)
Kahuku (Hawaii)
(USA TODAY)
Rigby (Idaho)
(Photo: Allen Trieu/247Sports)
East St. Louis (Illinois)
(USA TODAY)
Center Grove (Greenwood, Indiana)
(USA TODAY)
Southeast Polk (Pleasant Hill, Iowa)
(USA TODAY)
Mill Valley (Shawnee, Kan.)
(USA TODAY)
St. Xavier (Louisville, Kentucky)
(Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports)
John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)
(Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)
Leavitt (Turner, Maine)
(USA TODAY)
St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)
(USA TODAY)
Catholic Monument (West Roxbury, Mass.)
(USA TODAY)
Belleville (Mich.)
(USA TODAY)
Mankato West (Minn.)
(USA TODAY)
Starkville (Miss)
(Photo: @kamm_o/Twitter)
Christian Brothers College (St Louis, Missouri)
(Stephen Leu – USA TODAY Sports)
Florence-Carlton (Florence, Mont.)
(USA TODAY)
Omaha Westside (Neb.)
(USA TODAY)
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada)
(USA TODAY)
Pelham (NH)
(USA TODAY)
Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ)
(USA TODAY)
Cleveland (Rio Rancho, NM)
(USA TODAY)
Iona Prep (New Rochelle, NY)
(USA TODAY)
Providence Day (Charlotte, NC)
(USA TODAY)
Shanley (Fargo, ND)
(USA TODAY)
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
(USA TODAY)
Bixby (Okla.)
(USA TODAY)
West Linn, Oregon
(USA TODAY)
St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
(USA TODAY)
La Salle Academy (Providence, Rhode Island)
(USA TODAY)
Dutch Fork (Irmo, SC)
(USA TODAY)
Jefferson (Sioux Falls, SD)
(USA TODAY)
Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tennessee)
(Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports)
Duncanville, Texas
(Corner Canyon Athletics)
Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah)
(USA TODAY)
Champlain Valley Union (Hinesburg, Vt.)
(USA TODAY)
Highland Springs (Virginia)
(USA TODAY)
Yelm (Wash.)
(USA TODAY)
Huntington (Wave)
(Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
Kimberly (Wis.)
(USA TODAY)
Valley of the Stars (Afton, Wyoming)
