The Ohio high school football season kicks off this week.
In the Akron area, the seasons starts Aug. 21 before the rest of the area’s teams get rolling Aug. 22. For all of the state’s teams, the ultimate goal is to be in Canton for the OHSAA state championship games this December.
Our Beacon Journal sports writers will be here over the next four months, sharing the stories of the teams in our communities in their pursuit of league titles and state playoff berths, and all the excitement and drama they share along the way.
To get ready for the 2025 season, we’ve spent the last month talking to area coaches and players and sharing stories not found anywhere else.
Each team’s schedule can be found here. Read on to find breakdowns of all of our area’s teams, as well as who the projected top players will be this season.
Ranking the top Akron-area high school football players to watch in 2025
USA Today Network Preseason All-Ohio Football Team
Ohio high school football will feature some of the nation’s elite players this fall. Assorted Ohio State recruits, as well as a numbers of players being recruiting by other elite national programs made the cut.
Click here to see who made the 25-player team.
USA Today Network Preseason Ohio High School Football Super 25
Our statewide USA Today Network sports writers voted on the state’s top teams, regardless of division, ahead of Week 1.
Click here to see the Ohio Super 25.
Watch Ohio High School Football Live on the NFHS Network all season
City Series football previews
Akron-area parochials/independents football previews
Principals Athletic Conference football previews
Suburban League American Conference football previews
Suburban League National Conference football previews
Metro Athletic Conference football previews
Portage Trail Conference football previews
Federal League football previews
North Coast Conference football previews
Additional Akron-area high school football preseason info
What 10 games do we expect to be the biggest ones this regular season? Who are the area’s top teams heading into Week 1? Here’s some of projections heading into the season.
OHSAA football – Week 1
The season kicks off with one game Aug. 21 — Garfield traveling to Southeast — as part of an interesting Week 1.
Click here for our breakdown and predictions for Week 1.
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron-Area High School Football rankings, schedules, more | The essential guide for 2025
Reporting by Richard Stallsmith, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
