Florida high school football Week 1: What are the top games to watch?

No team can win a national championship in Week 1, but it sure can make a strong statement.

The first regular season weekend of games in Florida, highlighted by the Broward County National High School Football Showcase, features several high-profile games that will have an immediate impact on the national rankings.

The weekend includes four matchups of teams ranked in the USA Today Super 25 national poll: IMG Academy (No. 2) at Corner Canyon (Utah, No. 17), Bishop Gorman (Nevada, No. 3) at St. Thomas Aquinas (No. 8), St. John Bosco (California, No. 5) at Chaminade-Madonna (No. 6) and Milton (Georgia, No. 10) at Plantation-American Heritage (No. 16).

Those four games may be the headliners, but they certainly aren’t the only profile games on a loaded opening weekend. Also on the schedule is Lakeland at Miami Central, Tampa Bay Tech at Venice, Berkeley Prep at Clearwater Central Catholic and Raines at Bolles .

Here’s a look at the top games to watch in Week 1.

Stream Florida high school football live on NFHS Network

St. John Bosco at Chaminade-Madonna (8 p.m., Saturday)

Bosco, the 2022 national champion, is making its second consecutive appearance in the Broward County showcase. The Braves beat Aquinas 20-7 in 2023. Now, they take on a retooled Chaminade-Madonna squad that finished No. 2 in the nation in 2023. Both lineups are loaded with Power 4 talent.

Bishop Gorman at St. Thomas Aquinas (4 p.m., Saturday)

Aquinas opens its season with Gorman, the 2023 national champion. Gorman is traveling to South Florida after beating Chaminade (2022) and Miami Central (2023) in Las Vegas. Gorman has one of the nation’s most talented teams. Aquinas easily handled state-ranked Bishop Verot in Fort Myers in the Kickoff Classic last week.

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

Berkeley Prep at Clearwater Central Catholic (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

Two of the premier powers on the West Coast face off. Berkeley Prep won the Class 2M state title in 2023, the first championship in program history. Clearwater Central Catholic has been the Class 1M state runner-up in back-to-back seasons.

Watch Berkeley Prep vs. Clearwater Central Cathlolic

IMG at Corner Canyon (7 p.m., Thursday)

IMG’s quest for its first national title since 2020 begins in Utah. IMG enters the season with an 18-game win streak; the last loss was a 20-14 defeat at the hands of Miami Central in the 2022 season opener. Corner Canyon (1-0) went 12-1 and won the UHSAA 6A state title in 2023. The Chargers lone loss in 2023 came against Gorman.

Milton at American Heritage (7:30 p.m., Friday)

Milton, led by quarterback Luke Nickel (Miami commit), is making the trip to Broward for the second consecutive season. The Eagles lost at Western in 2023 but rebounded to win the 7A championship. Milton (1-0) beat nationally ranked Buford 13-10 last week. American Heritage has a loaded offense and its looking to build off its 13-win season and Class 2M state semifinal appearance in 2023.

Lakeland at Miami Central (7 p.m., Friday)

One of the most high-profile matchups of two-in state teams. Lakeland, which won back-to-back Class 4S state titles, travels to Miami to take on a talented Rockets squad. Central is No. 1 in Class 3A; Lakeland is No. 2 in Class 6A.

Tampa Bay Tech at Venice (7:30 p.m., Friday)

The Titans are looking to get back to the state championship game — they were the Class 7A state runner-up in 2021 — and begin the year with a tough matchup against perennial power Venice. Tech boasts one of the nation’s top recruits in wide receiver Dallas Wilson. Venice, the No. 1 team in Class 7A, has been in the state championship game four years in a row.

Raines at Bolles (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

This matchup of two of Jacksonville's best is a rematch of the 2023 Class 2M regional semifinal, which Bolles won 14-7. Bolles is No. 3 in Class 2A; Raines begins the season ranked No. 4 in Class 3M.

Other top games in Week 1

Peachtree Ridge (Georgia) at Monarch (Thursday, 4 p.m.)

Benjamin at West Boca (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.)

South Dade at Booker T. Washington (Thursday, 7 p.m.)

Miami Northwestern at Coconut Creek (Thursday, 8 p.m.)

Creekside at Mandarin (Friday, 6:30 p.m.)

Lake Mary at Cardinal Gibbons (Friday, 7 p.m.)

University at Mainland (Friday, 7 p.m.)

South Sumter at Niceville (Friday, 7 p.m.)

Jesuit at Bishop Verot (Friday, 7 p.m.)

Plant at Carrollwood Day (Friday. 7 p.m.)

Vero Beach at Eau Gallie (Friday, 7 p.m.)

Madison County at DeLand (Friday, 7 p.m.)

Treasure Coast at Osceola (Friday. 7 p.m.)

Titusville at Cocoa (Friday, 7 p.m.)

Winter Park at Jones (Friday, 7 p.m.)

Florida High at Dunnellon (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

Armwood at Gaither (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

Homestead at Miami Palmetto (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

Buchholz at Vanguard (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

Mary G. Montgomery (Alabama) at Pace (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

Sarasota Riverview at Naples (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

Hoover (Alabama) at Western (Saturday, 7 p.m.)

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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida high school football Week 1: What are the top games to watch?