The NEXT 25 presented by The Sporting News: McEachern maintains top spot in “bubble” rankings

You’ve seen The Sporting News High School Football Top 25.

And we’ve introduced you to the The Sporting News Composite Rankings which takes that top 25 and combines it with the rankings from seven other major selectors.

And now it’s time for The NEXT 25 presented by The Sporting News.

The NEXT 25 is a weekly list of teams hoping to break into one of those Top 25 rankings in the weeks to come, and as soon as they do, they’ll move up to the SN Composite Rankings. And, of course, the Top 25 they crack could be ours. These are essentially the “bubble” teams sitting just outside the composite rankings. They’ll hang out here in The NEXT 25 until they get their opportunity to move up – or down if they don’t perform in those key contests.

For the third straight week, the McEachern [Powder Springs, GA] Indians maintain the top spot on this list. The Indians were on a bye last week, but they’ll get an opportunity to make a major statement Friday night when they visit the Harrison [Kennesaw, GA] Hoyas.

MORE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HEADLINES

The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American OffenseThe Sporting News High School Preseason All-American DefenseThe NEXT 25 presented by The Sporting NewsThe ratings for opponents below are presented first by SN’s Composite Ranking followed by The Sporting News (SN) Top 25 ranking, if applicable.

No. 1 McEachern [Powder Springs, GA] Indians2025 Record: 5-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 1

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at NR Harrison [Kennesaw, GA] Hoyas (5-0)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — McEachern 60, NR Paulding County [Dallas, GA] Patriots 0 (1-4)
W/L Streak: 5 wins

McEachern returns to action after taking a week off, and they get one of their best opportunities, yet, to make a pitch for the SN Top 25 against an undefeated Harrison squad that is also coming off a bye week.

No. 2 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls2025 Record: 4-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 2

Next Game: 10/4/2025 — at No. 39 Central [Miami, FL] Rockets (3-0)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — Northwestern 60, NR Jackson [Miami, FL] Generals 6 (0-6)
W/L Streak: 4 wins

Central enters Saturdays’s game against the Bulls ranked in two of the Top 25 lists that comprise the SN Composite Rankings while Northwestern has been parked here in the NEXT 25 for a few weeks. The winner of this game will have a strong case to move into the SN Top 25 – if there is an opening that allows them to move up. If not, then the winner might have to wait another week to crack our top national list, but it won’t be a win that’s overlooked when that time comes.

No. 3 Archbishop Moeller [Cincinnati, OH] Fighting Crusaders2025 Record: 5-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 3

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at NR Elder [Cincinnati, OH] Panthers (6-0)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — Archbishop Moeller 42, NR La Salle [Cincinnati, OH] Lancers 7 (4-2)
W/L Streak: 4 wins

Moeller’s only loss to date is to the Mt. Carmel [Chicago, IL] Caravan which is currently stuck at No. 40 in the SN Composite Rankings. Mt. Carmel could finally make some progress this weekend with a big game against the Brother Rice [Chicago, IL] Crusaders, and that could give Archbishop Moeller room to move up the rankings as well. And this is a game that will register on the national radar or the Fighting Crusaders, too, if they can get out of Elder’s home stadium, “The Pit,” with a ‘W.’

No. 4 East St. Louis [IL] Flyers2025 Record: 2-2
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 6

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at NR Edwardsville [IL] Tigers (2-3)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — East St. Louis 67, NR Belleville [IL] West Maroons 0 (2-3)
W/L Streak: 2 wins

For East St. Louis, it continues to be about winning games against in-state Illinois opponents before taking a season-ending trip to Florida to take on the current SN No. 2 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders. That would likely send the Flyers back into the national Top 25 heading into the Illinois IHSA playoffs in November.

No. 5 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers2025 Record: 3-2
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 7

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — vs. No. 4/SN No. 4 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs (3-1)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — SN No. 19 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers (5-0) 41, No. 29 Orange Lutheran 9
W/L Streak: 1 loss

Friday’s game against SN No. 4 Mater Dei is Orange Lutheran’s last chance to make a bid for the Top 25. A loss would be their third of the season, ending any real shot at rejoining the national Top 25, barring an unlikely deep run in the California CIF playoffs.

No. 6 Cherry Creek [Greenwood Village, CO] Bruins2025 Record: 5-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 10

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — vs. NR Cherokee Trail [Aurora, CO] Cougars (2-3)
Last Game: 9/25/2025 — Cherry Creek 42, NR Pine Creek [Colorado Springs, CO] Eagles 0 (3-2)
W/L Streak: 18 wins

Cherry Creek still needs a lot of things to happen above them to move into the SN Top 25, but they could crack one of the other lists in the SN Composite Rankings in the weeks to come. They just need to focus on winning games against their Colorado schedule for now, and they shouldn’t have any problem doing that this Friday against Cherokee Trail.

No. 7 West Boca Raton [Boca Raton, FL] Bulls2025 Record: 4-1
Last Week: SN Next No. 11

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — vs. NR Western [Davie, FL] Wildcats (1-4)
Last Game: 9/25/2025 — West Boca Raton 53, NR Dwyer [Palm Beach Gardens, FL] Panthers 0 (0-6)
W/L Streak: 3 wins

West Boca Raton is No. 7 in our Florida rankings, and the second-ranked team in Florida that isn’t currently in any of the Top 25 lists. While they aren’t likely to crack anybody’s Top 25 before the playoffs, they could get there when they run into some bigger names in the playoffs. For now, it’s just about running up the total in the wins column, and that won’t be a problem against this 1-4 Western squad.

No. 8 Archbishop Hoban [Akron, OH] Knights2025 Record: 5-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 12

Next Game: 10/10/2025 — vs. NR Glenville [Cleveland, OH] Tarblooders (4-2)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — Archbishop Hoban 19, NR Walsh Jesuit [Cuyahoga Falls, OH] Warriors 14 (5-1)
W/L Streak: 4 wins

It wasn’t easy, but Archbishop Hoban picked up a quality win against a solid Walsh Jesuit squad last Friday night. Now, they head into their bye week with plenty of momentum before returning on October 10 against the Glenville Tarblooders to begin the final stretch of the regular season.

No. 9 Galena Park North Shore [Houston, TX] Mustangs2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 15

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — vs. NR Kingwood [TX] Mustangs (3-1)
Last Game: 9/25/2025 — Galena Park North Shore 34, NR Humble [TX] Wildcats (1-3)
W/L Streak: 3 wins

North Shore jumped over Carthage and Celina in our Texas rankings this week, and now the Mustangs prepare to face off against another group of Mustangs from Kingwood. As long as North Shore keeps piling up the wins, they should be able, at the very least, to crack the SN Composite Rankings – possibly before the playoffs kick off in Texas.

No. 10 Carthage [TX] Bulldogs2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 14

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — vs. NR San Benito [TX] Greyhounds (0-5) at Bay City, TX
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — Carthage 42, NR Jasper [TX] Bulldogs 0 (1-4)
W/L Streak: 19 wins

Playing at the Class 4A level in Texas, Carthage just doesn’t have the schedule to make a run at the SN Top 25, and for now, they have to be satisfied with adding to their 19-game win streak. They’ll make it No. 20 Friday night in a neutral site contest against the San Benito Greyhounds.

No. 11 Celina [TX] Bobcats2025 Record: 5-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 13

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at NR Aubrey [TX] Chaparrals (1-4)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — Celina 35, NR Panther Creek [Frisco, TX] Panthers 28 (4-1)
W/L Streak: 21 wins

Carthage and Celina flipped positions in our Texas rankings for the second time this season as Carthage appears to be the stronger eleven at this point. And like Carthage, Celina plays at the Class 4A level in Texas with limited opportunities to crack through the glass ceiling above them into the national Top 25.

No. 12 Westlake [Austin, TX] Chaparrals2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 17

Next Game: 10/2/2025 — at NR Akins [Austin, TX] Eagles (4-1)
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — Westlake 37, NR Steele [Cibolo, TX] Knights 14 (3-1)
W/L Streak: 3 wins

Westlake gets back to action Thursday night after taking a week off, and they’ll take on an Akins’ squad that is 4-1 but coming off a 63-0 drubbing at the hands of the Dripping Springs [TX] Tigers. They might be in for a similar beating against this group of Chaparrals.

No. 13 Ryan [Denton, TX] Raiders2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 19

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — vs. No. 28/SN No. 22 Aledo [TX] Bearcats (5-0)
Last Game: 9/26/25 — Ryan 41, NR Granbury [TX] Pirates 0 (2-3)
W/L Streak: 4 wins

When it comes to the SN Top 25, this is Ryan’s big opportunity. Aledo is making its debut in the Top 25, and if the Raiders can knock off the Bearcats, there’s a good chance they’d take their place in SN’s top list.

No. 14 Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles2025 Record: 6-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 20

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — vs. NR Pace Academy [Atlanta, GA] Knights (2-4)
Last Game: 9/25/2025 — Creekside 69, NR M.L. King [Lithonia, GA] Lions 0 (5-1)
W/L Streak: 6 wins

Creekside has been rolling all year after their shocking 70-28 win over the DeSoto [TX] Eagles in the season opener. Four of their wins are of the shutout variety, including the last three by a cumulative score of 195-0. It wouldn’t be a complete surprise if they made it four straight shutouts against a Pace Academy squad that will be quickly overwhelmed Friday night.

No. 15 Langston Hughes [Fairburn, GA] Panthers2025 Record: 6-0
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 21

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at NR McIntosh [Peachtree City, GA] Chiefs (2-4)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — Langston Hughes 33, NR Newnan [GA] Cougars 0 (4-2)
W/L Streak: 6 wins

Langston Hughes continues to stick right behind their neighbors from Fairburn, Georgia, after recording a shutout of their own last Friday against Newnan. They should join their crosstown neighbors at 7-0 after taking on McIntosh Friday night.

No. 16 Lone Star [Frisco, TX] Rangers2025 Record: 5-0
Last Week: Unranked

Next Game: 10/2/2025 — vs. NR Frisco [TX] Raccoons (3-0)
Last Game: 9/25/2025 — Lone Star 54, NR Heritage [Frisco, TX] Coyotes 7 (1-3)
W/L Streak: 5 wins

Lone Star makes their debut in the NEXT 25 after fashioning a 5-0 start to the 2025 season. They might find the going a little tougher this week against Frisco’s original high school, but we expect they’ll find a way to get the “W” – even if it’s in a close game like last year’s 27-24 Lone Star win.

No. 17 Hun [Princeton, NJ] Raiders2025 Record: 5-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 23

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at NR The St. James Performance Academy [Springfield, VA] Strivers (4-0)
Last Game: 9/27/2025 — Hun 48, NR Mt. Zion Prep Academy [Lanham, MD] Warriors 0 (0-6)
W/L Streak: 5 wins

This is one of the more interesting games on the national schedule as The St. James Performance Academy is playing its first varsity season. The Strivers are 4-0 and fresh off a 43-7 win over a notable opponent in the Our Lady of Good Counsel [Olney, MD] Falcons. This is definitely a game to keep an eye on, and it could be the contest that elevates St. James onto the national radar.

No. 18 The First Academy [Orlando, FL] Royals2025 Record: 4-2
Last Week: Unranked

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at No. 5/SN No. 5 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers (4-1)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — The First Academy 45, NR Gadsden County [Havana, FL] Jaguars 14 (0-4)
W/L Streak: 4 wins

This is The First Academy’s second week in The NEXT 25, and most likely, their last. A trip to Baltimore to face the nation’s No. 5 team isn’t likely to end with a win, and a third loss would be too much to keep the Royals in the rankings here.

No. 19 Jenks [OK] Trojans2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: SN NEXT No. 16

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at NR Norman [OK] Tigers (4-0)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — No. 21 Bixby [OK] Spartans 66 (4-0), Jenks 35
W/L Streak: 1 loss

For one half, Jenks was nearly Bixby’s equal, trailing the Spartans, 38-35, at the half last Friday. The second half didn’t go so well, however, and Bixby ultimately left town with a 66-35 win that led to them vaulting into the national No. 1 position in the Massey Ratings. Jenks, meanwhile, slips three spots but manages to stay in The NEXT 25 due to the fact that the loss to the Spartans was their first.

No. 20 Davis [Kaysville, UT] Darts2025 Record: 6-1
Last Week: Unranked

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at NR Farmington [UT] Phoenix (3-4)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — Davis 54, Syracuse [UT] Titans (5-2)
W/L Streak: 5 wins

Davis is a name that might not be familiar to a lot of folks at the national level, but the Darts have earned their way into The NEXT 25 by virtue of a 6-1 start. And that’s Utah where many of the state’s top squads are hanging around the fringe of the national rankings.

No. 21 American Fork [UT] Cavemen2025 Record: 6-1
Last Week: Unranked

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at NR Lehi [UT] Pioneers (4-3)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — American Fork 31, Lone Peak [Highland, UT] Knights (5-2)
W/L Streak: 1 win

American Fork’s win over a Lone Peak squad that has spent time in the SN Composite rankings helped lift the Cavemen into The NEXT 25 this week, and also gave a boost to Davis’s resume. That’s because the Darts beat the Cavemen by two touchdowns just two weeks ago, but now these two Utah squads head into the stretch run with plenty of opportunities to pad their resumes heading into the playoffs.

No. 22 Lincoln [San Diego, CA] Hornets2025 Record: 5-1
Last Week: Unranked

Next Game: 10/10/25 — at NR La Jolla [CA] Vikings (3-2)
Last Game: 9/27/2025 — Lincoln 40, NR Grant [Sacramento, CA] Pacers 21
W/L Streak: 2 wins

Lincoln has spent time in the SN Composite Rankings this year, and only a loss to Mission Viejo is preventing them from being in the SN Top 25. Their next big opportunity comes against Cathedral Catholic on October 24, and that game will be even bigger if the Dons can upset De La Salle this weekend.

No. 23 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors2025 Record: 4-2
Last Week: SN No. 25

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — at NR Hewitt-Trussville [AL] Huskies (6-0)
Last Game: 9/25/2025 — NR Clay-Chalkville [Pinson, AL] Cougars 28, Thompson 24
W/L Streak: 1 loss

Thompson was the first team to drop out of the SN Top 25 and then rejoin. But in their return to the Top 25, the Warriors came up short in a 28-24 loss to Clay-Chalkville, and they likely won’t be in anybody’s list again this season. With an undefeated Hewitt-Trussville squad on deck, it might be all they can do to hang onto this spot in The NEXT 25.

No. 24 West Point [MS] Green Wave2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: Unranked

Next Game: 10/3/2025 — vs. NR Callaway [Jackson, MS] Chargers (3-2)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — West Point 28, SN NEXT No. 9 Tupelo [MS] Golden Wave 24 (4-1)
W/L Streak: 4 wins

West Point stunned the previous SN NEXT No. 9 Tupelo Golden Wave last week, and their reward was taking Tupelo’s place in The NEXT 25. They should be able to stay on the winning track Friday night against a 3-2 Callaway squad.

No. 25 Nashville [TN] Christian Eagles2025 Record: 6-0
Last Week: Unranked

Next Game: 10/10/2025 — vs. Tyner Academy [Chattanooga, TN] Rams (6-0)
Last Game: 9/26/2025 — Nashville Christian 53, NR Franklin [TN] Christian Academy Falcons 0 (3-3)
W/L Streak: 16 wins

You heard it here first – Nashville Christian might be the best team in Tennessee. Consider that the Eagles beat the Ensworth [Nashville, TN] Tigers, 42-41 in overtime, earlier this year. Ensworth, meanwhile, beat a McCallie [Chattanooga, TN] Blue Tornado squad that upset the Top 25 Mission Viejo Diablos of California two weeks ago. And you can take the path from there – Mission Viejo beat the Santa Margarita [CA] Eagles that beat the Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies that beat the then national No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa, Ana] Monarchs.

That’s pretty heady company or a team that isn’t known outside the Music City, but we aren’t the only ones singing their praises – they’re ranked No. 44 in MaxPreps this week, and they are in almost everybody’s national Top 100. The problem from here out is the schedule which isn’t going to give them many opportunities to build on their body of work to date, but what they have done is already enough to reward them with a spot here in The NEXT 25.

Weekly NEXT 25 ScheduleNR – Not ranked

__________

Thursday, October 2, 2025__________

NR Frisco [TX] Raccoons (3-0) at SN NEXT No. 16 Lone Star [Frisco, TX] Rangers (5-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)SN NEXT No. 12 Westlake [Austin, TX] Chaparrals (3-1) at NR Akins [Austin, TX] Eagles (4-0) — 8:30 p.m. EST (7:30 p.m. CST local)__________

Friday, October 3, 2025__________

NR Western [Davie, FL] Wildcats (1-4) at SN NEXT No. 7 West Boca Raton [Boca Raton, FL] Bulls (4-1) — 6:30 p.m. EST localSN NEXT No. 3 Archbishop Moeller [Cincinnati, OH] Fighting Crusaders (5-1) at NR Elder [Cincinnati, OH] Panthers (6-0) — 7 p.m. EST localSN NEXT No. 17 Hun [Princeton, NJ] Raiders at NR The St. James Performance Academy [Springfield, VA] Strivers (4-0) — 7 p.m. EST localSN NEXT No. 18 The First Academy [Orlando, FL] Royals (4-2) at No. 5/SN No. 5 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers (4-1) — 7 p.m. EST localSN NEXT No. 1 McEachern [Powder Springs, GA] Indians (5-0) at NR Harrison [Kennesaw, GA] Hoyas (5-0) — 7:30 p.m. EST localNR Pace Academy [Atlanta, GA] Knights (2-4) at SN NEXT No. 14 Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles (6-0) — 7:30 p.m. EST localSN NEXT No. 15 Langston Hughes [Fairburn, GA] Panthers (6-0) at NR McIntosh [Peachtree City, GA] Chiefs (2-4) — 7:30 p.m. EST localSN NEXT No. 4 East St. Louis [IL] Flyers (2-2) at NR Edwardsville [IL] Tigers (2-3) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)NR Kingwood [TX] Mustangs (3-1) at Galena Park North Shore [Houston, TX] Mustangs (3-1) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)SN NEXT No. 10 Carthage [TX] Bulldogs (4-0) at NR San Benito [TX] Greyhounds (0-5) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)No. 28/SN No. 22 Aledo [TX] Bearcats (5-0) at SN NEXT No. 13 Ryan [Denton, TX] Raiders (4-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)SN NEXT No. 19 Jenks [OK] Trojans at NR Norman [OK] Tigers (4-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)SN NEXT No. 23 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors (4-2) at NR Hewitt-Trussville [AL] Huskies (6-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)NR Callaway [Jackson, MS] Chargers (3-2) at SN NEXT No. 24 West Point [MS] Green Wave (4-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)SN NEXT No. 11 Celina [TX] Bobcats (5-0) at NR Aubrey [TX] Chaparrals (1-4) — 8:30 p.m. EST (7:30 p.m. CST local)NR Cherokee Trail [Aurora, CO] Cougars (2-3) at SN NEXT No. 6 Cherry Creek [Greenwood Village, CO] Bruins (5-0) — 9 p.m. EST (7 p.m. MST local)SN NEXT No. 20 Davis [Kaysville, UT] Darts (6-1) at NR Farmington [UT] Phoenix (3-4) — 9 p.m. EST (8 p.m. MST local)SN NEXT No. 21 American Fork [UT] Cavemen (6-1) at NR Lehi [UT] Pioneers (4-3) — 9 p.m. EST (7 p.m. MST local)No. 4/SN No. 4 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs (3-1) at SN NEXT No. 5 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers (3-2) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)SN NEXT No. 22 Lincoln [San Diego, CA] Hornets (5-1) at NR La Jolla [CA] Vikings (3-2) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)__________

Saturday, October 4, 2025__________

SN NEXT No. 2 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls at No. 39 Central [Miami, FL] Rockets — 7:30 p.m. EST local__________

IDLE

SN NEXT No. 8 Archbishop Hoban [Akron, OH] Knights (5-1); SN NEXT No. 12 Westlake [Austin, TX] Chaparrals (3-1); SN NEXT No. 25 Nashville [TN] Christian Eagles (6-0)

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