The 2025 California high school football season is heating up, and as we move deeper into the schedule, the California Football (2025) Rankings have never been more critical. The latest MaxPreps update reveals that while the elite powerhouses remain firmly entrenched at the top, a few programs are making a serious push as they prepare for the brutal league play ahead.
If you’re tracking the race for the CIF Open Division State Championship, the Top 25 is required reading. Here’s the definitive list and a breakdown of the biggest headlines.
California Top 25 Football (2025) Rankings
(Rankings updated as of Monday, September 30, 2025)
| Rank | Team (Record) | Notable Strength |
| 1 | St. John Bosco (5-0) | Consensus National #1, Elite Defense |
| 2 | Centennial (4-1) | Mater Dei Victory, Explosive Offense |
| 3 | Mater Dei (3-1) | Win over Bishop Gorman, Talent Rich |
| 4 | Sierra Canyon (5-0) | Trinity League Win (Orange Lutheran), Undefeated |
| 5 | Santa Margarita (3-2) | Strong Schedule, Key Win over Centennial |
| 6 | De La Salle (5-0) | Northern California Power, Dominant Defense |
| 7 | Mission Viejo (5-1) | Defensive Shutdowns, High Strength of Schedule |
| 8 | Orange Lutheran (3-2) | Elite Trinity League Program, Tested |
| 9 | Lincoln (5-1) | San Diego Section Power, Reigning State Champ (1-AA) |
| 10 | Folsom (4-1) | Central Section Star, Loaded with Top Talent |
| 11 | Los Alamitos (7-0) | Best Record in CA, High-Octane Offense |
| 12 | Servite (4-1) | Trinity League Competitor, Solid Overall Play |
| 13 | Cathedral Catholic (5-0) | Undefeated San Diego Contender |
| 14 | La Costa Canyon (5-0) | Unbeaten SoCal Squad |
| 15 | Archbishop Riordan (4-0) | Undefeated WCAL Title Contender |
| 16 | Murrieta Valley (4-1) | Climbing Ranks, Defensive Improvement |
| 17 | JSerra Catholic (3-2) | Always Dangerous in Trinity League Play |
| 18 | San Juan Hills (4-1) | Strong South Orange County Program |
| 19 | Oak Ridge (4-1) | Key SFL Matchup with Folsom Ahead |
| 20 | Vista Murrieta (5-0) | Undefeated Start, Significant Jump |
| 21 | Mission Hills (5-0) | Perfect Record in San Diego |
| 22 | Damien (5-0) | Impressive Undefeated Start |
| 23 | Carlsbad (5-0) | North County San Diego Power |
| 24 | Serra (3-2) | Tough Schedule, Always a Threat |
| 25 | Oak Hills (3-2) | Entering the Top 25 after Key Wins |
