2026 Preseason HSFA California Top 25 High School Football Rankings
The High School Football America California Top 25 high school football rankings, powered by NFL Play Football, are loaded with teams that will not only be challenging for state championships, but also be in the hunt for an HSFA national championship.
At the top is two-time HSFA national champ St. John Bosco. The Braves are also No. 1 in the HSFA 300 national rankings. We’ll find out quickly how good Bosco is when it opens the regular season against Nevada power Bishop Gorman, which starts the season No. 2 in HSFA’s national rankings.
Reigning California Open Division champ Santa Margarita starts at No. 2. Former NFL quarterback Carson Palmer enters his second season with plenty of young talent that could lead to a long run at the top of the ultra-tough Trinity League, which placed all six of its teams in the statewide Top 25 rankings.
Palmer is now one of two former NFL players coaching in the Trinity League. Former NFL linebacker Hardy Nickerson took over as head coach of the JSerra program late last year. JSerra starts the year at No. 17.
Checking in at No. 3 is Corona Centennial, under the direction of legendary head coach Matt Logan. The Huskies’ only losses last year came against Santa Margarita.
Five-time HSFA national champ Mater Dei is No. 4, followed by Folsom at No. 5, De La Salle at No. 6, Sierra Canyon at No. 7, Mission Viejo at No. 8, Orange Lutheran at No. 9 and Servite at No. 10.
Below is the complete Top 25, created with HSFA’s proprietary algorithm.
High School Football America California Top 25
| Ranking/Team | 2025 Record | Preseason HSFA 300 Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 St. John Bosco | 9-2 | 1 |
| No. 2 Santa Margarita | 11-3 | 7 |
| No. 3 Corona Centennial | 11-2 | 9 |
| No. 4 Mater Dei | 8-3 | 10 |
| No. 5 Folsom | 14-1 | 25 |
| No. 6 De La Salle | 12-1 | 29 |
| No. 7 Sierra Canyon | 10-1 | 30 |
| No. 8 Mission Viejo | 9-2 | 37 |
| No. 9 Orange Lutheran | 3-9* | 74 |
| No. 10 Servite | 6-5 | 76 |
| No. 11 Central East (Fresno) | 14-1 | 111 |
| No. 12 Archbishop Riordan | 12-1 | 141 |
| No. 13 Cathedral Catholic | 11-3 | 154 |
| No. 14 Los Alamitos | 12-3 | 168 |
| No. 15 Pittsburg | 9-3 | 178 |
| No. 16 Lincoln (San Diego) | 10-3 | 180 |
| No. 17 JSerra | 3-7 | 183 |
| No. 18 Pacifica (Oxnard) | 14-1 | 204 |
| No. 19 Murrieta Valley | 9-4 | 221 |
| No. 20 San Clemente | 9-5 | 246 |
| No. 21 Vista Murrieta | 9-3 | 250 |
| No. 22 Damien | 8-3 | 256 |
| No. 23 Carlsbad | 10-2 | 263 |
| No. 24 Mission Hills | 9-2 | 266 |
| No. 25 San Juan Hills | 2-10** | 281 |
*Record includes two forfeits
**Record includes seven forfeits
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