It's finally high school football season in California.
Here's a list of 50 regular season games across the state we have circled on our calendar in 2025. Note that this does not include interstate games, which will be listed separately.
Top games to watch in California high school football
Aug. 22: Sierra Canyon vs. JSerra
This has turned into quite the non-league rivalry and a fun tradition to open each season. Sierra Canyon won both meetings in 2021, JSerra upset Sierra Canyon in 2022, Sierra Canyon won 9-7 to start 2023, and JSerra delivered a surprising 35-7 beatdown in 2024.
Aug. 22: Santa Margarita vs. Mission Viejo
With Mission Viejo ranked 23rd to start the season and Santa Margarita just barely outside the top 25, this is a battle for a national top-25 ranking between juggernauts in neighboring towns. It's not exactly a rivalry, but during years in which these teams lost transfers to each other, it can get heated. Oh, and it's Carson Palmer's head coaching debut for the Eagles.
Aug. 23: Folsom at Grant (Sacramento)
Grant was so good in 2024 that quite a few longtime Sacramento football scouts had them ranked above Folsom to end last season. That makes this the most highly anticipated CIF-SJS game of the regular season.
Aug. 28: Santa Margarita vs. Corona Centennial
Santa Margarita rather cruised to a major upset at this time a year ago by a score of 31-15. Expect Centennial to come out with something to prove.
Aug. 29: Oaks Christian vs. Sierra Canyon
The Lions look for a repeat of 2022 when they pulled the upset by 17 points. Sierra Canyon's slow starts seem to be a thing of the past as evidenced by multi-score wins the last two seasons, but don't be surprised if Oaks Christian makes a statement here – even if that statement is a close loss.
Aug. 29: Servite vs. Murrieta Valley
It's always fun when a public school juggernaut is able to give a Trinity League team a run for its money. Servite tends to bring its best in these matchups, however. It won the matchup 37-17 last year.
Aug. 29: Grant (Sacramento) vs. Central East
No matter what happens the previous week against Folsom, this is a big one for Grant against the Central Section's top dog.
Aug. 30: Serra (San Mateo) vs. Folsom
Folsom just can't seem to get over the hump against Serra, which pulled the upset a year ago despite going on to have its toughest season in a long time.
Aug. 30: Archbishop Riordan vs. McClymonds
The Bay Area powerhouses kick off the season against each other in a rematch of a game Riordan won 35-34 a year ago.
Sep. 5: Mission Viejo vs. Folsom
Three weeks, three huge games for Folsom, and this will be the toughest. If the Bulldogs pull off statement wins over Grant and Serra (San Mateo), maybe they'll have enough momentum to make this interesting.
Sep. 5: Pacifica (Oxnard) vs. Newbury Park
After opening up as the heavy favorite against West Ranch and Oxnard, Pacifica gets its first chance to make noise. If Oaks Christian doesn't live up to the billing in 2025, this is the battle for Ventura County supremacy.
Sep. 5: Leuzinger vs. Bishop Montgomery
In terms of talent, this is the best matchup of the regular season for new-look Bishop Montgomery. That's assuming most of the Knights' new stars are eligible.
Sep. 12: Lincoln (San Diego) vs. Mission Viejo
California's premier public school programs (after Corona Centennial) going at it. Mission Viejo is the heavy favorite, but don't put it past Lincoln to give the Diablos a run for their money.
Sep. 12: Corona Centennial vs. Mater Dei
An annual tradition the entire country tunes in to watch. As usual, Mater Dei is expected to win without too much drama, but Centennial is almost always good enough to make it interesting.
Sep. 13: Archbishop Riordan vs. Pittsburg
A chance for the Crusaders to make some serious noise in what should be a banner year, and a chance for new-look Pittsburg to silence its doubters.
Sep. 19: JSerra vs. Leuzinger
At this time last year, Leuzinger delivered a shocking upset of fellow South OC Trinity League power Santa Margarita. If the Olympians had enough talent and gusto to do that in 2024, JSerra can't take them lightly in 2025.
Sep. 26: St. Mary's (Stockton) vs. De La Salle
With St. Mary's ranked outside the statewide top 25 to open this season, the recent past is why this game makes the cut. The Rams have a penchant for playing De La Salle as close as anyone, including the 45-35 breakthrough win in 2022. De La Salle won 38-35 last year.
Sep. 27: Lincoln (San Diego) vs. Grant (Sacramento)
A battle of reigning section and state champions. Whether Grant is considered an underdog (as expected) or not depends how it fairs in a slew of high-profile NorCal matchups in the weeks leading up to its San Diego trip.
Oct. 3: Serra (Gardena) vs. Sierra Canyon
The Trailblazers are three for three in winning Mission League titles, and the gap appears to be widening. Serra, on the other hand, keeps finishing in second place. Is this the Cavaliers' last chance before Sierra Canyon reaches the point of no return?
Oct. 3: Pacifica (Oxnard) vs. Oaks Christian
The first game of Marmonte League play, and likely the title game, although St. Bonaventure and Simi Valley are also forces to be reckoned with. Oaks Christian won 42-19 last year to welcome Pacifica to the conference and is the heavy favorite again, but Pacifica reached a new level a few weeks later and stayed on it through its state finals run.
Oct. 3: Inglewood vs. Leuzinger
Leuzinger keeps getting close to ending Inglewood's unbeaten streak in league play (since 2019) but coming up just short. Bay League play will likely be hectic with Palos Verdes firmly in the mix and both Mira Costa and Culver City capable of making noise.
Oct. 3: Damien vs. Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Cucamonga takes aim at the reigning Baseline League champion after falling out of the top two last year. The Cougars will likely be Damien's biggest threat, but few expected Chino Hills to make the push it did last year or Upland in 2023, so who knows.
Oct. 3: Mission Hills vs. La Costa Canyon
The Mavericks suddenly have a target on their backs after breaking through for an undefeated regular season and Avocado League title. They won 28-27 in this matchup last year, and it'll likely come down to these teams again, although Carlsbad be back with a vengeance.
Oct. 3: Narbonne vs. San Pedro
It's another year where no one knows what to expect from Narbonne. The Gauchos didn't play any Marine League games last year, but they did beat San Pedro 75-31 in the City Section title game. No matter how this game goes, watching such a heated rivalry battle should be fun.
Oct. 10: Orange Lutheran vs. St. John Bosco
OLu got two cracks at St. John Bosco last year and nearly shook up the pecking order both times, losing by a combined seven points.
Oct. 10: Servite vs. JSerra
Despite starting the season ranked at No. 12 and No. 13 in the state, Servite and JSerra are ranked at the bottom of the Trinity League by most. However, it wouldn't be a shock to see both finish higher than that. However, if this really is the fifth place game, you can expect it to be one of the most hard-fought battles of the season.
Oct. 10: Murrieta Valley vs. Chaparral
Probably the silver medal match in the brutal Big West - Upper, and these teams look particularly evenly matched.
Oct. 10: San Juan Hills vs. Yorba Linda
San Juan Hills won 26-16 a year ago for the Bravo League title.
Oct. 10: Central East vs. Clovis East
After only finishing third in the TRAC, Central East got revenge against Clovis East and Clovis North in the playoffs. With that said, the Bengals probably want a second helping of revenge for last year's league title race, and Clovis East wants revenge for the section championship.
Oct. 10: Oak Hills vs. Apple Valley
The Mojave River League title race, usually coming down to these two teams, has become one of the more exciting ones to follow in SoCal. Oak Hills has a laundry list of talented players and seeks its fifth straight MRL title coming off an undefeated regular season.
Oct. 10: Long Beach Poly vs. Millikan
This one will be heated. Millikan won 53-40 to snap Long Beach Poly's Moore League title streak last year, and Long Beach Poly is a light favorite to retake it in 2025.
Oct. 10: Granite Hills vs. Mount Miguel
A rematch of last year's Grossmont Hills League title game. Mount Miguel lost 45-30 last fall but might have the edge this year.
Oct. 10: Liberty (Bakersfield) vs. Frontier
These teams have split their last two Southwest Yosemite - River League meetings, with both games finishing 25-20. Frontier is considered the favorite by most in 2025.
Oct. 10: Cajon vs. Beaumont
Beaumont leapfrogged both Cajon and Citrus Valley last season for its first Citrus Belt League title. Expect another great battle in 2025 after Beaumont won 34-31 a year ago.
Oct. 10: Central Valley Christian vs. Kingsburg
These two teams and Kerman shared a three-way tie for a league title in 2024, and it could be anybody's in 2025. Central Valley Christian beat Kingsburg 28-14 but was upset by Kerman by a score of 17-12.
Oct. 17: Santa Margarita vs. St. John Bosco
If Santa Margarita plays up to its full potential, it might be a top-10 team in the country – good enough to push St. John Bosco again. The Braves won 13-0 and 31-29 in two 2024 meetings.
Oct. 17: Murrieta Valley vs. Corona Centennial
The expected Big West - Upper title game, although Chaparral will have something to say about that.
Oct. 17: Los Alamitos vs. Edison (Huntington Beach)
Probably not at Alpha League title match given that Mission Viejo is in the conference, but a throwback to some epic Sunset League battles.
Oct. 17: Wilcox vs. Los Gatos
Wilcox broke through for a league title in 2024 after a slew of second place finishes at the hands of the Wildcats. It should be neck-and-neck once again this season.
Oct. 17: Crean Lutheran vs. La Habra
La Habra won 15-13 last year to sweep the Epsilon League. Both teams should be even better this season.
Oct. 24: Santa Margarita vs. Orange Lutheran
This one proves to be one of the best games of the year almost annually. Orange Lutheran has won three in a row by one score.
Oct. 24: Lincoln (San Diego) vs. Cathedral Catholic
Last year, this Western League title match was also a preview of the San Diego Section Open Division finals. That'll probably be the case again in 2025.
Oct. 24: Palos Verdes vs. Inglewood
The reigning section and state champions get their crack at knocking off Inglewood in Bay League play.
Oct. 24: Vista Murrieta vs. Murrieta Valley
Murrieta Valley has won four in a row over one of its biggest rivals. Last year's edition was a dazzling 57-55 shootout, and it should be close again.
Oct. 24: Warren vs. Downey (Downey)
The Gateway League might come down to these rivals as it usually does, although don't count out Mayfair. Downey is the clear favorite, but expect an intense game.
Oct. 31: St. John Bosco vs. Mater Dei
Duh.
Oct. 31: JSerra vs. Santa Margarita
Another installment of a juicy rival between the Trinity League's South OC rivals. Santa Margarita has a better roster, but that hasn't always translated to victories over the Lions.
Oct. 31: Oak Ridge vs. Rocklin
These teams have had some great battles for second place in the Sierra Foothill League, and that's what this'll probably be again in 2025, with Oak Ridge winning 17-6 last year. It's also a battle of the Sac-Joaquin Section's D1 runner-up hosting the D2 runner-up.
Oct. 31: Cardinal Newman vs. Marin Catholic
After getting upset by San Marin in 2023, Marin Catholic got back to sweeping its league in 2024, but it wasn't easy. This matchup will likely be for a Redwood Empire - Adobe and overall North Bay crown.
Nov. 7: Serra (San Mateo) vs. Archbishop Riordan
Who knows how the WCAL race is going to shake out in 2025? It could go many ways, but this is our best guess to be the de facto championship.
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