Mater Dei. If you’ve followed prep sports for more than five minutes, that name probably makes you roll your eyes or cheer, depending on whether you’re from Santa Ana or literally anywhere else. But honestly, looking at the usa today high school football rankings 2024, they didn't just stumble into that top spot. They earned it by playing a schedule that would make some mid-major college teams sweat.
High school football is different now. It isn't just about local bragging rights or who wins the town's "Turkey Bowl." It’s a multi-million dollar machine with national TV deals and private jets. The USA Today Super 25 has been the gold standard for tracking this chaos since 1982.
How the USA Today High School Football Rankings 2024 Shook Out
The Monarchs of Mater Dei finished the 2024 season at the very top. They went 13-0. Basically, they took every challenger—including Bishop Gorman and St. John Bosco—and reminded everyone why California's Trinity League is often called the toughest division in the country. They capped it all off by dismantling De La Salle 37-15 in the CIF Open Division title game.
But it wasn't just a West Coast party.
Milton High out of Georgia made a massive statement. They ran the table, finishing 15-0 and securing a second consecutive state championship. Their quarterback, Luke Nickel, who is headed to Miami, put up video game numbers in the finals. We’re talking 413 yards and four touchdowns on 21-of-22 passing. That is absurd efficiency for a kid who can't legally buy a beer yet.
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Down in Texas, the story was North Crowley. They grabbed their first UIL 6A Division 1 championship. People sometimes forget how hard it is to win in Texas. You have to win six or seven playoff games against schools that have larger enrollments than some small cities. North Crowley didn't just win; they dominated Westlake 50-21 in the final.
The Top 10 Breakdown (The Real Heavy Hitters)
While everyone argues about who should be number one, the top ten usually tells the real story of where the talent is moving. Here is how the elite tier looked at the end of the 2024 cycle:
- Mater Dei (CA): 13-0. The undisputed kings.
- Milton (GA): 15-0. Georgia's powerhouse that refuses to blink.
- Bishop Gorman (NV): 11-1. Their only loss was a narrow one to Mater Dei.
- North Crowley (TX): 16-0. The new titans of Texas football.
- Bergen Catholic (NJ): 11-1. Continued their dominance in the Northeast.
- Archbishop Spalding (MD): 12-0. Won three straight MIAA A titles.
- Chaminade-Madonna (FL): 13-2. Florida's most consistent threat.
- Venice (FL): 14-1. Only a late-season stumble kept them from top 5.
- Duncanville (TX): 13-1. A perennial monster that ran into the North Crowley buzzsaw.
- North Shore (TX): 14-1. Always in the hunt, fell just short in the semis.
Why Rankings Matter (And Why They Sorta Don't)
Rankings are a "mythical" national championship. That’s the official term. Since there is no actual playoff between the state champions of Florida and California, we rely on analysts and algorithms to tell us who is best. It’s a mix of strength of schedule, margin of victory, and the "eye test."
One thing most people get wrong about the usa today high school football rankings 2024 is thinking they are purely based on record. They aren't. A 10-2 team playing in the Southern Section of California might be ranked way higher than a 14-0 team in a less competitive state. It’s about who you beat and how you looked doing it.
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Take St. Frances Academy in Maryland. They often play a "national" schedule, traveling thousands of miles to play the best teams. Even with a loss or two, they usually stay high in the rankings because they aren't padding their stats against local cupcakes.
The Georgia Surge
Georgia is arguably the most talent-rich state per capita right now. Between Milton, Grayson, and Carrollton, the Peach State is becoming the center of the recruiting universe. Grayson actually jumped back into the top 20 late in the season after knocking off a then-top-5 Carrollton team in the 6A finals.
It’s a reminder that these rankings are fluid. One bad snap in December can drop you ten spots. Or, in the case of some Texas teams, one loss in the semifinals can effectively end your national title hopes, regardless of how good you looked in September.
Realities of the Modern Prep Game
It’s kinda wild to think about, but the top teams in the usa today high school football rankings 2024 operate like professional organizations. We are seeing kids transfer across state lines just to play for these programs.
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Look at IMG Academy. They finished 9-0 and stayed in the top 10. They don't even play for a state championship because they are an independent "sports academy." Some fans hate it. They think it ruins the spirit of high school sports. Others see it as the natural evolution of the game.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan trying to keep up with the next generation of stars, don't just look at the final records. Dive into the rosters of the top 25 teams. You’ll find that nearly every starter on a team like Mater Dei or St. Thomas Aquinas is a Division I prospect.
Start following the 2025 preseason lists which usually drop in late summer. It’s also worth checking out the "Super 25 Regional" rankings if you want to see who the best teams are in your specific neck of the woods without the national noise. Keep an eye on the transfer portal—yes, even for high schoolers—as that’s where the 2025 rankings will be won or lost before the first kickoff even happens.
Check the MaxPreps "strength of schedule" metrics for these top teams. It helps explain why a one-loss team like Bishop Gorman can still be considered better than most undefeated teams in the country. Understanding that nuance is the difference between being a casual fan and a real student of the game.