Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings: Preseason Top 25 teams

The Pennsylvania high school football season is bearing down just a few weeks away.

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 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania features one of the top 100 programs nationally and a few just outside.

Below are the top 25 teams in Pennsylvania heading into the 2024 season.

1) St. Joseph’s Prep

The top program in Pennsylvania’s top classification, St. Joseph’s is in search of its third consecutive state championship and sixth in seven years. Four-star Duke linebacker commit Cam Smith and Notre Dame four-star commit Anthony Sacca headline their roster.

2) Pittsburgh Central Catholic

Penn State commit Xxavier Thomas, Duke pledge Bradley Gompers, and talented 2026 linebacker Colsen Gatten lead the way for Central Catholic, one of the premier programs in the Pittsburgh area. They’ll start the season with a massive matchup against Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy before facing Pine-Richland, Mount Lebanon and North Allegheny as well.

3) North Allegheny

The Tigers fell just short of a state championship in 2023, falling 45-23 to St. Joseph’s Prep in the 6A title game. They come into 2024 with a mission in mind to get over the hump and win their first chip since 2012. On the way to the playoffs, they’ll face a few key hurdles with showdowns against Central Catholic, Pine-Richland and Mount Lebanon on the slate.

4) Imhotep Charter

Defending 5A state champions Imhotep Charter are back in pursuit of another title with four-star Ohio State commit Zahir Mathis, and Penn State four-star commit Jabree Wallace-Coleman leading the way. Notably, they’ll face Illinois powerhouse East St. Louis High in early September.

5) Harrisburg

Few programs — if any — are more loaded with Division I talent than Harrisburg. They’re led by elite 2026 offensive lineman Kevin Brown and Penn State four-star running back commit Messiah Mickens, as well as four-star 2026 wideout Elias Coke, and On300 2026 running back and Syracuse pledge D’Antae Sheffey. They’ll face a loaded schedule that features preseason top 10 teams LaSalle and Bishop McDevitt in the first two weeks of the season.

6) Peters Township

Peters Township came within a game of its first-ever state championship last season, falling to Imhotep Charter in the PIAA Class 5 finals. This year, they’ll have a chance to get back there with a favorable schedule that includes a showdown with preseason No. 18 Mount Lebanon in Week 2. Maryland commit Dante Recker is a key player to watch.

7) Pine-Richland

Following a 9-4 season in 2023 where they advanced to the 5A WPIAL finals, the Rams are back for more in 2024. A handful of tough matchups are in front of them though, including games against Central Catholic, Aliquippa, and North Allegheny to end the year.

8) La Salle

After a disappointing 6-5 campaign in 2023, La Salle enters 2024 as one of the state’s top teams. Led by four-star 2026 safety Joey O’Brien, Syracuse wide receiver commit Julian McFadden, and West Virginia linebacker pledge Chris Fileppo, they’ll have one of the state’s most formidable rosters. Awaiting them is a challenging slate that includes a Week 0 tilt with Harrisburg, a Week 2 matchup with Malvern and an early October showdown with preseason No. 1 St. Joseph’s Prep.

9) Malvern Prep

2026 four-star defensive lineman Cameron Brickle for Malvern Prep, who enters the year with sky-high expectations. In addition to a Week One matchup with No. 8 LaSalle, they’ll also face Washington D.C. area powerhouse Gonzaga later in the season as well.

10) Bishop McDevitt

The Crusaders are led by quarterback Stone Saunders, a Kentucky commit, as well as three-star 2026 running back Maurice Barnes. Early in the year, they’ll face a massively tough test when they host top-five program Harrisburg in Week Two.

11. Manheim Township
12. Parkland
13. Downington East
14. Nazareth
15. Roman Catholic

16. Aliquippa
17. Penn Hills
18. Mount Lebanon
19. Mckeesport
20. Coatesville

21. Downington West
22. Belle Vernon
23. Central Bucks West
24. Manheim Central
25. Central Bucks South