STANDING PAT: No movement in Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; impactful matchup canceled at No. 2 IMG Academy (FL)

BENSALEM, Pa. – It was an unusual weekend in the world of Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings.

The season shifted into November when dreams are realized and dashed with state championships dominating the national scene. Alaska is the only state that has crowned champions (three of them) but a few things stood out last week. There was a dearth of games involving the Elite 25 and a major matchup between nationally ranked powerhouse programs was abruptly canceled and won’t be played.

It’s official that all teams in the Elite 25—save two and we’ll explain later in this column—are ready to play in the playoffs or have played at least one round.

Last weekend, the Elite 25 saw 14 teams with bye weekends from the states of Georgia, Nevada, California and New Jersey (only Non-Public A) taking a break before the home stretch is played out. Arizona, Louisiana, Florida and Texas have finally released their brackets and will kick off their postseasons this week. Utah moved into its semifinals and No. 20 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) looking to capture another UHSAA Class 6A title. The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season champions, No. 15 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), needs two more wins to repeat as conference champions.

Thankfully, the action will come from all angles this weekend with several great games.

Now for the bizarre out of Florida.

Last Friday, No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and No. 10 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), a pair of independent programs that play national schedules and have issues finding quality games, had the meeting canceled by IMG. St. Frances looked for a makeup date in December with a chance the game would be televised nationally.

In one national ranking service, the teams were 1 and 3. Some feel IMG backed out because St. Frances is stronger and would remain in the top spot. That’s not the case with the Elite 25 and if anything, teams will likely drop because neither team plays for a state or conference championship. Face it, IMG is an all-star team with countless players off to high-major programs and eventually the NFL.

Here’s the prepared statement released by IMG Academy:

“While we were originally scheduled and excited to face St. Frances this evening, given how the season unfolded with the teams becoming the consensus top two teams in the country, there was a unique opportunity to reschedule the matchup into a nationally televised championship that required the date to be moved to mid-December, creating a nearly six-week layoff between games. That extended break raised understandable concerns around player health and safety and the college transition for our seniors. After extensive consideration of what’s best for our student-athletes, the difficult decision was made not to participate in the rescheduled game.

“At IMG Academy, our purpose extends beyond championship. We take great pride in helping student-athletes grow as leaders, and their maturity, unify, and character have made us incredibly proud throughout this difficult decision.”

So, why move the game in the first place? Friday, November 8 was the date, just keep it. The allure of television is great but obviously the ramifications of the layoff was never considered or was this a play to end the season with a No. 1 ranking by some organizations in doubt.

Seriously, the health and safety of the players? Really? There is a reason why players attend IMG for the opportunity to play in these nationally-charged games and perform under the bright lights on TV with colleges looking on. With a month off, the game could have been played. Now will the series between the Under Armour sponsored team resume in 2026?

Last season, St. Frances won, 30-3, to even the all-time series at 3-3.

Southlake (Texas) Caroll, No. 1 in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings, will open the UIL Class 6A, Division II playoffs this weekend and has a tough six-game slog to reach the championship game in December at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Pittsburgh-bound quarterback Angelo Renda has thrown for 2,936 yards and 29 touchdowns, triggering an offense that has outscored foes, 519-74.

There are no shifts in the latest Elite 25 rankings with nine teams having won games and there are no additions. Again, that will change in the coming weeks.

A majority of top games of the week will be played in California on Friday.

That’s because the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals are ready to go with Orange Lutheran at St. John Bosco; Santa Margarita at Sierra Canyon; Mission Viejo at Mater Dei; Servite at Corona Centennial. Five teams from the Elite 25 compose the loaded bracket. The semifinals are Nov. 21.

In Ohio, OHSAA Division 1, Region 4 semifinals involving four Cincinnati teams—three from the GCL South—play at 7 p.m. ET on Friday: Elder vs. Princeton and Archbishop Moeller vs. St. Xavier.

In the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Class 6A final, top-seeded Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) plays North Allegheny (Wexford) on Saturday at Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia. The winner advances to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 6A bracket. Central Catholic and La Salle College High (Wyndmoor) are on a collision course for the 6A final in December.

In Chicago, the Illinois Class 8A quarterfinal matchup sees Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, Ill.) visiting No. 17 Mount Carmel (Chicago) on Friday. Prediction: the winner will go on to win the 8A state championship over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Next time, we’ll highlight state title games in Utah and Wisconsin plus others.

Well, that’s it for the first full weekend in November.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings will return on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Finally, Tuesday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) and honors all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. These men and women need to be recognized for patriotism, love of country and courage to sacrifice for the common good of our country.

If you have a chance, attend a ceremony or parade (it is a federal holiday) in your home town or personally thank a veteran for their service. It’s the right thing to do. Our heartfelt thanks to all veterans living or deceased.

Keep up with us on X (formerly Twitter, @clawlor) for all announcements and other exclusives from the gridiron and the hardwood. The preseason Elite 25 boys basketball rankings dropped on Oct. 31 and the girls will be revealed in mid-November.

Bye for now.

Stay safe. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Nov. 11, 2025

1. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (10-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Thursday vs. Crowley in Class 6A, Division II Region 2 bi-district playoff game.

2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Game with No. 10 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) was cancelled. Season complete.

3. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Norcross in the Class 6A first round.

4. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (9-1)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

5. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (9-1)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Servite (Anaheim) in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

6. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. No. 22 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

8. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (9-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Idle. The Gaels will be rested and ready to go after two weeks off.

Next: Friday vs. Las Vegas High in Nevada Class 5A Open Division semifinals.

9. Buford, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Richmond Hill in Class 6A first round.

10. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (8-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Game with No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) was cancelled. Season complete.

11. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (8-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Heritage (Palm Bay) in the Class 5A, Region 4 quarterfinals.

12. Bixby, Okla. (10-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Norman, 72-3. The Spartans have a bye week and need three more wins to annex an 11^th state championship in the last 12 years.

Next: Nov. 21 vs. Norman or Union (Tulsa) in the Class 6A-I quarterfinals.

13. Carrollton, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. North Forsyth Cumming) in Class 6A first round.

14. Allen, Texas (10-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Plano East, 45-6.

Next: Thursday vs. Lewisville in the Class 6A, Division I Region 1 bi-district playoff game.

15. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (9-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Idle. The Stags will be rested for their latest assignment.

Next: Friday vs. St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference semifinals.

16. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (11-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Jackson-Olin (Birmingham), 49-26, in Class 6A first round.

Next: Friday vs. Gadsden City (Gadsden) in Class 6A second round.

17. Mount Carmel, Chicago (11-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Belleville (Ill.) East, 48-29, in the IHSA Class 8A second round.

Next: Saturday vs. Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, Ill.) in the IHSA Class 8A quarterfinals.

18. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (9-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Seton Hall Prep (West Orange) in the NJSIAA Non-Public A quarterfinals.

19. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (10-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Chandler, 55-41. The Huskies trailed 34-31 after three quarters but rallied to  clinch the 6A Fiesta championship.

Next: Nov. 21 vs. TBD  in Arizona Open Division quarterfinals.

20. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (10-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Syracuse, 56-14, in the Class 6A quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Mountain Ridge (Herriman) in the Class 6A semifinals to be played at University of Utah’s Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

21. Edna Karr, New Orleans (10-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.), 35-14.

Next: Nov. 20-22 vs. Jesuit (New Orleans) or McDonogh #35 (New Orleans) in the LHSA Select Division I Regional playoff game.

22. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (7-3)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at No. 6 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

23. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (9-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Boulder Creek (Anthem), 55-13.

Next: Nov. 21 vs. TBD in Arizona Open Division quarterfinals.

24. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (9-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Crowley, 27-6. The Panthers went 6-0 to win the District 3-6A title.

Next: Friday vs. Keller in Class 6A, Division I Region 1 bi-district playoff game.

25. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (7-2)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Idle. The Lions should run the table for another small-school state championship.

Next: Friday vs. St. John Paul II (Boca Raton) in the Class 1A, Region 4 quarterfinals.

Dropped: None.

High Fives by Region

East

1. La Salle College High, Wyndmoor, Pa. (9-1)
2. Harrisburg, Pa. (11-0)
3. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (10-1)
4. Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse, N.Y. (9-0)
5. St. James Performance Academy, Springfield, Va. (8-1)

Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Midwest

1. Brownsburg, Ind. (11-0)
2. Cass Tech, Detroit (11-0)
3. Elder, Cincinnati (11-0)
4. Detroit Catholic Central, Novi, Mich. (11-0)
5. Olentangy Orange, Lewis Center, Ohio (11-0)

Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Southland

1. Northwestern, Miami (9-0)
2. Grimsley, Greensboro, N.C. (10-0)
3. Ridge Point, Missouri City, Texas (10-0)
4. Bryant, Ark. (10-0)
5. Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tenn. (9-0)

Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Far West

1. Mission Viejo, Calif. (9-1)
2. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (10-0)
3. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (10-0)
4. West Linn, Ore. (10-0)
5. Folsom, Calif. (9-1)

Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Records through Sunday’s games

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from August until the conclusion of the high school season. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition, and quality of the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released in December. Follow him on X (or Twitter) at @clawlor.