Florida vs. USA: The top 2024 high school football games against out-of-state opponents

Once again, Florida will have a big say in which team is crowned high school football’s mythical national champion.

Seven of the state’s top teams — IMG, Chaminade-Madonna, St. Thomas Aquinas, Cocoa, Miami Central, Plantation-American Heritage and Berkeley Prep — are ranked in the top 25 on MaxPreps’ preseason top 25.

Three of the top six teams in the nation — Bishop Gorman (Nevada), St. John Bosco (California) and Milton (Georgia) — will be playing in the Broward County National High School Football Showcase in August.

No one can win the national championship in August, but an early season loss will make it a steep uphill climb with little room for error the rest of the season.

St. Frances (Maryland), Bergen Catholic (N.J.) and Central (Alabama) also are top 25 teams playing teams from the Sunshine State this fall.

Here are the top 10 games featuring Florida teams versus an out-of-state opponent.

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(Note: Each Florida team was limited to one game on the list.)

Just missed the cut

Valdosta (Georgia) at Jesuit, Sept. 6; Bartram Trail at Ware County (Georgia), Sept. 6; Coconut Creek at Baylor (Tennessee), Sept. 6; Mary G. Montgomery (Alabama) at Pace, Aug. 23; Bishop Moore at Tottenville (N.Y.), Aug. 29

10. Florida High at Thomas County Central (Georgia), Aug. 30

Florida High, the 2022 Class 2S state runner-up, is playing its first out-of-state opponent since beating Thomas County 35-15 in the 2021 season opener. The Seminoles went 10-3 last year, losing to Pensacola Catholic 17-10 in the regional championship. Thomas County went 15-0 and won Georgia’s Class 6A state championship last season. The Yellow Jackets roster includes senior four-star defensive back Kendarius Reddick (USC commit) and junior four-star edge rusher Camron Brooks.

9. Mainland at Coffee (Georgia), Sept. 20

The Buccaneers, fresh off the program’s second title , usually play a challenging schedule and this year is no different. That includes a road trip to Georgia to take on fellow 2023 state champion Coffee. The Trojans, which also play Gadsden County this fall, were 15-0 in 2023. Coffee has beaten a Florida opponent in consecutive seasons: Bolles in 2023 and St. Augustine in 2022. Mainland went 14-1 in 2023 and beat St. Augustine to win the Class 3S championship. They are led by senior defensive lineman Christian Hudson (UCF commit) and junior linebacker Dennis King III.

8. Pensacola Catholic at Montgomery Catholic (Alabama), Sept. 13

The Crusaders play a pair of Alabama opponents that went 15-0 and won state championships in 2023: Montgomery Catholic and Mobile Christian. So, it’s a coin flip as to which game should make the list. Montgomery’s dominance in 2023 — the Knights outscored opponents 614-73 — was impressive. Pensacola Catholic was 11-3, won a regional title and fell to Class 2S state runner-up Bradford in the state semifinal. Crusaders senior quarterback Ryan Huff is committed to Old Dominion .

More: High school quarterbacks to watch for in Escambia, Santa Rosa counties entering 2024 season

7. Our Lady of Good Counsel (Maryland) at Columbus, Aug. 30

A matchup of defending champions. Good Counsel won its final 10 games in 2023 and claimed the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capital Division championship with a 7-0 win against DeMatha. Good Counsel, which beat Jones in 2023, boasts several Power 4 commits including defensive back Faheem Delaine (Ohio State commit). Columbus went 13-2 and won its second consecutive Class 4M championship in 2023. The Explorers are led by senior four-star defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald (Miami commit).

More: Spring Football: Verot QB Carter Smith scores 7 touchdowns, Vikings sweep spring jamboree

6. St. Frances (Maryland) at Clearwater Central Catholic, Oct. 25

St. Frances, which also plays IMG this season. is coming off a down year but is a perennial power that starts 2024 as one of the top 20 teams in the nation. The Panthers have several Power 4 players, including four-star Auburn commits Blake Woodby and Bryce Deas. CCC has been the Class 1M state runner-up in each of the past two seasons. The Marauders, led by senior quarterback/athlete Jershaun Newton (Illinois commit) and senior running back Sean Cuono (Indiana), were the Class 1M state runner-up the past two seasons.

5. Monarch at Cedar Grove (Georgia), Sept. 6

Cedar Grove had an up-and-down start to the 2023 season but got into a rhythm late in the year. The Saints finished on an eight-game win streak and won the Class 3A state championship. Cedar Grove senior running back Bo Walker is committed to Georgia. Monarch is coming off an 11-win season and a Class 4M regional championship. The Knights return an experienced senior class with wide receiver Samari Reed (Ole Miss commit) and edge rusher Romando Johnson (West Virginia commit).

4. Milton (Georgia) at American Heritage, Aug. 23

Milton, led by senior quarterback Luke Nickel (Miami commit), is returning to Florida for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Eagles jumped out to a 7-0 lead against Western but fell 14-10 on a rain-soaked field. Milton went on to win 12 of its final 13 games and won Georgia’s Class 7A state title. American Heritage went 10-2 in 2023, with its losses coming against Class 1M champion Chaminade and Class 2M champion Berkeley Prep. The Patriots boast a talented offense with five-star junior quarterback Dia Bell (Texas commit) and senior four-star running back Byron Louis.

More: Recruiting: State of Florida's elite 2026 quarterback class making college choices, leaving state

3. Bergen Catholic (NJ) at IMG, Aug. 29

Bergen Catholic can only hope this year’s trip to Florida goes better than last year when the Crusaders were crushed by Chaminade-Madonna 61-21 in 2023. It wasn’t all bad news for the Crusaders in 2023. They rallied to win their final nine games and claim their third consecutive New Jersey Non-Public A state title. Bergen Catholic’s roster includes 2026 edge rusher Jermaine Kinsler, who started his prep career at Ocala-Trinity Catholic. IMG once again has a loaded roster, including senior wide receiver Donovan Olugbode (Missouri commit) and senior linebacker Gavin Nix (Miami commit).

2. Bishop Gorman (Nevada) at St. Thomas Aquinas, Aug. 24

Once again, Aquinas opens the season with the defending national champion. After losing to St. John Bosco in 2023, the Raiders host Bishop Gorman to open the 2024 regular season. Aquinas has its sights set on an unprecedented sixth consecutive state title. Bishop Gorman is a perennial national power that has wins against Chaminade and Miami Central in Las Vegas over the past two years. Gorman’s senior class already has seven players committed to Power 4 programs, including offensive linemen Douglas Utu (Tennessee commit) and SJ Alofaituli (Miami commit). Aquinas has four-star junior defensive back Justice Fitzpatrick and a strong sophomore receiver class.

1. St. John Bosco (California) vs. Chaminade-Madonna, Aug. 24

Chaminade was undefeated in 2023, won the Class 1M title , and finished as the No. 2 team in the nation on multiple polls. The Lions take on St. John Bosco, which was the 2022 national champion and the No. 3 team in the nation last season on one poll. St. John Bosco opened its 2023 season in Florida, soundly beating St. Thomas Aquinas 20-7 . Bosco once again has a loaded roster, including junior four-star receivers Daniel Odom and Madden Williams. Chaminade counters with a retooled offense led by five-star junior running back Derrek Cooper and four-star junior receiver Jabari Brady.

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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida vs. USA: The top 2024 high school football games against out-of-state opponents