Another year brings another marquee duel at the summit of the High School Football America (HSFA) California Top 25 as Trinity League arch-rivals Mater Dei and St. John Bosco again open No. 1 and No. 2. Built with HSFA’s proprietary algorithm and powered by NFL Play Football, the 2025 preseason list sets the stage for a California season loaded with interstate showdowns, league gauntlets, and national title implications.

Mater Dei Begins Title Defense at No. 1

Five-time HSFA national champion Mater Dei starts 2025 at the top of both the state and national rankings as the Monarchs chase a third straight national title. Their opener is a coast-to-coast test against St. Thomas Aquinas, the Florida powerhouse riding six straight state championships and entering the year No. 10 nationally. It’s an immediate barometer for Mater Dei’s depth, physicality, and big-game poise.

St. John Bosco Opens at No. 2 with Florida Trip

St. John Bosco slots in at No. 2 statewide and nationally. The Braves also head to Florida to face No. 113 Manatee, now coached by former NFL wide receiver Jacquez Green. Since 2016, Mater Dei and Bosco have combined to claim seven of the last eight HSFA national titles, underscoring their sustained dominance.

Circle Halloween: Rivalry with Title Stakes

Halloween Night features the regular-season finale between Mater Dei and St. John Bosco, a game with Trinity League, state, and national ramifications. History suggests it may not be the only meeting; since 2016 the programs have met twice in the same season seven times, often deciding postseason trajectories.

Challengers: Corona Centennial and Orange Lutheran in the Chase

Corona Centennial opens at No. 3 and runs an early Trinity League gauntlet: No. 11 Servite (August 22), No. 6 Santa Margarita (August 28), and Mater Dei (September 12). Orange Lutheran (No. 4) also starts in Florida against Miami Northwestern (No. 23 nationally). The Bulls could look different after head coach Teddy Bridgewater resumed his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following a state-imposed suspension for “impermissible benefits.”

Trinity League Depth Defines the Rankings

All six Trinity League programs land in the Top 25, highlighting the league’s unmatched depth:

• No. 1 Mater Dei
• No. 2 St. John Bosco
• No. 4 Orange Lutheran
• No. 6 Santa Margarita
• No. 10 JSerra
• No. 11 Servite

Southland Strength; De La Salle Leads the North

The southern half of California dominates with 18 of 25 teams in the preseason poll. Outside the south, De La Salle is the highest-ranked at No. 8 (No. 33 nationally), while Folsom and San Ramon Valley provide additional Northern California muscle within the Top 25.

HSFA California Top 25 (Preseason)

Ranking — 2024 Record — HSFA 300 National Rank

1. Mater Dei (13-0) — 1
2. St. John Bosco (11-2) — 2
3. Corona Centennial (9-3) — 15
4. Orange Lutheran (8-4) — 20
5. Mission Viejo (10-1) — 23
6. Santa Margarita (5-7) — 27
7. Lincoln, San Diego (12-2) — 29
8. De La Salle (12-1) — 33
9. Folsom (12-2) — 39
10. JSerra (6-5) — 48
11. Servite (6-5) — 52
12. Sierra Canyon (8-4) — 55
13. Pittsburg (12-3) — 87
14. Newbury Park (14-1) — 175
15. Serra, Gardena (8-4) — 179
16. Oaks Christian (9-4) — 183
17. Edison, Huntington Beach (12-4) — 185
18. Murrieta Valley (11-3) — 187
19. Grant, Sacramento (12-3) — 208
20. San Ramon Valley (11-2) — 213
21. Inglewood (10-1) — 230
22. Central East, Fresno (12-3) — 235
23. Yorba Linda (11-2) — 287
24. St. Mary’s, Stockton (9-3) — 290
25. San Juan Hills (10-2) — 293

What It Means for 2025

California’s chase for national relevance again runs through the Trinity League. Mater Dei and St. John Bosco remain the standard, yet programs like Corona Centennial, Orange Lutheran, Mission Viejo, and De La Salle possess the pedigree to disrupt the hierarchy. With marquee interstate openers and a Halloween rivalry tilt that could preview the playoffs, the 2025 season promises weekly stakes, breakout stars, and national implications.