What are the biggest high school football games involving Maryland teams?

Are you ready for some high school football?

Some of the top teams in Maryland kick off their seasons this weekend.

What are the biggest games on the schedule? Check out our top 10 matchups below, including several that feature USA TODAY preseason Super 25 teams.

All national team rankings are from the preseason Super 25. All state team rankings are by MaxPreps. All recruiting rankings are by 247 Sports.

1. St. Frances at Mater Dei (Calif.), Sept. 20

This is the third of four matchups against nationally ranked teams that Baltimore private school St. Frances, ranked No. 13, will play. It's also the biggest, as Mater Dei is ranked No. 1.

The Monarchs, located in Santa Ana, about 20 miles southeast of Los Angeles, feature 10 players in the 247 Sports national recruiting rankings, led by junior WR Chris Henry Jr. (2026 No. 3, Ohio State), junior OT Kodi Greene (2026 No. 28, Oregon), junior WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (2026 No. 55), senior CB Chuck McDonald (2025 No. 96, Alabama) and junior DL Tomuhini Topui (2026 No. 98).

The Panthers feature four nationally-ranked recruits: Junior edge rusher Zion Elee (2026 No. 2), junior S Jireh Edwards (2026 No. 43), senior CB Blake Woodby (2025 No. 128, Auburn) and senior S Byron Baldwin (2025 No. 231, Indiana).

Watch St. Frances vs. Mater Dei (Calif.) on NFHS Network

2. IMG Academy (Fla.) at St. Frances, Nov. 1

The last of the Panthers' four matchups against nationally ranked opponents also is St. Frances' first home game of the season after 10 straight road outings, including two trips to California and another to Texas.

IMG Academy, located in Bradenton, about 25 miles south of the Tampa/St. Petersburg metro area, begins the season No. 2 in the preseason Super 25. The Ascenders feature 12 nationally ranked recruits, led by junior DL Elijah Golden (2026 No. 22), junior OY Keenyi Pepe (2026 No. 39), junior S Zech Fort (2026 No. 46), junior edge rusher Jake Kreul (2026 No. 56), senior WR Donovan Olugbode (2025 No. 68, Missouri) and senior LBs Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (2025 No. 70) and Gavin Nix (2025 No. 88, Miami).

3. St. Frances at Duncanville (Texas), Sept. 14

The Panthers' second test against a nationally ranked opponent comes against the No. 7 Panthers, located just southwest of Dallas.

Duncanville is led by a trio of nationally-ranked recruits: Senior WR Dakorien Moore (2025 No. 5, Oregon), senior QB Keelon Russell (2025 No. 10, Alabama) and junior edge rusher Kevin Ford Jr. (2026 No. 66).

4. St. Joseph's Prep (Pa.) at Good Counsel, Sept. 20

This is a matchup between two teams ranked No. 1 in their states. St. Joseph's also begins the season ranked 15th nationally.

Good Counsel, located in Olney, a northern suburb of D.C., is led by senior S Faheem Delane (2025 state No. 1, national No. 51, Ohio State) and senior WR DaMarion Fowlkes (2025 state No. 10, Pittsburgh).

St. Joseph's, located in Philadelphia, features three nationally-ranked seniors: DL Maxwell Roy (2025 No. 153, Ohio State), LB Cameron Smith (2025 No. 167, Penn State) and RB Isaiah West (2025 No. 217, Ohio State).

5. DeMatha at Washington (Ohio), Sept. 20

Washington is ranked No. 1 in Ohio and No. 23 nationally. DeMatha is ranked No. 3 in Maryland.

The Tigers, located in Massillon, about 20 miles south of Akron, are led by senior OT Nolan Davenport (2025 state No. 12, Wisconsin).

The Stags, located in Hyattsville, a suburb of D.C., are led by senior RB Bud Coombs (2025 state No. 23, Maryland) and junior WR Lavar Keys (2026 state No. 10, Penn State).

6. St. Frances at Orange Lutheran (Calif.), Sept. 6

The Panthers' first trip to California comes against the Lancers, ranked 24th nationally.

Orange Lutheran, located about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles, is led by junior LB Talanoa Ili (2026 national No. 29), junior OL Sam Utu (2026 national No. 71), senior QB TJ Lateef (2025 state No. 32, Nebraska) and senior TE AJ Ia (2025 state No. 38, Arizona State).

Watch St. Frances vs. Orange Lutheran (Calif.) on NFHS Network

7. Archbishop Spalding at Archbishop Hoban (Ohio), Aug. 23

The Cavaliers start the season ranked No. 4 in Maryland. Archbishop Hoban is ranked No. 2 in Ohio.

Spalding, located in Severn, about 15 miles south of Baltimore, is led by senior QB Malik Washington (2025 national No. 156, Maryland).

Hoban, located in Akron, is led by junior CB Elbert Hill (2026 national No. 54), junior OT Sam Greer (2026 national No. 222) and senior LB Eli Lee (2025 state No. 17, Ohio State).

8. Freedom (Va.) at DeMatha, Sept. 13

The Stags will play host to the Eagles, ranked No. 2 in Virginia.

Freedom, located in Woodbridge, about 25 miles southwest of D.C., is led by senior WR Carleton Preston (2025 state No. 15, Clemson).

9. Good Counsel at DePaul Catholic (N.J.), Sept. 6

The Falcons will hit the road for this early-season test against DePaul, ranked No. 2 in New Jersey.

The Spartans, located in Wayne, about 25 miles northwest of New York City, are led by senior WRs De'zie Jones (2025 national No. 228, Ohio State) and Elijah Burress (2025 state No. 13, Notre Dame), junior QB Derek Zammit (2026 national No. 220), senior S DeShawn Stewart (2025 state No. 15, Ohio State) and senior OL Michael Troutman (2025 state No. 22, Penn State).

10. Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) at McDonogh, Aug. 30

The Eagles open the season ranked No. 7 in Maryland, and get an early test at home against Stepinac, ranked No. 3 in New York.

McDonogh, located in Owings Mills, a northwest suburb of Baltimore, is led by senior CB Brandon Finney (2025 national No. 95, Oregon) and senior Jeff Exinor Jr. (2025 state No. 6, Penn State).

The Crusaders, located in White Plains, about 30 miles north of New York City, are led by senior OL Denzil Williams (2025 state No. 15, Boston College).

Watch Maryland high school football on NFHS Network

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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: What are the biggest high school football games involving Maryland teams?