Week 1 of the high school football season is right around the corner. Before we get to kickoff on Aug. 21, let’s take a look at the best teams in the state regardless of class with our initial Super 25 rankings:
1: Brownsburg (14-0 last season): Is there any other option? Not to start with. Brownsburg is coming off back-to-back Class 6A state championships and has enough talent on both sides of the ball to make a run at No. 3 for coach John Hart. The season starts with an intriguing visit to Lawrence North. Last season final ranking: 1.
2: Warren Central (8-5): Are the Warriors ready to take the next step? Warren Central finished strong last year with a regional title win over Center Grove before falling to Brownsburg 31-0 in the semistate. There are 14 starters returning for coach J.T. Whitaker, including top-end talent on both sides of ball. The season opener at Center Grove will be an interesting test. Last season final ranking: 6.
3: Westfield (11-3): The Shamrocks have been the standard on the north side of the 6A bracket since 2020, making four state finals appearances, including two in a row. The program is still trying to get its first 6A title after losing 38-31 to Brownsburg in last year’s championship game. Plenty of talent returns at the skill positions for coach Josh Miracle, whose team opens at Homestead. Last season final ranking: 3.
4: Lawrence North (7-3): The Wildcats have plenty of top-end talent, especially at the skill positions with Monshun Sales and Izayveon Moore leading the way. The three losses last year, including a 26-24 loss to Lawrence Central in the first round of the sectional, came by a total of eight points. A huge test in Week 1 when Brownsburg visits. Last season final ranking: 10.
5: Carmel (9-2): The Greyhounds looked poised to make a run to the Class 6A state finals last year, but an overtime loss to Westfield in the sectional championship ended those dreams. There is a good core of players returning on both sides of the ball for second-year coach Kevin Wright. The season opener is at home against Fishers. Last season final ranking: 4.
6: Center Grove (10-2): The Trojans have some inexperience on both sides of the ball for coach Eric Moore but there are plenty of strengths, too, including the return of junior running back Ricky Lange Jr., quarterback Oscar Sloan and linebacker Trew Paxson. The Trojans lost 24-21 to Warren Central in last year’s 6A regional. They will host the Warriors in the opener next week. Last season final ranking: 7.
7: New Palestine (14-0): The Dragons saw a lot of talent graduate from a group that led the Dragons to back-to-back state titles, including last year playing up a class in 5A. But New Palestine will again be a big factor in 5A for coach Kyle Ralph with a group coming back that includes Kansas recruit Mason Oglesby at tight end and Sam Hirschy on the defensive line. A tough opener awaits with Class 5A Illinois state champion Wheaton St. Francis visiting. Last season final ranking: 2.
8: Crown Point (10-1): The Bulldogs were undefeated last year – a fourth consecutive perfect regular season – before falling 28-24 to Penn in the sectional championship. Senior quarterback Tyce Custy, a Lindenwood recruit, passed for 1,069 yards and nine TDs last season. The Bulldogs open at home against Lowell, then host Pike in Week 2. Last season final ranking: 15.
9: Cathedral (7-4): The Irish battled eventual state champion New Palestine to a 20-15 loss in the sectional championship. If that result turns out the other way, who knows? There are a lot of new faces in the starting lineup, including at quarterback with junior Luke Finn or sophomore Emmett Knowles. The Irish open at Ben Davis after beating the Giants 8-0 last year. Last season final ranking: 5.
10: Fort Wayne Carroll (9-4): Carroll won a regional title last year with a 41-30 win over Penn before falling 35-14 to Westfield in the semistate. Senior Gabe Frisinger is one of the state’s leading passers, going for 3,349 yards and 27 TDs last season. He is also a capable runner. Carroll opens with a tough home game vs. Hamilton Southeastern. HSE won last year’s game, 14-7. Last season final ranking: 13.
11: Bishop Chatard (9-3): Chatard is coming off a season that ended with a tough 26-6 loss to Roncalli in the sectional championship. But with 14 starters back for coach Rob Doyle, the Trojans should be in contention for a Class 4A state title. The running game will be strong but Chatard also has a great weapon at receiver in senior Julio Graves (57 catches, 683 yards, seven TDs). The opener at Lafayette Jeff will be tough. Last season final ranking: 19.
12: Avon (6-5): The Orioles took one major step last year, improving from 3-7 to 6-5. Can coach Rob Gibson’s team make another jump in 2026? There is quite a bit of experience returning on defense, including Makyi Hines, Silas Cross and Amari Vaughn. There are some young players in key spots but this team should be equipped to run the ball and stop the run. The season opens at Decatur Central. Last season final ranking: 20.
13: Hamilton Southeastern (6-5): The Royals have a solid group of returners on both sides of the ball, including sophomore quarterback Deaken Johnson, senior running back Carter Reed and senior linebacker Adam Hoog. The season opener is at Fort Wayne Carroll. Last season final ranking: 21.
14: Merrillville (11-3): Merrillville is moving up to Class 6A after making the state finals a year ago in 5A. The Pirates, who lost to New Palestine 38-17 in last year’s state finals, are capable of making some noise in a 6A sectional that also includes Crown Point. Senior quarterback Michael Hill Jr. threw for more than 3,000 yards last season. Merrillville opens with Andrean. Last season final ranking: 11.
15: Penn (11-1): The Kingsmen knocked off Crown Point last year in the sectional final, 28-24. Senior quarterback Landon Hall (2,362 passing yards, 26 TDs) is among the returners for a team that should again compete in the north half of 6A. The season opener is at home vs. Valparaiso. Last season final ranking: 14.
16: Decatur Central (9-3): The Hawks won a sectional title last year playing up a class in 6A before falling to Brownsburg in the regional. A ton of talent graduated and while there are 26 seniors on this year’s team, a lot of them are inexperienced. It will be fun to see what sophomore quarterback Ezekiel Hester brings to the table. The opener is vs. Avon. Last season final ranking: 16.
17: Franklin Central (5-6): The Flashes again battled Center Grove to a close game in the sectional final, falling 30-27. This year’s team should again be competitive with Michigan recruit Jayce Brewer leading the defense and play tight end on offense. Caiden Marsden, a junior, is slotted for quarterback and Rian Frazier at running back. The season opener is at Plainfield. Last season final ranking: NR.
18: Lafayette Jeff (10-2): The Bronchos lost a 47-45 shootout to Concord in the 5A regional. Coach Pat Shanley’s team brings back a lot of firepower, including quarterback Trysten Barrett (3,597 passing yards, 38 TDs) and receiver Bryce Vanostran (94 catches, 1,591 yards, 13 TDs). Jeff’s opener is a big one vs. Chatard. Last season final ranking: NR.
19: Bloomington South (11-2): The Panthers are coming off a regional title season for coach Gabe Johnson with quite a bit of talent returning, including quarterback Duncan Combs (2,276 passing yards, 26 TDs). The Week 1 game is at rival Bloomington North. Last season final ranking: 22.
20: Fishers (8-4): The Tigers won a sectional title last year before falling to Westfield 20-10 in the regional. Coach Curt Funk has a hungry team but so much talented graduated that the Tigers will need to gain some experience early in the season. The opener is a tough one at Carmel. Last season final ranking: 8.
21: Roncalli (11-4): The Royals are hoping to pick right up after last year’s run to the Class 4A state finals. There are some talented players returning for coach Sam Otley, including running back Alex Jarvis on offense and linebacker Carson Keller on defense. The season opener at Fort Wayne Dwenger is a rematch of last year’s state finals – a 36-29 Dwenger win. Last season final ranking: 17.
22: East Central (9-3): The Trojans won back-to-back 5A sectional titles but will be moving back down to 4A this season. Senior Colton Bellman ran for 1,589 yards and 13 TDs last season. East Central will open vs. Lawrenceburg. Last season final ranking: 18.
23: Lawrence Central (5-6): The Bears have a new coach in Russ Mann, but some experience with five or six starters returning on both sides and line play that should be a strength. Texas A&M commit Errol Kerns III should play a role on both sides of the ball. The Bears open vs. Jeffersonville, then play at Zionsville. Last season final ranking: 16.
24: Ben Davis (3-7): Coach Brett Cooper has a solid group of seniors looking to lead the team to success, including Louisville commit Keontay Toomer. Ben Davis will open at home vs. Cathedral, then play on the road at Avon before getting into MIC play. Last season final ranking: NR.
25: Yorktown (9-3): This Class 4A program battled Roncalli to a 31-27 loss in the regional and returns plenty of talent, including quarterback Sam Tokar and playmakers Kaden Crumes and Ben Steele on offense, along with West Virginia commit Chris Wilson at defensive end. Yorktown opens at Anderson. A Week 3 home game vs. New Palestine will be interesting. Last season final ranking: NR.
Teams in last year’s final poll not listed: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (12), Cascade (23), Gibson Southern (24), Heritage Hills (25).
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Counting ’em down. The initial high school football IndyStar Super 25
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
