Minnesota’s High School Football Rankings Unveiled

This week, the excitement of high school football continues to build as teams in Minnesota gear up for another thrilling round of games. The new Minnesota Top 20 rankings highlight the best teams in the state regardless of their class, while also acknowledging the challenges faced by smaller schools.

Compiling a set of rankings that crosses class lines is no easy task, primarily due to the differences in school sizes. The importance of school size is a significant factor in football. With the Minnesota State High School League separating football into seven classes based on enrollment, it’s clear why larger schools often dominate top rankings. These schools, some boasting over 3,000 students, generally have a larger pool of players to select from, resulting in deeper and more skilled teams.

This week’s rankings witnessed a shake-up at the top, especially after Lakeville South’s surprising loss to Wayzata. Here is the Week 2 lineup:

1. Maple Grove (1-0) – Last week: 1. Defeated Osseo 55-7. Next: home vs. Champlin Park, Friday, 7 p.m.
2. Edina (1-0) – Last week: 2. Defeated Eagan 35-14. Next: home vs. Eden Prairie, Friday, 7 p.m.
3. Eden Prairie (1-0) – Last week: 4. Defeated Buffalo 40-6. Next: at Edina, Friday, 7 p.m.
4. Lakeville North (1-0) – Last week: 5. Defeated Stillwater 27-7. Next: home vs. Rosemount, Friday, 7 p.m.
5. Centennial (1-0) – Last week: 7. Defeated Coon Rapids 42-0. Next: at Blaine, Friday, 7 p.m.
6. Anoka (1-0) – Last week: 8. Defeated Champlin Park 25-13. Next: at St. Michael-Albertville, Friday, 7 p.m.
7. Shakopee (1-0) – Last week: 9. Defeated Hopkins 59-35. Next: at Prior Lake, Friday, 7 p.m.
8. Minnetonka (1-0) – Last week: 11. Defeated White Bear Lake 34-10. Next: home vs. Wayzata, Friday, 7 p.m.
9. Elk River (5A, 1-0) – Last week: 10. Defeated Chanhassen 44-22. Next: home vs. Brainerd, Friday, 7 p.m.
10. Wayzata (1-0) – Last week: not ranked. Defeated Lakeville South 17-14. Next: at Minnetonka, Friday, 7 p.m.
11. Rosemount (1-0) – Last week: not ranked. Defeated Eastview 41-3. Next: at Lakeville North, Friday, 7 p.m.
12. Lakeville South (0-1) – Last week: 3. Lost to Wayzata 17-14. Next: home vs. Farmington, Friday, 7 p.m.
13. Alexandria (5A, 1-0) – Last week: 13. Defeated Chaska 24-6. Next: home vs. Monticello, Friday, 7 p.m.
14. Mankato West (5A, 1-0) – Last week: 14. Defeated Northfield 31-6. Next: home vs. Andover, Friday, 7 p.m.
15. Rogers (1-0) – Last week: 16. Defeated Sartell 20-0. Next: at Moorhead, Friday, 7 p.m.
16. Prior Lake (1-0) – Last week: not ranked. Defeated Forest Lake 22-19. Next: home vs. Shakopee, Friday, 7 p.m.
17. Stillwater (0-1) – Last week: 6. Lost to Lakeville North 27-7. Next: home vs. Woodbury, Thursday, 7 p.m.
18. Sauk Rapids-Rice (5A, 1-0) – Last week: 18. Defeated Irondale 40-14. Next: home vs. Sartell, Friday, 7 p.m.
19. St. Thomas Academy (5A, 1-0) – Last week: 19. Defeated Andover 21-14. Next: home vs. Waconia, Friday, 7 p.m.
20. Becker (4A, 1-0) – Last week: not ranked. Defeated Hill-Murray 51-0. Next: at Providence Academy, Friday, 7 p.m.

Smaller schools face unique challenges, as many student-athletes must play both offense and defense, unlike their larger counterparts. This mix keeps the game exciting and competitive. Fans all over Minnesota should keep an eye on these teams as the season unfolds!