Get ready, Illinois high school football fans! The first week of the season brought some huge upsets and incredible performances, shaking up the top of the rankings. After a thrilling opening weekend, a new team has taken the top spot. Here are the latest Illinois high school football top 25 rankings as of September 4, 2025.
The Mount Carmel Caravan (1-0) has seized the top spot after a thrilling 43-42 victory over Ohio’s Cincinnati Moeller. In a back-and-forth battle, quarterback Emmett Dowling led the Caravan to a game-winning touchdown and a successful two-point conversion with no time left on the clock. Dowling was a standout, throwing for 382 yards and four touchdowns while adding another 64 yards on the ground.
While Mount Carmel made the biggest jump, several other teams showed why they’re considered elite. The Lincoln-Way East Griffins (1-0) dominated Maine South in a 40-0 shutout, with USC commit Jonas Williams throwing for 315 yards and four touchdowns.
Despite a close loss, East St. Louis (0-1) remains in the top five. The Flyers fell 22-21 to nationally ranked Bergen Catholic (N.J.) after a blocked punt was returned for a touchdown in the final minute. Similarly, Loyola (1-0) secured a tight 21-14 victory over Merrillville (Ind.), thanks to a late touchdown pass from sophomore Matthew Lee.
Beyond the top five, some teams made big statements in Week 1. Warren (1-0) saw a monster performance from Illinois commit Aaron Stewart, who rushed for 438 yards and six touchdowns. St. Rita (1-0) jumped into the top 10 after a dramatic 28-21 win against rival Marist, highlighted by a program-record-setting two-touchdown performance from quarterback Stephen Armbruster.
Three new teams have also entered the Illinois high school football top 25 rankings this week: Prairie Ridge (1-0), Glenbard West (1-0), and Glenbrook South (1-0), all earning their spots with impressive season-opening victories.
Top 25 Illinois High School Football Rankings (9/4/25)
| Rank | Team | Record | Preseason Ranking | Last Week’s Result |
| 1 | Mount Carmel | 1-0 | 3 | Def. Cincinnati Moeller (Ohio) 43-42 |
| 2 | Lincoln-Way East | 1-0 | 4 | Def. Maine South 40-0 |
| 3 | East St. Louis | 0-1 | 1 | Lost to Bergan Catholic (N.J.) 22-21 |
| 4 | Loyola | 1-0 | 2 | Def. Merrillville (Ind.) 21-14 |
| 5 | Nazareth | 1-0 | 7 | Def. Kankakee 33-12 |
| 6 | Brother Rice | 1-0 | 10 | Def. Valparaiso (Ind.) 43-19 |
| 7 | Warren | 1-0 | 12 | Def. Hersey 43-36 |
| 8 | Downers Grove North | 1-0 | 6 | Def. Morgan Park 11-8 |
| 9 | Fremd | 1-0 | 13 | Def. Lake Zurich 35-3 |
| 10 | St. Rita | 1-0 | 18 | Def. Marist 28-21 |
| 11 | Prairie Ridge | 1-0 | NR | Def. Cary-Grove 34-21 |
| 12 | Glenbard West | 1-0 | NR | Def. Batavia 31-28 |
| 13 | Batavia | 0-1 | 8 | Lost to Glenbard West 31-28 |
| 14 | Marist | 0-1 | 11 | Lost to St. Rita 28-21 |
| 15 | Maine South | 0-1 | 5 | Lost to Lincoln-Way East 40-0 |
| 16 | St. Francis | 1-0 | 19 | Def. Kenwood 38-34 |
| 17 | Glenbrook South | 1-0 | NR | Def. York 35-28 (OT) |
| 18 | York | 0-1 | 9 | Lost to Glenbrook South 35-28 (OT) |
| 19 | Normal | 1-0 | 15 | Def. Richwoods 40-6 |
| 20 | Geneva | 1-0 | 17 | Def. Larkin 56-0 |
| 21 | Fenwick | 1-0 | 20 | Def. DePaul Prep 40-14 |
| 22 | Montini | 1-0 | 21 | Def. Lumen Christi (Mich.) 20-16 |
| 23 | St. Charles North | 1-0 | 22 | Def. Minooka 36-35 |
| 24 | Palatine | 1-0 | 24 | Def. Rolling Meadows 39-22 |
| 25 | Richards | 1-0 | 25 | Def. Crete-Monee 51-41 |
