Let the countdown begin. California’s 2026 season is less than two weeks away with openers starting Aug. 20-21 in the Central, Southern, San Diego, Sac-Joaquin and Los Angeles City sections, and Aug. 27-28 in the Central Coast, North Coast, Oakland and San Francisco sections. Picking the Top 25 teams isn’t as difficult as it once was. Quite earnestly, the same teams largely resurface every year, built by cohesive coaching staffs that draw in top talent. If not the old fashion way of residing in circulation regions, blue chip athletes are finding ways to gain eligibility by legal bounds. The results, are many of the titan programs battling year after year for winning programs, leading to section, if not regional and state titles. Over the next five days check back for the top 25 teams in the Golden State. See last season’s 2025 final rankings here and check below for the California 2025 in review section, featuring title game results, section champions and statistical leaders. Today are teams 21-25. followed by teams 16-20, 11-15, 6-10 and finally 1-5 over the next five days. See Tarek Fattal’s Southern Section’s preseason football rankings. 21. TUSTINLast season: 9-2, 5-0 Delta LeagueLast five seasons: 38-16Top Offensive Players: Ayden Edwards, QB, Jr.; Hayden Koo, WR, Jr.; Jeremiah Salvant, WR, Sr.; Rufai Azeez, TE/WR, Sr.Top Defensive Players: Taven Epps, LB, Sr.; Khalil Terry, S, Sr.; Jon Ioane, DT, Sr.; Jeremiah Williams, DL, Sr.Newcomers: Jackson Perez, WR/FS, Sr. (Orange Lutheran); Steele Holcomb, RB/LB, Sr. (Servite).Recruited/ranked players: 247Sports 2027 (Top 224) — Epps (No. 12, Oklahoma commit), Ioane (No. 16, Washington commit), Williams (No. 30, BYU commit); Terry (No. 33, UCLA commit), Azeez (No. 158, Nevada commit), Salvant (No. 191, Colorado State). 247Sports 2028 (Top 80) — Koo (No. 9), Edwards (No. 57). Coach Anthony Lopez says: "We are a physical football team that can really make a run if we can stay healthy. Every week is a game with our schedule."22. SERRA-SAN MATEOSerra tailback/linebacker Jeovanni Henley (4) breaks into the open field temporarily during a 2024 game at De La Salle. Henley has committed to Cal. | Photo: Dennis LeeLast season: 8-6, 6-1 West Catholic Athletic LeagueLast five seasons: 49-16Top offensive players: Malakai Taufoou, RB-S, Sr.; Jace Cannon, TE, Sr.; Jeovanni Henley, RB-LB, Sr.; WR-KR Charlie Walsh, Sr.; Caleb Bandel, QB, Sr.; Sam McReynolds, TE, Jr.Top defensive players: Lemani Fehoko, DL, Sr.; Dylan Modena, DE, Sr.; Cornell James, CB, Sr.; Taupski Latu, DL, So.Recruited/ranked players: 247Sports 2027 (Top 224) — Taufoou (No. 29, Oregon commit), Cannon (No. 57, USC commit); Fehoko (No. 81, Minnesota commit), Modena (No. 137, UNLV commit), Henley (No. 162, Cal commit); 247Sports 2028 (Top 80) — McReynolds (No. 67). 23. GRANT-SACRAMENTOGrant (white uniforms) are perennial Sac-Joaquin and Northern California powers. This season, the Pacers return 18 starters from last year's squad. | Photo: Joe BergmanLast season: 7-5, 4-0 Metropolitan LeagueLast five seasons: 44-21Top offensive players: Rahzario Edwards, TE, Sr.; Thurman Lyles, OT, Sr.; Jayson Williams, RB, Sr.; Koby Shabazz, WR, Sr.; Shiren Crump, QB, Sr.; Blake Nycum, QB, Sr.; Thorne Watson, RB, Sr.Top defensive players: Giovanni Hodge, DL, Sr.; Isaiah Stephen, DL, Sr.; Julian Bruno, LB, Jr., Kane Fulwider, DL, Jr.; Jaylen Rabon, DB, Sr.Recruited/ranked players: 247Sports 2027 (Top 224) — Edwards (No. 25, Cal commit), Hodge (No. 52, Cal commit), Lyles (No. 75, UCLA commit), Williams (No. 119, Fresno State commit), Stephen (No. 140), Shabazz (No. 194, Sacramento State). 247Sports 2028 (Top 80) — Bruno (No. 37). 24. JSERRA CATHOLICLike father (right), like son, new JSerra Catholic head coach Hardy Nickerson Sr. and Hardy Nickerson Jr. come over from Bishop O'Dowd in Oakland, which won a state title last season. The Lions start the season at No. 1 in the High Schools On SI California preseason Top 25 rankings. | Courtesy photo: Amy NickersonLast season: 3-7, 0-5 Trinity LeagueLast five seasons: 23-32Top Offensive Players: Clark Cokley, WR, Sr.; Will Fredericksen, RB, Sr.; Luca Deleon, WR, Jr.; Grayson Matvay, TE, Sr.; Sam Fredericksen, WR, Jr.; Jack Schein, OL, Sr.Top Defensive Players: Godschoice Eboigbodin, DE, Sr.; Dylan Fenn, LB, Sr.; Garrison Bolen, DB, Jr.Newcomers: Lincoln Fa'alafi, OL, Jr.Recruited/ranked players: 247Sports 2027 (Top 224) — Eboigbodin (No. 31, UCLA commit), Schein (No. 108, Colorado State commit), Cokley (No. 142, Georgetown commit). 247Sports 2028 (Top 80) — Fa’alafi (No. 1). Coach Hardy Nickerson says: "We are going to be a disciplined football team that will play with toughness, play smart, play fast, play physical, and finish games well."25. DAMIEN-LA VERNELast season: 8-3, 3-2 Baseline LeagueLast five seasons: 30-23Top Offensive Players: Travon Garrison, WR, Sr.; Malachi McFarland, RB, Sr.; Anthony Randolph, QB, So.; Elijah Moreno, OT, Sr.; Xavier Keyzers, WR, Sr.; Levi King, WR, Jr.; Benjamin Gutierrez, WR, Jr.; Max Alvarado, OL, So.; Jaden Diggs, C, Jr.; Malcolm Issac, RB/Slot, So.; Corey Melocoton, OL, Sr.Top Defensive Players: Gavin Williams, S, Sr.; Dupri Stevenson-Dorsey, S, Sr.; Isaiah Teran, DB, Jr.; Cai Wallace, CB, So.; Andrew Metz, LB, Sr.; Iona Uiagalelei, LB, Sr.; Owen Gilboy, LB, Sr.; Peyton Barber, DT, So.; Jalen Castro, DT, So.; Sal Marenco, DE, So.; Justin Richardson, DL, Sr.; Julian Bonilla, LB, So.; Dominic Verdi, LB, Sr.; Jacoby Roseli, DB, Sr.; Josiah Williams, DB, So.Newcomers: N/ARecruited/ranked players: 247Sports 2027 (Top 224) — Williams (No. 10, USC commit), McFarland (No. 105, Boise State commit), Garrison (No. 141, San Diego State commit). Coach James Stewart says: "The expectation in our program is always to compete for a league championship, and this season is no different. We know those goals aren't achieved by talking about it. They're earned through preparation, toughness, and consistency every single day. Our players have invested a tremendous amount of work during the offseason, and now it's time to put that work on display. We're excited about the opportunity in front of us, but we also understand that every week will bring a new challenge. If we continue to play fast, stay together, and embrace the standard we've set for ourselves, we believe this team has the potential to accomplish something special."CALIFORNIA 2025 IN REVIEWNot Mater Dei. Not St. John Bosco. For the first time since 2015, a California football team not named either of those two schools won the biggest prize — the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division championship — to finish off the 2025 season. Santa Margarita, a rapidly rising up-and-coming program that plays in the same Trinity League as national juggernauts Mater Dei and St. John Bosco, won the Open crown with a decisive 47-13 win over perennial Northern California power De La Salle-Concord at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. Santa Margarita senior WR Trent Mosley and USC commit had eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone when the Eagles raced to a 35-7 lead en route to a 47-13 win in the CIF State Open Division championship at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. | Photo by Todd ShurtleffState Player of the Year, big-play receiver Trent Mosley had 11 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns and added a TD rushing as the Eagles, coached for the first season by former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback standout Carson Palmer, finished off a late-season flurry with a thoroughly decisive win over De La Salle (12-1), which was after its ongoing record eighth state title. The Spartans, who hadn’t played for 22 days due to early North Coast Section playoffs and a week off after being selected the top team from the North, were outgained 377-180 and sacked four times. Its star running back, state-champion sprinter Jaden Jefferson, scored both of De La Salle’s touchdowns. Tulsa-bound quarterback Trace Johnson threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns, two also to Luke Gazzaniga. A 43-yard pick-6 by Siua Holani capped the lopsided win for Santa Margarita (11-3), which finished the season with lopsided wins over Orange Lutheran (28-7 and 31-6), JSerra Catholic (41-14), Sierra Canyon (21-9) and Corona Centennial (42-7). MORE STATE CHAMPIONSDivision 1-AA: Folsom 42, Cathedral Catholic-San Diego 28Division 1-A: Central East 42, Pacifica-Oxnard 28Division 2-AA: St. Mary’s-Stockton 27, Bakersfield Christian 24Division 2-A: Sonora 35, Rio Hondo Prep 10Division 3-AA: St. Ignatius 42, Ventura 35Division 3-A: Kennedy-Delano 42, McClymonds-Oakland 25Division 4-AA: Barstow 17, Sutter 7Division 5-AA: Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland 37, Christian-El Cajon 0Division 5-A: San Andreas 42, Bishop Union 21Division 6-AA: Valley Center 36, Lincoln-San Jose 35Division 6-A: Winters 28, Morse 7Division 7-AA: Redding Christian 16, Woodbridge-Irvine 0Division 7-A: Balboa-San Francisco 42, South El Monte 8State championship game previews ALL SECTION CHAMPIONSCentral Section — Central East (Division 1-AA), Bakersfield Christian (1-A), Arroyo Grande (D2), Kennedy (D3), Immanuel (D4), Bishop Union (D5), Minarets (D6), Fresno Christian (8-man)Central Coast Section — Riordan (Open Division), Serra (Division 1), St. Ignatius (D2), Menlo-Atherton (D3), Lincoln-San Jose (D4), Piedmont Hills (D5)LA City Section — Carson (Open Division), South Gate (D1), San Fernando (D2), Santee (D3), Sherman Oaks CES (8-person)North Coast Section — De La Salle (Open Division), Pittsburg (D1), Monte Vista-Danville (D2), El Cerrito (D3), Miramonte (D4), Ferndale (D5), Bishop O’Dowd (D6), Middletown (D7), Stuart Hall (8-person D1), Elsie Allen (8-person D2).Northern Section — Chico (Division 2), Gridley (D3), Winters (D4), Redding Christian (D5)Oakland Section — McClymondsSan Diego Section — Cathedral Catholic (Open Division), Granite Hills (D1), Santa Fe Christian (D2), Christian (D3), Valley Center (D4), Morse (D5-A), Marantha Christian (D5-AA), St. Joseph Academy (D6)Sac-Joaquin Section — Folsom (D1), St. Mary’s (D2), Woodcreek (D3), Roseville (D4), Sutter (D5), Sonora (D6), Calaveras (D7), Mira Loma (D8)San Francisco Section — BalboaSouthern Section — Santa Margarita (D1), Los Alamitos (D2), Pacifica (D3), La Habra (D4), Rio Hondo (D5), Ventura (D6), Barstow (D7), Beckman (D8), Valley Christian (D9), Hillcrest (D10), Valley View (D11), Grace (D12), Woodbridge (D13), South El Monte (D14), Flintridge Prep (8-man D1), Lancaster Baptist (8-man D2). RETURNING STATE STAT LEADERS(All via MaxPreps leaderboards)TouchdownsEli Dukes (Palma) 37Elijah Walker (Chavez) 36Joe Lara (Liberty Ranch) 32James Curso (Clovis) 30Carson Tidwell (King City) 30Elias Haynes (Downey) 30 Passing yards Jelani Dipper (Central East) 4,583 yardsTaylor Lee (Pacifica-Oxnard) 4,059Zachary Benitez (Granite Hills-Cel Cajon) 4,009Deshawn Laporte (Burbank) 3,990Michael Gonzalez (South Gate) 3,842Touchdown passesDippel (Central East) 58Wyatt Shaw (Redding Christian) 55Laport (Burbank) 54Lee (Pacifica) 53Riley Williams (Grace) 46Rushing yardsEli Dukes (Palma) 2,420Gage Jones (Live Oak) 2,207Wyatt Gillett (Los Molinos) 2,187Ma’Kahl Fields-Cook (Canyon Hills) 2,092Carson Tidwell (King City) 2,076Dvaughn Norwood (Bella Vista) 1,876Receiving yardsNicholas Fonseca (South Gate) 1,782 (99 catches, 20 touchdowns)Bayon Harris (Central East) 1,768 (86, 26)Demaje Riley (Tulare Union) 1,519 (72, 13)Blake Wong (Norco) 1,479 (84, 20)Jmari Garlington (Banning) 1,470 (76, 17)TacklesIsiah Phelps (Pacifica) 232Madden Mayer (Linfield Christian) 180Ryan Halversen (Middletown) 177Jaret Bridwell (Red Bluff) 173Kane Casani (Loyola) 166SacksBrandon Garcia (La Puente) 21Anthony Lara (Kennedy-Delano) 19Juan Raygoza (McLane) 18Kingston Sula (Carson) 16Paul Pennson (North Hollywood) 15Cody McCoard (Golden Sierra) 15InterceptionsJaden Walk-Green (Corona Centennial) 10Raul Iniguez (Fall River) 9Micah Skinner (Redding Christian) 9Xavier Musselman-Cano (Beckman) 9Taylor Sheriff (Canyon Hills) 8Shane Anderson (Viewpoint) 8Jayden Harris (Manteca) 8Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow