SALT LAKE CITY — Football is back!
The 2025 high school football season kicks off this week, and there are several familiar names at the top of the preseason KSL.com Top 20+1 rankings. While players come and go, some schools have a way of keeping things rolling (looking at you, Region 3!)
Here's where we see the teams entering the first week of the season.
1. Corner Canyon
Last year, star quarterback Helaman Casuga's junior season was cut short due to an injury, and the Chargers still ended up winning the 6A championship.
So with the Texas A&M commit returning — along with plenty of other star power — it should come as no surprise that Corner Canyon is the preseason No. 1
The Chargers will be seeking their ninth consecutive region title and third straight state championship.
2. Lone Peak
The Knights narrowly lost to Corner Canyon last fall in the 6A state championship, but they did get some reinforcements in the offseason.
The receiving duo of Jaron and Kennan Pula, who have both committed to Utah, transferred from Timpview to Lone Peak for their senior seasons.
3. Lehi
The Pioneers have a host of future Division I players as the team looks to compete in the murderers' row that is Region 3.
Receiver Legend Glasker and defensive end Penisimani Takitaki have committed to BYU, tight end Bryton Niu has committed to Oklahoma State, and offensive lineman Mataalii Benjamin has committed to Minnesota. And that's just a few of the Lehi players drawing interest from the next level.
4. Skyridge
Yeah, the top four spots all come from the newly configured Region 3.
Skyridge will be breaking in plenty of new faces after falling in the semifinals last year, but the team does return quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne, who has offers from BYU and Utah State.
On the defensive side, the Falcons will be led by Arizona commit defensive end Harvie Moeai.
5. Davis
Quarterback Tradon Bessinger is the biggest reason to believe Davis can contend for a 6A title. The Boise State commit threw for 3,670 yards and 42 touchdowns (with only five interceptions) last fall.
6. Orem
The Tigers already had a plethora of Division I talent — including Alabama commit QB Tayden-Evan Kaawa — and then came a fortuitous offseason.
Three-star defensive lineman and BYU commit Lopeti Moala transferred to Orem from Davis this offseason, and safety and Utah commit Aisa Galea'i transferred in from Timpview. That duo headlines a group of newcomers that should make the Tigers a state contender.
7. Brighton
Brighton returns nine offensive starters and five defensive starters from last year's semifinal (and injury-riddled) team, and will start the year as the team to beat in Region 6.
The Bengals should, once again, boast one of the top defenses in 5A after allowing just 10.2 points per game last season.
8. Timpview
The Thunderbirds face some uncertainty entering the season after Donny Atuai stepped down as coach in June. Atuai led the Thunderbirds to a 29-8 record in three seasons and a 5A state championship in 2023.
Previous assistant coach Travis Uale will take the reins of a team that lost most of its starters from last year's semifinal team. The Thunderbirds, though, do have one of the top offensive linemen in the state in Ian Aloisio.
9. American Fork
The Caveman returns 15 starters from last year's quarterfinals team, including one of the state's young playmakers
Sophomore receiver Cash Taiese already has an offer from Utah after hauling in 30 catches last year as a freshman.
10. Bountiful
The reigning 5A champions return running back Siaki Fekitoa, who rushed for over 1,900 yards last season. The problem? He's one of the few returning starters from the Redhawks' magical run last fall — and one of only two on the offensive side.
11. West
Quarterback Kamden Lopati threw for 3,040 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior, drawing the attention of numerous Power Four schools. The Illinois commit will look to lead the Panthers to the top of the new eight-school Region 4.
12. Ridgeline
The Riverhawks enter the season as the 4A favorite after returning 17 starters from a team that went 12-1 last season.
QB Nate Dahle and receiver Graham Livingston will lead Rigeline's offense. Dahle threw for 2,989 yards and 29 TDs a year ago; Livingston had 1,635 of those yards and 15 TDs.
13. Crimson Cliffs
The Mustangs graduated 42 seniors in 2023 but still won the 4A championship in 2024. So Crimson Cliffs probably isn't stressing too much about only returning six starters from last year's team.
14. Olympus
Olympus will be going on a redemption tour this season after blowing a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter of the 5A quarterfinals last year (to region foe Brighton, no less).
Linebacker and BYU commit Adam Bywater will lead a defense that was second in 5A last season.
15. Fremont
Two-way star Salesi Moa is the top-rated prospect in the state.
Moa, who committed to Tennessee late last month, had 800 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns last season, and added 40 tackles and two interceptions on the defensive end as Fremont won its first region title since 2016.
And that was in 6A. How far can he and returning QB Manase Tuatagaloa lead the Silverwolves now that they have dropped down a classification?
16. Provo
Provo returns eight starters on offense and seven on defense, and will enter the season as the Region 8 favorite.
17. Mountain Ridge
The Sentinels have a new coach in former Timpview assistant Nick Robins as they look to make an early mark on the new-look Region 2.
Mountain Ridge returns 17 starters from last year's team.
18. Roy
This seems a bit low for a team that was in the 5A championship game less than a year ago, but the Royals have plenty of questions after returning just two players from last season's state runner-up team.
19. Sky View
Sky View returns eight starters on offense from a team that won eight games a year ago.
20. Morgan
The Trojans graduated a bulk of the team that went undefeated last season, but we still see them as the top team in 3A.
Plus-1: Beaver
Beaver has been one of the most consistently great teams in the state in recent years. The Beavers have won four titles since 2019 and will be looking for a three-peat this season — something we (and most everyone else in 1A) expect.
Oh, and they just missed out on a perfect season a year ago.
Beaver's lone loss last season was a 2-point defeat to North Summit in a game that went five overtimes; it will get a chance for revenge on Sept. 26.
