IMG Academy has changed the names of its football teams, and it will make it a lot easier for high school fans trying to figure out which IMG squad their favorite team is facing.
IMG will roll out three high school teams this fall: National, Junior National and State.
The names, basic and self-explanatory, replace names such as Blue and White.
“Changing our football team names to the National, Junior National and State football teams bring more clarity to our families and our student-athletes on the level of competition each team will face,” IMG director of football Kyle Brey said in a statement released to the USA TODAY Florida Network. “These new names will continue to grow our program with more interest from talented student-athletes. The state team is now clearly defined as a level for student-athletes who are looking to develop and build more film against varsity opponents for college placement. The National Team remains the premier high school football program in the country.”
The National team currently is scheduled to play just two in-state opponents this season: at Mandarin on Sept. 19 and at Venice on Oct. 3. Venice was the Class 7A state champion in 2024, while Mandarin was a state-runner up in 2023.
The National team, which hired former LSU offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa as its new coach in April, is expected to be among the top teams in the country this fall.
IMG Academy has have 10 players on the USA TODAY Florida Network top 100, more than any other team in the state. The list includes edge rusher Jake Kreul (No. 3), offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe (No. 6, USC commit) and safety Zech Fort (No. 11, Georgia commit).
The Junior National team currently is scheduled to only play in-state opponents, including Community School of Naples, Manatee, Riverview Sarasota and Ponte Vedra. The State team’s schedule includes Tohopekaliga, Ida Baker and Bayshore.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: IMG Academy football changing team names for 2025 high school season
Reporting by Jon Santucci, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
