Top 25 Ohio high school football rankings (10/24/2023)

Massillon tops the final SBLive Ohio Power 25 for the 2023 season

That's it. There have been 10 weeks and more than 3,500 games of football played in Ohio this fall and now 448 teams will start their run for a state championship.

But first, we must reveal the final SBLive Ohio Power 25 for the 2023 season.

SBLive Ohio Power 25

1. Massillon (10-0)

Last Week: 1

Massillon made it eight straight in one of the greatest high school football rivalries in America, beating Canton McKinley, 35-0. The 35-point win is the Tigers’ largest win in the series since 1960. With the win, the Tigers complete a perfect regular season for the first time since 2019. Massillon will begin the Division II playoffs with a first round game against Central Crossing.

2. Toledo Central Catholic (10-0)

Last Week: 2

Toledo Central Catholic was led by Marquan Braswell’s four touchdowns in a 48-23 win over Cass Tech (Michigan) in the Prep Bowl. Senior Jaylen Watson added a pair of touchdowns late to secure the win for the Fighting Irish, who will begin their road through the Division III playoffs against Bowling Green.

3. St. Edward (9-1)

Last Week: 4

In a week of marquee matchups, none were better than St. Edward and their 14-7 win over Hoban. Hoban opened the scoring with an Eli Lee pick-six early in the first and Nate Gregory tied it up in the second with a 1-yard TD run up the gut. Brandon White’s 12-yard touchdown run late in the fourth would decide the game in favor of the Eagles. St. Edward begins its Division I state title defense when they host Elyria in the first round.

4. Archbishop Hoban (9-1)

Last Week: 3

Hoban’s hopes for a perfect regular season were dashed in a 14-7 loss to then-No. 4 St. Edward. The Knights open their Division II playoff run against Akron Ellet.

5. Avon (10-0)

Last Week: 5

Avon finished a perfect regular season with a 45-0 win over rival Avon Lake. Quiante Smith rushed for two touchdowns in the second half to summon the running clock in the Eagles’ shutout win. Next up for Avon is Toledo St. John’s Jesuit in the first round of the Division II playoffs.

6. Gahanna Lincoln (10-0)

Last Week: 8

Trailing 21-7 midway through the third, it took two Diore Hubbard touchdowns and a defensive stand on fourth down on their own 1-yard line to get Gahanna Lincoln to overtime against Pickerington North. After trading touchdowns in the first overtime, the second overtime featured another Hubbard touchdown and an interception by Terrell Holcomb to give the Lions the 35-28 win, the Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division title, and a perfect regular season. The Lions host Reynoldsburg to open the Division I playoffs.

7. Youngstown Ursuline (10-0)

Last Week: 6

With a 35-16 win over Cardinal Mooney, Youngstown Ursuline clinched their first perfect regular season since 2010, a season in which the Fighting Irish took home the Division V state title. Ursuline opens the Division III playoffs against New Philadelphia on Friday.

8. Princeton (10-0)

Last Week: 7

Five different Vikings found the end zone as Princeton took home an outright Greater Miami Conference title with a 42-7 win over Sycamore. Daelyn Jarman was the only player with multiple touchdowns, scoring on both of his catches in the second and fourth quarters. To open the Division I postseason, the Vikings face Middletown, a team they beat 41-15 back in Week 8.

9. Sandusky Perkins (10-0)

Last Week: 9

Sandusky Perkins beat Tiffin Columbian, 55-28 to earn its first perfect regular season since 2013. The Pirates will open their playoff run on Friday when they host Vermilion.

10. Marion Local (10-0)

Last Week: 10

Marion Local clinched another Midwest Athletic Conference championship with a 35-14 win over previously undefeated Coldwater on Friday. The Flyers are looking to make it a three-peat in state championships, returning to Division VII after a one-year stint in Division VI. The Flyers face Tri-County North in the first round on Friday.

11. Lakota West (8-2)

Last Week: 11

Make it eight straight wins to finish off the season for Lakota West following a 42-14 win over Hamilton. The pass defense was hungry for the Firebirds, recording three interceptions including a 25-yard pick-six by Jacob Asbeck in the third quarter. Lakota West opens the playoffs by hosting Western Hills in the first round. 

12. Milford (10-0)

Last Week: 12

Staying in Division I, Region 4, Milford clinched the top seed in the region following a 42-21 win over Turpin and will start their playoff journey with a matchup against Fairfield in the first round.

13. Anderson (9-1)

Last Week: 13

With a 41-21 win at Kings, Anderson clinched the top seed in Division II, Region 8. This will give the Raptors a rematch with Turpin from Week 9, who they beat 31-7. 

14. Archbishop Moeller (6-4)

Last Week: 14

Archbishop Moeller ended the regular season on a high note with a 38-6 win over Detroit King (Michigan.) The Crusaders face West Clermont in the first round of the Division I, Region 4 playoffs.

15. Pickerington North (9-1)

Last Week: 17

It’s rare that a team loses but moves up in the rankings. However, a strong showing by Pickerington North in their double overtime loss to Gahanna Lincoln proved that they rightfully belong in our SBLive Ohio Power 25. The Panthers will host Westerville Central team in the first round. 

16. Cleveland Heights (9-1)

Last Week: 16

Cleveland Heights went perfect in-state after a 41-31 win over Shaker Heights. The win gives the Tigers the No. 2 seed in Division I, Region 1, trailing only St. Edward. To begin the postseason, the Tigers get a rematch with Euclid, a team they beat 28-12 in Week 9.

17. Liberty Center (10-0)

Last Week: 20

Liberty Center earned their second straight perfect regular season with a 42-0 win over Wauseon. The Tigers open their run for a Division V title against Elmwood in the first round.

18. Perry (10-0)

Last Week: 21

Staying in Division V, Perry completed a perfect regular season with a 47-7 win over Hawken. This marks the Pirates’ first 10-0 regular season since 2019. Perry opens the first round with Crestwood.

19. Mentor (7-3)

Last Week: 23

Mentor finished the regular season with five straight wins after a 48-12 victory against Euclid. The Cardinals open the Division I playoffs with St. Ignatius, a team that beat them 16-14 back in Week 2.

20. Wapakoneta (8-2)

Last Week: 24

Wapakoneta earned a share of the Western Buckeye League title with a 30-3 win over Celina. Coming into the postseason with eight straight wins, the Redskins open their Division III run against New Richmond. 

21. Badin (10-0)

Last Week: 19

Badin clinched a fifth straight Greater Catholic League Co-Ed title with a 38-35 win over Archbishop McNicholas. With that win, the Rams also clinched the top seed in Region 12 and a first-round date against Goshen.

22. Medina (7-3)

Last Week: Unranked 

Winning five of their last six games, Medina looks to be a dark horse in Region 1 of the postseason. The Bees finished the regular season with big wins over Shake Heights and Solon and their eyes are set on John Marshall in the first round. 

23. Wadsworth (8-2)

Last Week: Unranked

Wadsworth returns to the SBLive Ohio Power 25 after a 49-0 win over North Royalton. The win gives the Grizzlies home games in the first two rounds of the Division I playoffs. and they will host Brunswick in the first round.

24. Walsh Jesuit (9-1)

Last Week: 18

Walsh Jesuit survived a nail biter, beating Padua Franciscan, 44-41 to finish off the regular season. Looking forward to the Region 5 playoffs in Division II, the Warriors open with Akron Firestone.

25. Findlay (8-2)

Last Week: Unranked

There’s no better time to debut in the SBLive Ohio Power 25 than at the end of the regular season. Findlay finished the regular season with a trio of wins against Perrysburg, Toledo Whitmer, and Sylvania Northview. The Trojans are the only SBLive Ohio Power 25 team from Division I, Region 2, but the region is still deep with talented teams.  The Trojans begin their playoff run against Olentangy Liberty.