High school football 2023 Top-ranked teams in all 50 states

Ahead of the 2023 high school football season, USA TODAY High School Sports is looking around the country at some of the best programs to keep an eye on this year more than a few of which will most likely appear in the opening Super 25.

Of course, the same argument that roadblocks much of the conversation each season holds true in 2023: how can you measure the best when high school football unleashes so many unknowns in the equation? (Taking Highland Springs over a team like Riverheads in Virginia is just one of many examples: 52-game winning streaks from a Class 1 squad vs. a Class 5 lineup.

So, understanding that there’s zero way analytical- or opinion-based to present an absolute, no doubt, concrete ranking among the thousands of teams, we’ve taken as much consideration for each state’s top programs as possible, looking at rosters, strength at the QB position and outlooks from around the HS coverage sphere, and selected a “best of the best” based on the year-over-year progressions.

With that in mind, here are our picks

Alabama

Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)

Alaska

Lathrop (Fairbanks, Alaska)

Arizona

Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)

Arkansas

Bryant (Ark.)

California

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Colorado

Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.)

Connecticut

New Canaan (Conn.)

Delaware

Smyrna (Del.)

Florida

IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

Georgia

Buford (Ga.)

Hawaii

Kahuku (Hawaii)

Idaho

Rigby (Idaho)

Illinois

East St. Louis (Ill.)

Indiana

Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.)

Iowa

Southeast Polk (Pleasant Hill, Iowa)

Kansas

Mill Valley (Shawnee, Kan.)

Kentucky

St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.)

Louisiana

John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)

Maine

Leavitt (Turner, Maine)

Maryland

St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)

Massachusetts

Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury, Mass.)

Michigan

Belleville (Mich.)

Minnesota

Mankato West (Minn.)

Mississippi

Starkville (Miss.)

Missouri

Christian Brothers College (St. Louis, Mo.)

Montana

Florence-Carlton (Florence, Mont.)

Nebraska

Omaha Westside (Neb.)

Nevada

Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

New Hampshire

Pelham (N.H.)

New Jersey

Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)

New Mexico

Cleveland (Rio Rancho, N.M.)

New York

Iona Prep (New Rochelle, N.Y.)

North Carolina

Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.)

North Dakota

Shanley (Fargo, N.D.)

Ohio

St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)

Oklahoma

Bixby (Okla.)

Oregon

West Linn (Ore.)

Pennsylvania

St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Rhode Island

La Salle Academy (Providence, R.I.)

South Carolina

Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.)

South Dakota

Jefferson (Sioux Falls, S.D.)

Tennessee

Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.)

Texas

Duncanville (Texas)

Utah

(Corner Canyon Athletics)

Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah)

Vermont

Champlain Valley Union (Hinesburg, Vt.)

Virginia

Highland Springs (Va.)

Washington

Yelm (Wash.)

West Virginia

Huntington (Wv,)

Wisconsin

Kimberly (Wis.)

Wyoming

Star Valley (Afton, Wyo.)

SOURCE: USA TODAY High School Sports