Miami Northwestern to open 2025 versus Orange Lutheran (Calif.)

When Teddy Bridgewater’s Miami Northwestern Bulls (Fla.) begins its defense of the FHSAA Class 3A title this fall, they’ll do so against an opponent from across the country. Arguably one of the top five teams on the West Coast will be making the travel out to Traz Powell Stadium for what should be a cinematic opener.

On Thursday afternoon, the Bulls officially announced its 2025 slate of games with the headliner being a matchup against California power Orange Lutheran, who checked in at No. 17 in the Way-Too-Early National High School Football Top 25 Rankings.

The Bulls are coming off Bridgewater’s first year at the helm of his alma mater, in which the NFL quarterback led Northwestern to its eighth state championship in program history. Northwestern didn’t just win Class 3A, but dominated the field on their way to celebrating at Florida International’s Pitbull Stadium.

Bridgewater is coming off his first season as Miami Northwestern’s head coach, the alma mater of which he played his high school football at. The former Louisville star was tabbed as the Bulls’ head coach back on Feb. 2, 2024.

Northwestern out-scored its playoff opponents 262-12, including a 41-0 rout over Jacksonville Raines in Florida’s 3A state championship game. The Bulls has set their sights on winning consecutive titles as they have many of its starters coming back, including senior quarterback Leon Strawder and 2026 5-star wide receiver Calvin Russell.

Before the regular season commences, as apart of the ‘Treasure Coast Kickoff Classic’ hosted by Vero Beach High School, the Bulls will take on 9-time state champion Lakeland Dreadnaughts and are set to square off on August 16, 7 p.m.

The following week Northwestern will host its season opener against Orange Lutheran, which finished 8-4 in the CIF’s Trinity League in 2024.

Other notable dates dotted along the Bulls’ 2025 slate includes a Aug. 29 date with 4-time state champion Venice (Fla.), at home versus Miami Norland on Sep. 12, on the road to 3-time state champs Columbus (Fla.) on Sep. 19 and a rivalry tilt against Miami Central on Oct. 4.

Miami Northwestern 2025 football schedule

Aug. 16 – vs. Lakeland (Fla.), 7 p.m.

Aug. 23 – vs. Orange Lutheran (Calif.), 7 p.m.

Aug. 29 – vs. Venice (Fla.), 7:30 p.m.

Sep. 4 – vs. Miami Carol City (Fla.), 7 p.m.

Sep 12 – vs. Miami Norland, 7:30 p.m.

Sep. 19 – at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Sep. 26 – vs. Miami Jackson, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 – vs. Miami Central, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 – vs. Key West, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 – GMAC Championship, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 – at St. Brenden Catholic, 7 p.m.