Illinois High School Football Top 25 State Rankings – Sept. 23, 2025

East St. Louis and Brother Rice have moved up, this week, into the top four of the Illinois High School Football Top 25 State Rankings. Lincoln-Way West is the lone newcomer, entering the rankings at No. 25.

Previous ranking: 1

Last week: Def. St. Ignatius 41-14

Up next: at Benet, Sept. 26

Quentin Burrell caught two touchdown passes from Emmett Dowling, who had four total TDs. Tavares Harrington ran a fumble back 99 yards for a score.

Previous ranking: 2

Last week: Def. Lockport 49-14

Up next: at Naperville Central, Sept. 26

USC-bound Jonas Williams continued to move closer to the IHSA career records for passing yards and passing TDs, going 30-of-35 for 354 yards and five touchdowns.

Previous ranking: 4

Last week: Def. Alton 60-6

Up next: vs. Belleville West, Sept. 26

Myson Johnson-Cook ran for 88 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Flyers.

Previous ranking: 5

Last week: Def. Loyola 28-6

Up next: vs. St. Patrick, Sept. 26

Army commit CJ Gray had TD runs of 5 and 71 yards, and also threw a 47-yard touchdown pass.

Previous ranking: 3

Last week: Lost to Brother Rice 28-6

Up next: vs. DePaul Prep, Sept. 26

Sophomore quarterback Matthew Lee passed for 149 yards for the Ramblers. whose 13-game winning streak was snapped. 

Previous ranking: 6

Last week: Def. New Trier 35-16

Up next: at Conant, Sept. 26

Jayden Faulkner ran for 134 yards and Northwestern commit Johnny O’Brien threw for 197 yards and three TDs.

Previous ranking: 8

Last week: Def. Downers Grove North 35-21

Up next: vs. Lyons, Sept. 27

The Hilltoppers led 28-0 after one quarter and coasted to the win. Quarterback AJ Rayford returned from an injury to pass for 167 yards and a TD.

Previous ranking: 9

Last week: Def. Barrington 41-21

Up next: vs. Evanston, Sept. 26

Indiana-bound Jameson Purcell threw for 238 yards and three TDs, and also ran for 65 yards.

Previous ranking: 7

Last week: Def. IC Catholic 24-21

Up next: at Joliet Catholic, Sept. 26

Billy Harding kicked a game-winning 39-yard field goal with seven seconds left and Trenton Walker had six catches for 140 yards.

Previous ranking: 12

Last week: Def. Lake Park 41-21

Up next: at St. Charles North, Sept. 26

Henry Hahn ran for 120 yards and three touchdowns, while the Bulldogs’ defense had seven tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception.

Previous ranking: 10

Last week: Lost to Glenbard West 35-21

Up next: vs. Proviso West, Sept. 26

Still playing without Minnesota-bound quarterback Owen Lansu, the Trojans had a 71-yard TD pass from Kevin Jay to Illinois commit Will Vala.

Previous ranking: 11

Last week: Def. Burlington Central 28-7

Up next: vs. McHenry, Sept. 26

Fullback Jake Wagler ran 25 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns as the Wolves won the battle of unbeatens.

Previous ranking: 13

Lost week: Def. Waukegan 51-0

Up next: at Zion-Benton, Sept. 26.

Illinois-bound Aaron Stewart rushed for 204 yards and five touchdowns, boosting his season totals to 990 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Previous ranking: 14

Last week: Def. St. Rita 17-10

Up next: at Providence, Sept. 26

The Spartans opened a 17-0 third-quarter lead and held on for the road win.

Previous ranking: 15

Last week: Lost to Maine South 41-21

Up next: vs. Palatine, Sept. 27

Luke Tepas threw for 295 yards, including a 61-yarder to Vince Cook, to lead the Broncos.

Previous ranking: 16

Last week: Def. Palatine 28-7

Up next: at Glenbrook North, Sept. 26

Andrew Bonvechio threw a pair of touchdown passes for the Titans.

Previous ranking: 17

Last week: Def. Leyden 56-0

Up next: vs. Oak Park-River Forest, Sept. 26

Dom Alfano was a perfect 9-of-9 passing for 186 yards and three touchdowns .

Preseason ranking: 20

Last week: Def. Fenwick 31-29

Up next: at Marmion, Sept. 26

Israel Abrams was 15-of-19 passing for 163 yards and two touchdowns as the Broncos held on for the win.

Previous ranking: 19

Last week: Lost to Montini 31-29

Up next: at De La Salle, Sept. 26

Jamen Williams threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns for the Friars.

Previous ranking: 22

Last week: Def. Plainfield South 33-7

Up next: vs. Yorkville, Sept. 26

Mariano Velasco had a pick-six and a receiving touchdown for the Panthers.

Previous ranking: 23

Last week: Def. Wheaton North 34-12

Up next: vs. Batavia, Sept. 26

JT Padron threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns for the North Stars.

Previous ranking: 25

Last week: Def. Lyons 29-26

Up next: at Downers Grove South, Sept. 26

Two-way standout Riley Contreras passed for 209 yards and two TDs, and also ran for 43 yards and a touchdown for the Red Devils.

Previous ranking: 24

Last week: Lost to Hinsdale Central 29-26

Up next: at Glenbard West, Sept. 26

EJ Kuhlman ran for 156 yards and two TDs for the Lions, while Jack Slightom threw for 254 yards and a score.

Previous ranking: 21

Last week: Lost to St. Francis 17-10

Up next: at Notre Dame, Sept. 26

Quarterback Stephen Armbruster returned and passed for 93 yards, while Jack Schapendonk had 10 tackles, including three for loss, for the Mustangs.

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Last week: Def. Lincoln-Way Central 17-12

Up next: at Waubonsie Valley, Sept. 26

Zach Hermanson kicked a program-record 52-yard field goal for the Warriors.