For those of you following us since the release of the 2023 Preseason High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football, it will come as no surprise that Mater Dei and St. John Bosco are No. 1 and No. 2 in our preseason California Top 25. That’s the same spot they hold in our national rankings.
Related: Preseason 300
The two national heavyweights, who have won five of the last five of the last six High School Football America national championships, lead a strong contingent of CIF-Southern Section teams in the statewide rankings created with our proprietary algorithm that is celebrating its 11th year in 2023. In all, 17 teams from the CIF-SS are in the Top 25.
Add in reigning Division 1-AA champ Lincoln (San Diego) at No. 5, Carlsbad at No. 18 and Madison (San Diego) at No. 24, the southern part of the state dominates with 20 teams in the rankings.
The highest ranked team from the northern part of the state is San Mateo’s Serra at No. 8. The Padres finished runner-up in the Open Division last year, losing to national champ St. John Bosco.
High School Football America California Top 25
| Ranking/Team | 2022 Record | HSFA 300 National Ranking |
| No. 1 Mater Dei | (12-1) | 1 |
| No. 2 St. John Bosco | (13-1) | 2 |
| No. 3 Corona Centennial | (9-2) | 22 |
| No. 4 Mission Viejo | (10-2) | 27 |
| No. 5 Lincoln (San Diego) | (13-1) | NR |
| No. 6 Orange Lutheran | (7-5) | 57 |
| No. 7 Sierra Canyon | (10-5) | 69 |
| No. 8 Serra (San Mateo) | (13-1) | 71 |
| No. 9 Long Beach Poly | (10-1) | 85 |
| No. 10 Folsom | (12-2) | 91 |
| No. 11 De La Salle | (10-4) | 96 |
| No. 12 JSerra | (6-6) | 98 |
| No. 13 Chaminade | (10-3) | 107 |
| No. 14 Santa Margarita | (6-5) | 111 |
| No. 15 Edison (Huntington Beach) | (9-2) | 113 |
| No. 16 Los Alamitos | (9-3) | 120 |
| No. 17 Inglewood | (13-1) | 145 |
| No. 18 Carlsbad | (10-2) | 147 |
| No. 19 Serra (Gardena) | (7-5) | 155 |
| No. 20 Bishop Amat | (9-4) | 161 |
| No. 21 Rancho Cucamonga | (9-3) | 183 |
| No. 22 Liberty (Bakersfield) | (13-2) | 195 |
| No. 23 Pittsburg | (12-3) | 197 |
| No. 24 Madison (San Diego) | (9-2) | 204 |
| No. 25 St. Bonaventure | (7-4) | 243 |
Editor’s Note: The High School Football America national, regional and state rankings are developed using our proprietary algorithm.
