FRISCO, Texas – Here are the final 2016 Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings.

For the second straight season, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) are the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions! The Gaels played one of the toughest schedules in the country and won an eighth straight Nevada large-school state championship. This was one of the nation’s most talented teams in recent memory.

The season officially came to a close on Friday night here at the Ford Center at The Star when the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series was staged. It was a great event with three teams from the Elite 25 competing for national pride.

St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Chandler (Ariz.) won the bowl games. These are considered pioneering games with the prep football world watching on ESPNU and wondering if there state association or league will give them the OK to participate here next year. State championship programs from Florida, Utah, Georgia and Arizona played and deserve credit for taking on the challenge and looking to raise their profiles

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 return in August 2017 with the preseason rankings. In the meantime, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and be sure to check for the boys and girls’ basketball rankings that run weekly until the conclusion of their seasons in early April.

We hope to see you at a game soon. — Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Final Football Rankings, Dec. 24, 2016

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (15-0)*

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Won Class 4A championship. The Gaels have won eight straight state crowns. Season complete.

2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (12-0)*

Previous rank: 2.

Recap: Won fourth consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Season complete.

3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (11-0)

Previous rank: 3.

Recap: The Ascenders do not compete for a state championship. Season complete.

4. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (14-0)*

Previous rank: 4.

Recap: Won the Class 5A state championship. It is the Patriots’ third title in four seasons. Season complete.

5. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (13-2)*

Previous rank: 5.

Recap: Won Class 7A championship for the program’s 10th overall. Also stopped then-No. xx Bingham (South Jordan, Utah), 33-25, at the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series in Frisco, Texas.

6. DeSoto, Texas (16-0)*

Previous rank: 6.

Recap: Won Class 6A, Division II championship, defeating then-No. xx Cibolo Steele, 38-29, before 40,318 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. TCU-bound QB Shawn Robinson accounted for three touchdowns and 410 yards of offense, including 220 in the air and two scores. This was the program’s first-ever state title. Season complete.

7. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (13-1)*

Previous rank: 8.

Recap: Will VanPamelen kicked a 25-yard field goal in overtime, lifting the Rams over then-No. 10 Roswell, 23-20, in the Class AAAAAAA final. The Rams captured their second state title and the first since 2011. Jeff Herron became the first coach in state history to win state titles at three Georgia schools. Season complete.

8. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (13-2)*

Previous rank: 9.

Recap: Won CIF Open Division championship, defeating regionally-ranked De La Salle (Concord), 56-33. The Braves lost to ranked teams No. 1 Gorman (Las Vegas) and league rival No. 14 Mater Dei (Santa Ana). It was the program’s second Open Division title in four years. Season complete.

9. Lake Travis, Austin, Texas (15-1)*

Previous rank: 10.

Recap: Won Class 6A, Division I state championship, defeating then-No. 7 The Woodlands, 41-13. The Cavaliers chalked up a 20-0 lead after one quarter and 27-6 at the break as SMU-bound QB Charlie Brewer threw for three scores, finishing 27 of 37 for 362 yards and four TDs. Season complete.

10. Roswell, Ga. (15-1)

Previous rank: 13.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 11 Grayson (Loganville), 23-20, in overtime in Class AAAAAAA final. Season complete.

11. Cass Tech, Detroit (14-0)*

Previous rank: 14.

Recap: Won Division 1 state championship.

12. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (14-1)*

Previous rank: 15.

Recap: Won Class 5A state championship. The Miners lost to No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 33-25, in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series in Frisco, Texas. Season complete.

13. The Woodlands, Texas (15-1)

Previous rank: 7.

Recap: Advanced to Class 6A, Division I final, losing to then-No. 10 Lake Travis (Austin), 41-13. Season complete.

14. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (13-1)

Previous rank: 11.

Recap: The Monarchs won the Trinity League title but fell in the in CIF-Southern Section Division I final.

15. Allen, Texas (14-1)

Previous rank: 12.

Recap: Advanced to the Class 6A, Division I semifinals.

16. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (14-0)*

Previous rank: 16.

Recap: Won their 25th straight game, earned a ninth state title in 11 years and 10th overall.

17. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (14-0)*

Previous rank: 17.

Recap: Won PIAA Class AAAAAA state championship.

18. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (15-0)*

Previous rank: 18.

Recap: Won Class 6A state championship.

19. Whitehaven, Memphis, Tenn. (15-0)*

Previous rank: 19.

Recap: Won Class 6A state championship.

20. Chandler, Ariz. (13-2)*

Previous rank: 23.

Recap: Won 6A Conference championship and beat Valdosta (Ga.), 44-24, at the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series in Frisco, Texas. The Wolves won their second title in three years and closed on a 13-game win streak. Season complete.

21. Hoover, Ala. (12-2)*

Previous rank: 20.

Recap: Won Class 7A state championship.

22. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (13-1)

Previous rank: 21.

Recap: Advanced to Class 7A final.

23. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (14-2)

Previous rank: 22.

Recap: Advanced to the Class 6A, Division II final but fell to No. 6 DeSoto, 38-29. Season complete.

24. East, Salt Lake City, Utah (14-0)*

Previous rank: 24.

Recap: Won Class 4A state championship. The Leopards won a second straight title in November.

25. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (13-1)

Previous rank: 25.

Recap: Advanced to 6A Conference championship game.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (9-2)*
2. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (10-2)*
3. Wise, Upper Marlboro, Md. (14-0)*
4. Highland Springs, Va. (14-1)*
5. Troy, N.Y. (13-0)*

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

Midwest

1. East St. Louis, Ill. (14-0)*
2. Kimberly, Wis. (14-0)*
3. Totino-Grace, Fridley, Minn. (13-0)*
4. Bellevue (Neb.) West (13-0)*
5. Roncalli, Indianapolis (15-0)*

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

Southland

1. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (15-0)*
2. Clinton, Miss. (14-1)*
3. South Pointe, Rock Hill, S.C. (14-1)*
4. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (13-1)
5. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (14-1)

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

Far West

1. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego (15-0)*
2. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (11-2)*
3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (11-2)
4. West Linn, Ore. (14-0)*
5. Camas, Wash. (14-0)*

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

* Won state or conference/league/sectional postseason championship

 About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from September 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 late December. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.