Top 25 California high school football CIF Southern Section preseason rankings (8/11/2024)

Mater Dei, Corona Centennial and St. John Bosco are ranked No. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, heading into the 2024 season.

Tarek Fattal, SBLive Sports | Aug 12, 2024

CJ Lavender helped key Mater Dei's 35-0 win over Serra in the 2023 CIF Open Division title game. Lavender is now a junior. / Photo: Joe Bergman

August is here. That mean's high school football is here, too.

The CIF Southern Section's season officially kicks off Aug. 22-24, better known as Week 0, which will be headlined by Thursday night's matchup between defending Division 1 champions Mater Dei and Corona Centennial at the Santa Ana Bowl.

HSFB TV SCHEDULE, WEEKS 0-4

But before the ball is kicked off, a tackle is made, or a ball is thrown, here is SBLive's preseason Top 25 rankings for the CIF Southern Section.

TOP 25 COUNTDOWN: No. 25-20 | No. 19-15 | No. 14-10 | No. 9-6 | No. 5-1

The top players by position have already been released, see who the best players in SoCal are below:

PRESEASON TOP 25 CIF-SS RANKINGS

(Rank, school, quick note, next opponent)

1. Mater Dei

A lot of returning talent with a new coach. Only time will tell if we'll see a difference; vs. Corona Centennial (Aug. 22) [TEAM PREVIEW]

2. Corona Centennial

All eyes on 5-star QB Husan Longstreet; at Mater Dei (Aug. 22) [TEAM PREVIEW]

3. St. John Bosco

Braves are talented, as usual, but will have inexperience a QB; at Florida Chaminade-Madonna (Aug. 24) [TEAM PREVIEW]

4. Mission Viejo

The Diablos' pass attack is among the best in California; at Hawaii Kamehameha (Aug. 17) [TEAM PREVIEW]

5. Sierra Canyon

Trailblazers are looking to be a mainstay in the Division 1 playoffs after breaking through for the first time in 2023; at Hawaii Punahou (Aug. 16) [TEAM PREVIEW]

6. Orange Lutheran

QB TJ Lateef, RB Steve Chavez, OL Sam Utu, TE Aj Ia, LB Talanoa Ili, DL Auma Jennings, and DB Benjamin Alefaio are all impact players; at Gardena Serra (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

7. JSerra

Lions have finished third in the Trinity League in each of the last two seasons; vs. Sierra Canyon (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

8. Santa Margarita

There's buzz surrounding this program heading into 2024. The Eagles could shake things up in the Trinity League; at Mission Viejo (Aug. 24) [TEAM PREVIEW]

9. Gardena Serra

Talent and experience at key positions. This Serra team could end up in the Division 1 playoffs; vs. Orange Lutheran (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

10. Murrieta Valley

QB Bear Bachmeier and RB Dorian Hoze will lead a high-powered offense; at Rancho Cucamonga (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

11. Los Alamitos

Cal commit Alonzo Esparza enters his fourth straight year as a varsity starter; vs. Anaheim Western (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

12. San Clemente

Defense will anchor the Tritons; at Chaparral (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

13. Long Beach Poly

Young, but ultra talented - and fast; at Folsom (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

14. Loyola

The Cubs are back in the Mission League. Coach Drew Casani is up for the challenge; at Cathedral (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

15. Rancho Cucamonga

Ofa Fifita takes over for Brian Hildebrand as head coach, the program announced Aug. 11; vs. Murrieta Valley (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

16. Oaks Christian

Lions are loaded, but have inexperience at QB; at Chaminade (Aug. 23)[TEAM PREVIEW]

17. Warren

Madden Iamaleava at QB, Jace Brown and Jalen Ross out wide = problem for defensive secondaries; vs. Hawaii Kamehameha (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

18. Palos Verdes

Ryan Rakowski is only getting better, sophomore QB; at Hawaii 'Ioani (Aug. 24) [TEAM PREVIEW]

19. Servite

Friars have a great mix of experience returning and impact transfers; vs. Utah East (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

20. Oak Hills

UCLA commit Karson Cox will be racking up yards this fall; vs. Aquinas
(Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

21. Upland

A Darryl Thomas-coached team will always be stout defensively and 'pound the rock'; vs. La Habra (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

22. Oxnard Pacifica

Pacifica is in the Marmonte League now; at West Ranch (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

23. Edison

Chargers return veterans in key positions; at Clovis West (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

24. Chaparral

Andrew Ramer thinks this squad could be his best; vs. San Clemente (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]

25. Newbury Park

Brady Smigiel leading the way at QB; vs. Millikan (Aug. 23) [TEAM PREVIEW]