Welcome to 2026. A time where every high school football fan in the state of Florida has their own opinion on teams – whether they have watched them or not.
It is a year where a computer is holding everyone hostage, waiting to see what is spit out as the inaugural “Open Division” is becoming a major joke - with no human element (journalists and recruiting experts) having no input on what the final eight teams will look like.
While we never will profess to be the definitive answer when it comes to anything – the very fact that during a period of eight months, visiting camps, combines, spring practices and games and 7-on-7 events, there are very few websites or individuals who see as many players and teams, which may not make what we do 100 percent correct, but certainly it gives what we do a huge advantage on someone who sits home and watches scores or watches the same film everyone has access to.
With that said, we move into Week 8 – with key district games taking center stage and dictating where teams stand.
Here is a look at the Top 30 programs for Week 8 – with additional teams that have a chance to be special this year:
1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 6-0). The nation’s No. 1 team had one of their biggest tests of the season – on the road – holding on for a 21-20 win against No. 7 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. THIS WEEK: It’s a home game against Hollywood McArthur (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A home against Coconut Creek Monarch (10/16).
2. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 6-0). The Ascenders had easily their toughest contest of the season, winning on a field goal in the final seconds to beat Springfield The St. James Performance Academy, 44-42.
THIS WEEK: A road trip to Indiana to play New Palestine (10/9). NEXT WEEK: Loughborough NFL Academy England (10/16).
3. Miami Christopher Columbus (6A, 6-1). The Explorers rolled to a 53-0 win against Southwest Miami. THIS WEEK: They wrap up the district season with a road game against Coral Gables (10/9). NEXT WEEK: It’s GMAC Week with a huge matchup with No. 4 Miami Central. (10/16).
4. Miami Central (3A, 5-1). The Rockets moved one step closer to winning the district title with a 34-0 win against Miami Springs. THIS WEEK: A home district game against Key West (10/8). NEXT WEEK: It’s GMAC Week and a key matchup against No. 3 Miami Christopher Columbus (10/16).
5. Jacksonville Raines (3A, 6-0). The defending state champions won a huge contest – it’s 21st straight victory, 20-17 against No. 11 Venice. THIS WEEK: A district road trip to play Jacksonville Bishop Kenny (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A home game against Jacksonville Riverside (10-16).
6. West Boca Raton (5A, 5-1). The Bulls won their second straight, a 31-7 win against Belle Glade Glades Central. THIS WEEK: Another district game on the road against Deerfield Beach (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A road trip to Orlando to play No. 18 The First Academy (10/16).
7. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (2A, 4-2). The Lions dropped a tough home game against the No. 1 team in the country, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 21-20. THIS WEEK: A huge district contest on the road with a 1A state championship rematch against No. 16 West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (10/9).
8. DeLand (6A, 5-1). The underrated Bulldogs continue to make a case as one of the top eight teams in the state as they cruised by Port St. Lucie Centennial, 67-0. THIS WEEK: A road district contest at Orange City University (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A home game against Tavares (10/16).
9. Tampa Carrollwood Day (1A, 7-0). The highest scoring team in the state had little problem with Jacksonville Trinity Christian, 63-21. The Patriots have outscored their opponents by a 404-45 margin. THIS WEEK: A well-deserved off week. NEXT WEEK: A home game against The Community School of Naples (10/16).
10. Gainesville Buchholz (5A, 7-0). The Bobcats remained unbeaten as they rolled to a 35-10 win against previously unbeaten Alachua Santa Fe. THIS WEEK: Yet another road game against Palm Coast Matanzas (10/9). NEXT WEEK: Finally, a week off!
11. Venice (6A, 6-1). The Indians went down for the first time this season – on the road against defending state champion No. 5 Jacksonville Raines, 20-17. THIS WEEK: Another district home game against Bradenton Lakewood Ranch (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A big road district matchup against Sarasota Riverview (10/16).
12. Lakeland (5A, 5-1). The Dreadnaughts continued to state their case as an Open Division team with a 58-0 win against Dover Specialty Fit Academy. THIS WEEK: A road district game at Sebring (10/9). NEXT WEEK: Another road district contest against Bartow (10/16).
13. Vero Beach (6A, 6-1). For the second straight week the Indians had a tough game, beating Daytona Beach Mainland, 24-22. THIS WEEK: A home non-district contest against 1A Pahokee. NEXT WEEK: A well-deserved week off.
14. Seffner Armwood (5A, 5-1). The Hawks had the week off to prepare for the homestretch. THIS WEEK: A huge winner takes all district matchup against No. 15 unbeaten Tampa Bay Tech (10/9). NEXT WEEK: Another district game – at home – against Valrico Bloomingdale (10/16).
15. Tampa Bay Tech (5A, 7-0). The Titans continued to make their case for a top program with a 40-7 win against then No. 30 Ruskin Lennard. THIS WEEK: The biggest game of the season at home against No. 14 Seffner Armwood in a huge district contest (10/9). NEXT WEEK: Another district matchup at home against Tampa Leto (10/16).
16. West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (2A, 5-1). The Crusaders still believe they have a chance to be an Open Division team after knocking off Delray Beach Atlantic, 28-7. THIS WEEK: A huge district showdown and a 1A state championship rematch from last year when No. 7 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna heads north (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A non-district home game against Pembroke Pines West Broward (10/16).
17. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (3A, 5-1). The Cougars won an exciting 47-35 game against No. 28 Clearwater Central Catholic. THIS WEEK: A home district contest against Bradenton Bayshore (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A district road game against Bradenton Southeast (10/16).
18. Orlando The First Academy (2A, 5-1). The Royals continued to stay in the hunt for a spot in the inaugural Open Division with a 49-3 win against Cocoa. enjoyed a much-needed week off. THIS WEEK: Will stay at home for a contest against Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A huge home game against No. 6 West Boca Raton.
19. Lake City Columbia (4A, 7-0). One of the biggest surprises in the state, the Tigers stayed unbeaten with a 51-28 road contest against Bradenton Manatee. THIS WEEK: They will have the week off before a tough stretch run. NEXT WEEK: A big road district game against Jacksonville Ed White (10/16).
20. Lake Wales (4A, 5-1). The Highlanders were off last week as they recovered from a competitive start. THIS WEEK: A major road district game against two-time defending state runner up Orlando Jones (10/8). It’s their last chance to impress the computer! NEXT WEEK: A road game against Dover Specialty Fit Academy (10/16).
21. Jacksonville Mandarin (5A, 5-1). The Mustangs rolled to a convincing 33-17 win against the 2025 Class 6A state champion Lake Mary. THIS WEEK: A district game on the road against Ponte Vedra (10/9). NEXT WEEK: Another district matchup on the road against St. Johns Beachside (10/16).
22. St. Augustine (4A, 6-0). The Yellow Jackets had the week off to get ready for the stretch run. THIS WEEK: Another district game on the road against Orange Park Ridgeview (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A district home game against Orange Park (10/16).
23. Port Charlotte (4A, 4-2). The Pirates got by Fort Myers Bishop Verot at home, 26-12. THIS WEEK: Will have the week off. NEXT WEEK: Another district game at home against Cape Coral Mariner (10/16).
24. Lynn Haven Mosley (4A, 6-0). After a great start, the Dolphins had the week off. THIS WEEK: A home district matchup with Panama City Beach Arnold (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A key district game on the road at Tallahassee Rickards (10/16).
25. Sanford Seminole (6A, 6-0). The Seminoles enjoyed last week off – after a tremendous start. THIS WEEK: A home district contest against defending state champion Lake Mary (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A trip to Port Orange to play Spruce Creek (10/15).
26. Tampa Jesuit (4A, 4-1). The Tigers enjoyed the week off to get ready for a stretch run. THIS WEEK: Another district game at home against Gibsonton East Bay (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A home district game against Tampa Freedom (10/16).
27. Miami Palmetto (6A, 5-1). The Panthers enjoyed the week off. THIS WEEK: Another district game at home against Homestead (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A GMAC Week matchup, TBA (10/16).
28. Clearwater Central Catholic (2A, 5-1). For the second straight week, the Marauders had their hands full, but this time, they dropped a tough 47-35 decision to No. 17 Sarasota Cardinal Mooney. THIS WEEK: A home district game against Tampa Berkeley Prep (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A road game against Gulfport Boca Ciega (10/16).
29. Merritt Island (3A, 6-0). After having the week off, the Mustangs make their first appearance in the Top 30 after a solid start. THIS WEEK: A huge district road game against pre-season favorite Eau Gallie (10/9). NEXT WEEK: Another district road game against Palm Bay (10/16).
30. Starke Bradford County (2A, 7-0). The Tornadoes earned their first appearance in the Top 30 – with a convincing 55-13 win against Gainesville Eastside. THIS WEEK: A key road district game against Newberry (10/9). NEXT WEEK: A home game against Jacksonville University Christian (10/16).
KEEP AN EYE ON:
1A
Blountstown (5-1)
Fort Pierce John Carroll (5-1)
Hawthorne (7-0)
Jacksonville Trinity Christian (3-4)
Jacksonville University Christian (5-2)
Lakeland Christian (7-0)
Madison County (3-4)
Melbourne Central Catholic (5-1)
Miami True North Classical Academy (3-3)
Miami Westminster Christian (4-2)
Naples First Baptist (6-0)
Naples St. John Neumann (6-1)
Pahokee (4-2)
St. Petersburg Catholic (3-3)
Wildwood (5-1)
2A
Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s (3-3)
DeFuniak Springs Walton (5-1)
Jacksonville Bolles (4-1)
Miami Carol City (3-3)
Miami Immaculata LaSalle (6-0)
Miami Killian (6-1)
Pensacola Catholic (5-1)
Tallahassee Florida High (5-1)
Tampa Berkeley Prep (3-2)
Tampa Catholic (4-2)
3A
Alachua Santa Fe (3A, 5-1)
Bradenton Braden River (4-1)
Brooksville Nature Coast Tech (5-1)
Bushnell South Sumter (5-2)
Crawfordville Wakulla (5-2)
Eau Gallie (4-2)
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (4-2)
Fort Lauderdale Dillard (4-3)
Miami Springs (5-2)
North Miami Beach (5-2)
Santa Rosa Beach South Walton (6-1)
The Villages Charter (6-0)
Titusville (5-2)
4A
Plantation American Heritage (3-3)
Clearwater (6-0)
Delray Beach Atlantic (3-1)
Fort Myers Dunbar (5-2)
Fort Pierce Westwood (3-2)
Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (4-2)
Hialeah American (5-2)
Jacksonville Ed White (4-1)
Jensen Beach (4-2)
Miami Norland (3-3)
Miami Northwestern (5-2)
Middleburg (4-2)
New Smyrna Beach (4-2)
Ocala Lake Weir (6-0)
Ocala Vanguard (4-2)
Orlando Bishop Moore (4-2)
Orlando Jones (4-1)
Pensacola Washington (5-1)
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (5-2)
South Fort Myers (5-1)
Tallahassee Godby (5-2)
Tallahassee Leon (6-0)
Zephyrhills (5-2)
5A
Auburndale (4-2)
Bradenton Manatee (4-3)
Clermont East Ridge (5-2)
Coconut Creek (5-1)
Coconut Creek Monarch (3-3)
Fort Myers Riverdale (3-3)
Immokalee (5-1)
Melbourne (4-2)
Niceville (4-3)
Ocala Forest (6-1)
Orange Park Oakleaf (3-3)
Orlando Evans (3-3)
Oviedo (4-2)
Pace (4-2)
Palmetto (5-1)
Riverview Sumner (4-3)
Royal Palm Beach (5-1)
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (3-3)
St. John Bartram Trail (5-1)
Stuart Martin County (3-3)
Stuart South Fork (5-2)
Tampa Gaither (4-3)
Trinity Mitchell (4-2)
Viera (3-3)
6A
Daytona Beach Mainland (2-3)
Flagler Palm Coast (5-1)
Fort Pierce Central (4-1)
Jupiter (5-1)
Kissimmee Gateway (5-1)
Lantana Santaluces (4-2)
Orlando Edgewater (3-2)
Orlando Lake Nona (5-1)
Palm Beach Lakes (4-2)
Port Orange Spruce Creek (4-2)
Ruskin Lennard (5-2)
Sarasota Riverview (5-1)
St. Cloud (4-2)
Tampa Alonso (6-0)
Wellington (4-2)
Wellington Palm Beach Central (5-1)
Weston Cypress Bay (7-0)
Winter Garden West Orange (5-1)
Week 1 State Football Rankings: St. Thomas Aquinas Is The One. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-1-state-football-rankings-st-thomas-aquinas-is-the-one
Week 2 State Football Rankings: Top Teams Get Off To A Fast Start. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-2-state-football-rankings-top-teams-get-off-to-a-fast-start
Week 3 Florida State High School Football Rankings: The Nation Was Watching. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-3-state-football-rankings-the-nation-was-watching
Week 4 Florida State Football Rankings: Elite Teams Stay On Top. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-4-florida-state-football-rankings-elite-teams-stay-on-top
Week 5 Florida State Football Rankings: Things Are Getting Very Exciting. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-5-florida-state-football-rankings-things-are-getting-very-exciting
Week 6 Florida State Football Rankings: Every Game Will Have Meaning. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-6-florida-state-football-rankings-every-game-will-have-meaning
Week 7 Florida State Football Rankings: There Is No Turning Back Now. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-7-florida-state-football-rankings-there-is-no-turning-back-now
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
For the past 56 years, we have spent more time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein), Instagram (OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..