Florida High School Football Rankings: Preseason Top 25 teams

Florida high school football is as little as 10 days away for some schools.

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 state of Florida features nine top-100 programs.

Leading the way in the Sunshine State is Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy. Below are the top 25 teams in Florida heading into the 2024 season.

1. IMG Academy (Bradenton)

The Ascenders continue to poach top talent from around the country and once again have an immensely deep roster ahead of the 2024 season. A total of 17 blue-chippers in the junior and senior classes are in the mix, 11 of whom are top-200 prospects in the On3 Industry Ranking. IMG is set to take on top programs from around the nation and will be led by the likes of Alabama 4-star IOL commit Michael Carroll, Missouri 4-star WR commit Donovan Olugbode and SMU 4-star QB commit Ty Hawkins.

2. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood)

The No. 12 team in the nation, Chaminade-Madonna will look to play in its ninth consecutive state title game. The Lions have won the last three. This year’s senior class features a pair of blue-chip prospects in Miami four-star cornerback commit Chris Ewald and Penn State four-star wide receiver commit Koby Howard. Junior athlete Derrek Cooper is the top player in the state of Florida for the 2026 class and the No. 14 overall recruit in the country. Junior wide receiver and No. 32 overall prospect Jabari Brady keeps the receiver tradition going at Chaminade-Madonna. The Lions will open against Miami Archbishop Carroll on Aug. 16.

3. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)

The Raiders finished 2023 with a 14-1 record and a 3M state championship win over Homestead. Junior safety Justice Fitzpatrick is one of the most talented defensive backs in the 2026 class, ranking inside the top 50 overall nationwide. The Raiders’ group of seniors includes three Power 4 commits: Illinois three-star running back commit Cedric Wyche, Maryland three-star safety pledge Travares Daniels and Pitt three-star EDGE commit Trevor Sommers. St. Thomas Aquinas will start its season on Aug. 15 against Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot.

4. Miami Central

Miami Central ended last season in heartbreaking fashion with an overtime postseason loss to eventual 2M runner-up Miami Norland. This year, the Rockets open on the road at Ocala (Fla.) Vanguard. Central features blue-chip wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery, Miami four-star safety pledge Amari Wallace, Oklahoma DL commit Floyd Boucard, Penn State DL commit Randy Adirika, Miami linebacker pledge Ezekiel Marcelin and Penn State QB commit Bekkem Kritza, among others.

5. Cocoa

Cocoa went 14-1 in 2023, culminating in a 2S state championship win. The Tigers’ lone loss came to St. Thomas Aquinas. Florida State EDGE commit Javion Hilson ranks No. 40 overall, while the opposite side of the ball features Mizzou four-star wide receiver pledge Jayvan Boggs. In the junior class, quarterback Brady Hart is the No. 8 passer in the class and is committed to Michigan.

6. Venice

Venice went 12-3 a year ago before losing in a 60-48 shootout to Lakeland in the 4S state title. This year, the Indians will open against Tampa Bay Tech — a top-20 team in Florida heading into the season. Four-star wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. remains uncommitted after previously pledging to Texas A&M and Colorado.

7. American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale)

American Heritage’s lone regular season loss came in September against Chaminade-Madonna. The Patriots went on to make the postseason before falling to Tampa Berkeley Prep, the 2M champs in Florida. Senior running back Byron Louis is the No. 222 player in the country and is working toward a decision between Florida State, Georgia, Miami and Wisconsin. Junior QB Dia Bell is the No. 4 passer in the 2026 class and committed to Texas in June. Also part of that 2026 class is top-100 wide receiver Brandon Bennett and Miami WR commit Malachi Toney.

8. Christopher Columbus (Miami)

The Explorers finished a 13-2 season with a 4M state title win over Jacksonville Mandarin. This year, Columbus returns top-125 safety Bryce Fitzgerald and FAU linebacker commit Hector Chavez to lead what should be a stout defense. Columbus will open the season on the road at Miami Southridge.

9. Seminole (Sanford)

The Seminole Seminoles lost to eventual 4M runner-up Jacksonville Mandarin and will hope to improve upon that postseason run this year. Miami four-star IOL Max Buchanan will anchor the Seminoles’ offensive line with the job of protecting junior quarterback Michael Clayton.

10. Norland (Miami)

Miami Norland will work to get over that final hump this year as they look to avenge its 2M state title loss to Tampa Berkeley Prep. The final game of the season was the Vikings’ only loss of the year. They will kick off the 2024 campaign against Seffner (Fla.) Armwood on Aug. 17. Norland loses a key piece of its defense in Florida State cornerback Jamari Howard, but returns players like FAU athlete commit Jade Card and UCF EDGE pledge Darryll Desir.

11. F. W. Buchholz (Gainesville)
12. Lakeland
13. Jones (Orlando)
14. Edgewater (Orlando)
15. Bartram Trail (Jacksonville)

16. Mainland (Daytona Beach)
17. Northwestern (Miami)
18. Armwood (Seffner)
19. Berkeley Prep (Tampa)
20. Tampa Bay Tech

21. Lake Mary
22. Mandarin (Jacksonville)
23. Homestead
24. Saint Augustine
25. Jesuit (Tampa)