California High School Football Rankings: Preseason Top 25 teams

The state of California continues to deliver some of the best high school football in the nation. That’s set to be the case once again in 2024.

Football in the Golden State is set to begin on Aug. 15. The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory. According to the model, the No. 1 program in the nation is once again in California.

Mater Dei leads the way, but who else is at the top alongside the Monarchs? Six additional schools crack the top 100 nationally, while an additional seven are inside the top 200. Below are the top 25 teams in California heading into the 2024 season.

1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana)

Rated as the No. 1 team in the nation ahead of the 2024 campaign, Mater Dei is once again loaded on both sides of the ball. Currently favored in every regular season game by a wide margin, new head coach Raul Lara and the Monarchs tout more than 10 blue-chip recruits and a wave of others committed to Power Four programs. 2026 Ohio State Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver commit Chris Henry Jr. is the nation’s top recruit in the junior class, while the likes of Alabama four-star cornerback commit Chuck McDonald, Oregon 4-star linebacker commit Nasir Wyatt and Oregon four-star running back commit Jordon Davison highlight a stout senior class.

2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower)

The Braves defeated Mater Dei last season before falling to the Monarchs in a rematch in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 final. Once again projected to be a clear top-two program in the state, Bosco, which ranks No. 5 nationally, will lean on the likes of 2026 four-star athlete Madden Williams, 2026 USC 3-star ATH commit Joshua Holland and 2026 Arkansas 3-star safety commit Tay Lockett. The top two teams in the state are set to square off at Mater Dei on Oct. 25.

3. Centennial (Corona)

The final California program to check in inside the top 25 nationally, Centennial is led by one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 cycle in Texas A&M five-star commit Husan Longstreet. The gunslinger improved his stock ahead of his senior season this summer and will a nightmare for defenses across the state. Six other seniors committed to Power Four schools are on the roster, including new Michigan State three-star cornerback pledge LaRue Zamorano and Arizona State three-star wide receiver commit Cory Butler Jr. Centennial opens the season at Mater Dei on Aug. 23.

4. Mission Viejo

The Diablos also have a five-star in the mix in Alabama five-star cornerback commit Dijon Lee, the No. 1 prospect in the state in the 2025 cycle, per the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s flanked by a stacked receiving core, headlined by four-star WR Phillip Bell and 2026 four-star WR Vance Spafford. 2026 four-star quarterback Luke Fahey is a top-20 junior signal-caller. Mission Viejo is currently favored in each of its regular season games, per the Massey Ratings.

5. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)

The Trailblazers are set to take on one of the state’s toughest schedules but look to have the firepower necessary to come out on the other side near the top. Cal three-star athlete commit Jae’on Young, Utah three-star quarterback commit Wyatt Becker and 2026 USC three-star athlete commit Madden Riordan will lead the way for longtime head coach Jon Ellinghouse.

6. J Serra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)

Another grueling schedule awaits J Serra, which finished just 5-6 a season ago. The Lions are bringing one of the top defenses in the state to the table, led by four-star linebacker Madden Faraimo, the nation’s No. 8 LB and the No. 6 player in California. Arizona State three-star quarterback commit Michael Tollefson, Washington three-star IOL commit Jake Flores and 2026 four-star EDGE Simote Katoanga are among those to watch for the Lions, who open the year against Sierra Canyon.

7. Servite (Anaheim)

Slated to finish the regular season against three teams in the preseason top 10 in-state, Servite will bring one of the best offenses in the state to the field this season. Michigan State three-star quarterback commit Leo Hannan threw for over 2,400 yards last season and is poised for a big senior campaign.

8. Orange Lutheran

The Lancers’ roster features multiple blue-chippers in the 2025 and 2026 cycles, including: Nebraska four-star quarterback commit TJ Lateef, Arizona State four-star tight end commit AJ Ia, 2026 four-star linebacker Talanoa Ili and 2026 four-star IOL Samuelu Utu. Per the Massey Ratings, Lutheran’s strength of schedule is No. 1 in the state, as it will take on the likes of Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, Servite and Bishop Gorman (Nev.).

9. De La Salle (Concord)

The Spartans reeled off 11 consecutive victories last season, adding another chapter to an illustrious program that’s consistently one of the best in the Golden State. Oregon four-star defensive lineman commit Matt Johnson is the top prospect on the De La Salle roster, checking in as a top-25 DL and a top-25 player in the state. The Spartans are projected to have the lowest strength of schedule of teams in the top 10.

10. Los Alamitos

The Griffins managed nine wins a season ago and are projected to have the No. 5 offensive power in the state by the Massey Ratings. Arizona State three-star IOL commit Maki Stewart, Cal three-star running back commit Anthony League and 2026 USC three-star wide receiver commit Ja’Myron Baker are among those set to lead the fight for Los Alamitos. The Griffins are set to close the regular season in a big clash at Mission Viejo.

11. Santa Margarita
12. Folsom
13. Junipero Serra (San Mateo)
14. Lincoln (San Diego)
15. Junipero Serra (Gardena)
16. San Clemente
17. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)
18. Rancho Cucamonga
19. Carlsbad
20. Rocklin
21. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)
22. St. Mary’s (Stockton)
23. Long Beach Poly
24. Pittsburg
25. Edison (Huntington Beach)