Top 25 California high school football CIF Southern Section preseason rankings (8/11/2024)
![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. 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.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_450,h_253,x_0,y_31/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/high_school/01j2yqj1yxhr6xpmxj0c.jpg)
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.
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:
- TOP QBs TO WATCH
- TOP DBs TO WATCH
- TOP WRs to WATCH
- TOP RBs TO WATCH
- TOP OLs TO WATCH
- TOP LBs TO WATCH
- TOP DLs TO WATCH
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]
TOP 25 COUNTDOWN: No. 25-20 | No. 19-15 | No. 14-10 | No. 9-6 | No. 5-1