Tennessee High School Football Rankings: Preseason Top 25 teams
Tennessee high school football continues to churn out more and more coveted prospects being recruited by Power 4 programs at the next level. This season should be no different, as many of the Volunteer State’s top high school teams feature blue-chip players in their junior and senior classes.
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 — four defending state champions rank inside Tennessee’s preseason top 10.
Chattanooga McCallie enters this year as the highest-rated team in the state fresh off of a Division II Class 3A title win. Below are the top 25 programs in Tennessee heading into the 2024 season.
1. Chattanooga McCallie
The Blue Tornado are fresh off of a Division II Class 3A title-winning 12-1 season in 2023 with the goal of repeating that feat in 2024. McCallie ranks No. 1 overall in Tennessee and No. 161 nationwide. The Blue Tornado will kick off their title defense on Aug. 23 at home against Chattanooga Christian. McCallie will face multiple Tennessee preseason top-25 opponents, including Memphis University School, Brentwood Academy, Chattanooga Baylor, Nashville Father Ryan and Knoxville Catholic. The senior class features four-star Vanderbilt defensive back commit Carson Lawrence, while the juniors are headed by a pair of blue-chippers in four-star cornerback Chaston Smith and four-star wide receiver Keeyshawn Schneider.
2. Murfreesboro Oakland
Oakland’s 2023 season came to a close with a Division I Class 6A state championship loss to Germantown Houston, capping a 12-3 season. The Patriots’ two regular season losses came on the road to Greenwood (Ind.) Center Grove and by one point to Murfreesboro Riverdale. This year, the Pats will open on the road against Thompson’s Station Independence and close the regular season with a rematch against Riverdale. Three-star athlete Daune Morris has been committed to USC since April 7; junior four-star safety Craig Tutt is a top-350 recruit in the 2026 class.
3. Chattanooga Baylor
The Red Raiders were knocked out in the postseason by McCallie last year and will look to avenge that loss on Oct. 4. Baylor kicks off its season on Aug. 25 against Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Ga.). Nashville Lipscomb Academy, Brentwood Academy and Knoxville Catholic are all on the schedule in 2024 for the Raiders. Baylor looks to be loaded with talent in its senior class this season with the likes of four-star wide receiver Cameron Sparks, four-star running back Shekai Mills-Knight, Tennessee receiver commit Joakim Dodson and Georgia Tech offensive line pledge Jimmy Bryson.
4. Nashville Lipscomb Academy
Lipscomb Academy is loaded across the board in its senior class as it looks to improve upon its sub-.500 season in 2023. The Mustangs’ season begins on Aug. 22 against Orlando (Fla.) First Academy with Chattanooga Baylor, Nashville Ensworth, Knoxville Catholic, Brentwood Academy and Chattanooga McCallie all on the schedule. Lipscomb’s 2025 class is led by Colorado four-star offensive line commit Chauncey Gooden, four-star defensive back CJ Jimcoily, three-star linebacker Kris Thompson, Virginia offensive line pledge Jon Adair, West Virginia defensive line commit Amir Leonard-Jean Charles and three-star DL Tony Carter.
5. Maryville
Maryville made it to the second round of the Division I Class 6A playoffs before Cleveland Bradley Central. This year, the Red Rebels will open with Maryville William Blount before facing off with Bradley Central once again on Sept. 6. Knoxville West, Knoxville Bearden, Alcoa and Knoxville Farragut all make appearances on the Rebels’ schedule.
6. Germantown Houston
A 13-2 season for the Mustangs culminated in a Division I Class 6A state title win over Murfreesboro Oakland in 2023, and now Houston will look to defend that title against the likes of Germantown. Last year, Germantown took the regular season matchup 14-13 before Houston got its revenge in the postseason with a 30-10 victory.
7. Nashville Montgomery Bell
Montgomery Bell went 5-7 in 2023, ending with a 33-15 loss to Chattanooga McCallie in the postseason. This year, the Big Red will kick off against Nashville Pearl-Cohn on Aug. 23. Nine of Montgomery Bell’s 10 opponents rate as a preseason top-25 team in Tennessee. In addition to Pearl-Cohn, the Big Red will play Nashville Ensworth, Memphis University School, Nashville Father Ryan, McCallie, Knoxville Catholic, Lipscomb Academy, Chattanooga Baylor and Brentwood Academy. Montgomery Bell is quarterbacked by junior three-star Hugh Price.
8. Nashville Christ Presbyterian
The Division II Class 2A state championship belonged to the Christ Presbyterian Lions in 2023 with a 35-13 win over Chattanooga Boyd-Buchanan. The Lions will look to repeat against a tough 2024 schedule that includes a season-opener against Brentwood Academy and follow-up games against Nashville Pearl-Cohn and Nashville Montgomery Bell. Presbyterian lost a number of ranked prospects from the class of 2024, including Georgia defensive back Ondre Evans and Ole Miss OL John Wayne Oliver, among others.
9. Knoxville West
Division I Class 5A champs in 2023, West is also looking to defend its state title in 2024. The Rebels’ season starts on the road against Knoxville Bearden on Aug. 24. West’s schedule also includes games against Knoxville Farragut, Maryville and Alcoa.
10. Brentwood Academy
One of Brentwood Academy’s two wins in 2023 came in the postseason against Memphis Briarcrest Christian. The Eagles’ tough 2024 schedule includes games against Brentwood, Nashville Father Ryan, Chattanooga McCallie, Chattanooga Baylor, Knoxville Catholic, Lipscomb Academy and Nashville Montgomery Bell. But this loaded senior class should be up to the challenge. Tennessee top-50 quarterback commit George MacIntyre will lead the way for the Eagles this season. Joining MacIntyre are Georgia DL commit Stephon Shivers, Duke running back pledge Kolbe Harmon, three-star athlete Tamari Hill and three-star offensive tackle Kaden Mowl.
11. Cleveland Bradley Central
12. Nashville Ensworth
13. Germantown
14. Brentwood
15. Alcoa
16. Murfreesboro Riverdale
17. Knoxville Bearden
18. Brentwood Ravenwood
19. Powell
20. Knoxville Catholic
21. Knoxville Farragut
22. Nashville Pearl-Cohn
23. Nashville Father Ryan
24. Memphis University School
25. Memphis Bartlett