Week 1 of the high school football season has provided a shake-up in the CIF Southern Section, with impressive performances and surprising upsets creating a new hierarchy in the California high school football top 25 rankings. While established powerhouses like Mater Dei and St. John Bosco hold their ground, several teams have made a statement, proving they are legitimate contenders in one of the nation’s most competitive regions. This week’s updated rankings reflect the significant shifts that occurred on the field. The new list welcomes three new teams into the fold while sending three others to the bubble.
The big news from Week 1 is the addition of three new teams to the Southern Section Top 25. The Beaumont Cougars have made a name for themselves, beating Cathedral 51-32. Their high-scoring victory demonstrates a potent offense that can’t be ignored. The Valencia Vikings also enter the rankings after a quality 34-20 road win over Chaminade, fueled by a strong running performance. Valencia could be poised for a breakout season. Finally, the Oak Hills Bulldogs enter the top 25 after a dominant showing against Bishop Amat, running all over their opponent in a convincing Week 1 win.
Week 1 saw some surprising results that had a direct impact on the rankings. Santa Margarita, after a low-scoring loss to Mission Viejo, bounced back with a 33-27 win over Centennial, a result that secured their spot in the top 10. This was a critical win for new coach Carson Palmer. Meanwhile, the previously unranked Damien Spartans pulled off a thrilling road win against JSerra, earning their spot in the top 25. These results highlight the “litmus test” of Week 1, as teams were forced to prove their mettle on the field. The CIF Southern Section is notorious for its competitive balance, and these early-season results show just how difficult it is to stay at the top.
California High School Football Top 25 Rankings
Here is a full look at the updated CIF Southern Section high school football rankings for Week 2, along with each team’s record and next opponent.
| Rank | Team | Record | Notes | Next Opponent |
| 1 | Mater Dei | 1-0 | Idle due to a forfeit. | vs. Kahuku (HI) |
| 2 | St. John Bosco | 2-0 | Dominated El Paso Eastwood (TX). | vs. St. Frances Academy (MD) |
| 3 | Mission Viejo | 2-0 | Luke Fahey shined in a big win over St. Paul. | vs. Folsom |
| 4 | Sierra Canyon | 2-0 | Handed Oaks Christian its worst loss in school history. | vs. Punahou (HI) |
| 5 | Orange Lutheran | 2-0 | Escaped with a close win over Rancho Cucamonga. | at Basha (AZ) |
| 6 | Santa Margarita | 1-1 | Bounced back with a key win over Centennial. | at Palmdale Highland |
| 7 | Corona Centennial | 1-1 | Dropped a close overtime game to Santa Margarita. | vs. Bingham (UT) |
| 8 | Gardena Serra | 2-0 | Has two shutouts in as many games. | vs. Los Alamitos |
| 9 | Rancho Cucamonga | 0-2 | The best 0-2 team in the section with tough losses to Murrieta Valley and Orange Lutheran. | vs. Oak Hills |
| 10 | Servite | 1-1 | Bounced back with a big win over Murrieta Valley. | vs. Chaminade |
| 11 | San Juan Hills | 2-0 | Led by quarterback Timmy Herr. | vs. Chino Hills |
| 12 | Tustin | 2-0 | Defeated Foothill by a large margin. | at Long Beach Poly |
| 13 | Damien | 2-0 | Impressive road win over JSerra. | vs. St. Paul |
| 14 | Murrieta Valley | 1-1 | Lost to Servite 56-35. | at Murrieta Mesa |
| 15 | Chaparral | 0-1 | Coming off an early bye week. | at San Clemente |
| 16 | Los Alamitos | 2-0 | Dominated Narbonne 48-0. | at Gardena Serra |
| 17 | Oak Hills | 2-0 | Ran all over Bishop Amat in Week 1. | at Rancho Cucamonga |
| 18 | Beaumont | 2-0 | Making a name for themselves in the desert region. | vs. Summit |
| 19 | Valencia | 2-0 | Quality road win against Chaminade. | vs. Bishop Amat |
| 20 | Yorba Linda | 2-0 | Close win over Edison. | at San Jacinto |
| 21 | JSerra | 0-2 | Desperate for a win after a home loss to Damien. | at Kamehameha (HI) |
| 22 | San Clemente | 1-1 | Got back on track with a win over Riverton (UT). | vs. Chaparral |
| 23 | Edison | 1-1 | Dropped a close one to Yorba Linda. | vs. Lakewood |
| 24 | Cathedral | 1-1 | Lost to Beaumont. | at John Curtis Christian (LA) |
| 25 | Chaminade | 1-1 | Fell in a home loss to Valencia. | at Servite |
