The NEXT 25 presented by The Sporting News: South Oak Cliff tops list of Top 25 bubble teams for second week

Kendall Webb

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The NEXT 25 presented by The Sporting News: South Oak Cliff tops list of Top 25 bubble teams for second week image

The NEXT 25 presented by The Sporting News features 25 teams that could break into the TSN Composite Rankings in the weeks to come.

You've seen The Sporting News High School Football Top 25.

And we've introduced you to the The Sporting News Composite Rankings which takes that top 25 and combines it with the rankings from seven other major selectors.

And now it's time for The NEXT 25 presented by The Sporting News.

The NEXT 25 is a weekly list of teams hoping to break into one of those Top 25 rankings in the weeks to come, and as soon as they do, they'll move up to the TSN Composite Rankings. And, of course, the Top 25 they crack could be ours. These are essentially the "bubble" teams sitting just outside the composite rankings. They'll hang out here in The NEXT 25 until they get their opportunity to move up – or down if they don't perform in those key contests.

Our No. 1 team on this list, the South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX] Bears, took on the TSN No. 6 Duncanville [TX] Panthers last Friday with a chance in one of those "play-in" games to earn their way into the TSN Top 25. The Bears lost, 35-28, but they ultimately played well enough to hang onto the No. 1 spot here in The NEXT 25 for another week. They have another big game this weekend against the Longview [TX] Lobos who join this list here in the No. 25 position. A win for either team here would warrant consideration for the national Top 25 moving forward.

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The NEXT 25 presented by The Sporting News

The ratings for opponents below are presented first by composite ranking followed by The Sporting News (TSN) ranking, if applicable.

(NOTE: (9/11/25) The HighSchoolFootballAmerica.com rankings were not updated until after we had published the TSN Composite Rankings on 9/10/25. We updated the composite with that data when it was received, and that resulted in The NEXT 25 No. 2 Lincoln [San Diego, CA] Hornets moving back into the composite rankings. They were deleted from the NEXT 25 below, and every other team moved up a spot with the Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles being added as the No. 25 team.)

No. 1 South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX] Bears

2025 Record: 1-1
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 1

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. TSN NEXT No. 24 Longview [TX] Lobos (2-0)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — No. 7/TSN No. 6 Duncanville [TX] Panthers 35, South Oak Cliff 28
W/L Streak: 1 lossSouth Oak Cliff played well on a big stage against Top 10 Duncanville but ultimately came up short. A win would have vaulted the Bears into the TSN Top 25, but they played well enough in a loss to get another opportunity against Longview this weekend. The Lobos lost, 20-17, to current No. 15/TSN No. 15 Southlake Carroll in the Texas UIL Class 6A Division II semifinals a year ago so they're no stranger to big stages either. The East Texans could state their own case for a spot in the TSN Top 25 with a win over the Bears in Dallas.

No. 2 McEachern [Powder Springs, GA] Indians

2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 3

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Campbell [Smyrna, GA] Spartans (3-0)
Last Game: 8/29/2025 — McEachern 16, Marietta [GA] Blue Devils 13
W/L Streak: 3 wins

McEachern took last week off, but the Indians will be back on the gridiron this Friday night against undefeated Campbell. The Spartans were just 6-4 last year, and this is where their struggles started in 2024 – that is, in a 32-0 loss to McEachern in the fourth game. The Indians, meanwhile, were only 1-2 going into that contest a year ago, but this team appears to be much better. Translation? It's probably another long night for Campbell.

No. 3 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls

2025 Record: 1-1
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 6

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Norland [Miami, FL] Vikings (2-1)
Last Game: 9/4/2025 — Northwestern 37, Carol City [Miami, FL] Chiefs 6
W/L Streak: 1 win

This is one of the more interesting games in the Sunshine State this weekend. Both Northwestern and Norland own a blowout win of similar margin over Carol City, and both have a narrow loss to a highly-regarded opponent. Northwestern's came in a season-opening loss to California's then-Top 25 Orange Lutheran Lancers while Norland lost a close game to the current Florida No. 12 Lake Mary Rams. Get your popcorn ready because this one could be fun.

No. 4 Archbishop Moeller [Cincinnati, OH] Fighting Crusaders

2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 5

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — at NR Christ Presbyterian Adademy [Nashville, TN] Lions (1-2)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Archbishop Moeller 24, Trinity [Louisville, KY] Shamrocks 21
W/L Streak: 1 win

Archbishop Moeller logged an impressive 24-21 win over Kentucky's top-ranked Trinity Shamrocks a week ago, and now they'll head to Nashville to take on one of Music City's best in the CPA Lions. It's another game to keep an eye on as the Fighting Crusaders prepare to start league play next week in Cincinnati's Greater Catholic-South Division, one of the nation's toughest high school football leagues.

No. 5 Baylor [Chattanooga, TN] Red Raiders

2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 7

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Lift for Life Academy [St. Louis, MO] Hawks (2-0)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — at Brentwood [TN] Academy Eagles (2-0), canceled due to weather
W/L Streak: 2 wins

Baylor made its way up to the Nashville area last Friday night for a contest at Brentwood Academy only to have the weather put a damper on the festivities. Ultimately, the game was canceled before it ever started leaving fans in attendance disappointed. That included NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning whose son Marshall is an eighth-grader at Baylor.

 

The Red Raiders try again this coming Friday, hosting Lift for Life Academy out of St. Louis, Missouri, in a game that's tough to handicap. The Hawks were 8-6 a year ago, making it to Missouri's MSHSAA Class 3 state semifinals where they lost to the Seneca [MO] Indians. They are now competing as an independent, but last year's finish would seem to indicate they are several notches below Baylor which might be the best team in Tennessee this fall. We'll find out for sure Friday night.

No. 6 La Salle College [Wyndmoor, PA] Explorers

2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 9

Next Game: 9/13/2025 — vs. NR Calvert Hall [Baltimore, MD] Cardinals (2-0)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — La Salle College 28, Salesianum [Wilmington, DE] Sallies 7
W/L Streak: 3 wins

La Salle College has the talent and the schedule to possibly make a run at the TSN Top 25 later this season. This is their final tune-up before starting league play in Philadelphia's Catholic League-Red Division, and they can't afford to be looking ahead against the Cardinals. The bet here is that they know better, and they'll take care of business against their guests Saturday before taking on Roman Catholic on September 26.

No. 7 Central [Miami, FL] Rockets

2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 10

Next Game: 9/11/2025 — vs. NR Pompano Beach [FL] Golden Tornadoes (1-2)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Central 58, Booker T. Washington [Miami, FL] Tornadoes 14
W/L Streak: 2 wins

Central is out of the gate strong and looking to maintain momentum before a big road game on September 19 to take on what still could be a Top 25 American Heritage team. They should be able to handle Pompano Beach with relative ease Thursday night.

No. 8 Lone Peak [Highland, UT] Knights

2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 8

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Farmington [UT] Phoenix (2-2)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — No. 3/TSN No. 2 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels 35, Lone Peak 14
W/L Streak: 1 loss

Lone Peak was spared an even worse beating last Friday night when their game was ended early due to a shortage of players. Most of the Knights' players left the bench area when a skirmish broke out against Bishop Gorman, and they didn't have enough players due to ejections to continue. Gorman was firmly in control by then, however, and the Knights will try to get back on track against Farmington this weekend.

No. 9 Catholic [Baton Rouge, LA] Bears

2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 12

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR St. Thomas More [Lafayette, LA] Cougars (0-1)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Catholic 32, Destrehan [LA] Wildcats 23
W/L Streak: 1 win

Catholic opened the 2025 season with a solid 32-23 win over Destrehan Friday night. They get a St. Thomas More team at home this Friday that is 0-1 after a 30-27 loss to a solid Carencro Bears' squad. This is Catholic's game to lose, though, and they should have a solid talent advantage that carries them through.

No. 10 Dutch Fork [Irmo, SC] Silver Foxes

2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 13

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — at NR Gray Collegiate Academy [West Columbia,SC] War Eagles (1-1)
Last Game: 9/5/25 — Dutch Fork 28, Ridge View [Columbia, SC] Blazers 21
W/L Streak: 23 wins

Dutch Fork has now won 23 straight games, and they don't figure to have much trouble with a Gray Collegiate Academy squad they beat 35-0 a year ago.

No. 11 Tupelo [MS] Golden Wave

2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 14

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Houston [Germantown, TN] Mustangs (0-3)
Last Game: 9/5/25 — Tupelo 23, CPA [Nashville, TN] Lions 7
W/L Streak: 17 wins

For the second straight week, Tupelo will take on a team from the Volunteer State. They didn't have any trouble in Nashville last weekend in a 23-7 victory over the CPA Lions, and now it's a Houston squad that was 12-3 a year ago. That record may prove to be a bit of a mirage, however, if you were expecting to see a good team. A closer look reveals that this edition of the Mustangs is 0-3 and coming off a 49-0 drubbing at the hands of the Southwind [Memphis, TN] Jaguars. All of which would suggest that Tupelo should cruise at home to another victory which would be the program's 18th straight win.

No. 12 Cherry Creek [Greenwood Village, CO] Bruins

2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 15

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. No. 36 Skyridge [Lehi, UT] Falcons (4-0)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Cherry Creek 42, Millard North [Omaha, NE] Mustangs 0
W/L Streak: 16 wins

We've got Cherry Creek at No. 13 here in The NEXT 25, but it's Skyridge that's actually in the TSN Composite Rankings by virtue of a Top 20 position in this week's Massey ratings. Suffice it to say, this is a big game for both of these schools, and the winner will be making a bid for more attention from other selectors in our composite rankings ... including our own TSN Top 25.

No. 13 Rabun Gap [GA]-Nacoochee Eagles

2025 Record: 1-2
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 18

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Ambassador Christian School [Huntersville, NC] Lions (2-0-1)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Cherry Creek 50, Washington [Massillon, OH] Tigers 35
W/L Streak: 1 win

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee might be the best team in Georgia you've never heard of, but the Eagles are a solid squad that gave the current No. 4/TSN No. 6 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams a run for their money in a 24-19 loss a few weeks ago on the road. They play an independent schedule against schools from a North Carolina-based league so they aren't likely to attract a lot of attention from other selectors moving forward. But a couple of their Tar Heel State league mates are ranked in the Top 200 nationally, so we're keeping them here at least until we see how they perform against the Top 100 Providence Day [Charlotte, NC] Chargers on September 19.

No. 14 Lakeland [FL] Dreadnaughts

2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 24

Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at NR Booker T. Washington [Miami, FL] Tornadoes
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Lakeland 32, Lake Mary [FL] Rams 13
W/L Streak: 1 win

After losing a close game out in California to the legendary De La Salle [Concord, CA] Spartans two weeks ago, the Dreadnaughts returned to Florida action last week and beat an impressive Lake Mary program, 32-13. They get a week off before a date with Miami's Booker T. Washington Tornadoes, a game they should win comfortably.

No. 15 West Boca Raton [Boca Raton, FL] Bulls

2025 Record: 1-1
Last Week: TSN Next No. 2

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — at NR Seminole Ridge [Loxahatchee, FL] Hawks (0-2)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — No. 12/TSN No. 13 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders 21, West Boca Raton 14
W/L Streak: 1 loss

West Boca Raton was close to making some noise on the national scene last week, going down to the wire against the nation's No. 12/TSN No. 13 Bergen Catholic Crusaders of New Jersey. While the loss ended their long 16-game win streak, it at least bodes well for the Bulls moving forward against their in-state Florida opponents. They get back to the business of defending their 2024 FHSAA Class 6A state title Friday night in a game against a winless Seminole Ridge squad.

No. 16 Carthage [TX] Bulldogs

2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 17

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Liberty-Eylau [Texarkana, TX] Leopards (0-1)
Last Game: 8/29/2025 — Carthage 21, Kilgore [TX] Bulldogs 10
W/L Streak: 16 wins

Carthage doesn't get many chances to really make a splash on the national scene, even though we think they are potentially a Top 10 team in Texas. They should be able to navigate the terrain successfully against this Liberty-Eylau squad, and their next best opportunity to make at least a little noise comes in a September 19 meeting with the Chapel Hill [Tyler, TX] Bulldogs.

No. 17 Celina [TX] Bobcats

2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 20

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Gunter [TX] Tigers (2-0)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Celina 36, La Vega [Waco, TX] Pirates 6
W/L Streak: 18 wins

Celina blew out a highly-regarded La Vega Pirates' squad last week, and the Bobcats get another opportunity to strut their stuff against a Gunter squad ranked No. 17 in our latest Texas state rankings. This one should be a lot of fun.

No. 18 Archbishop Hoban [Akron, OH] Knights

2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 21

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR East [Akron, OH] Dragons (2-1)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Archbishop Hoban 23, King [Detroit, MI] Crusaders 21
W/L Streak: 1 win

Hoban survived a close call last weekend against Detroit's King Crusaders, but they should find the path a little easier this week in a crosstown game against the East Dragons in Akron.

No. 19 Galena Park North Shore [Houston, TX] Mustangs

2025 Record: 1-1
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 22

Last Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Westfield [Houston, TX] Mustangs (0-2)
Next Game: 9/5/25 — Galena Park North Shore 42, Crowley [TX] Eagles 0
W/L Streak: 1 win

Westfield is a Top 500 program nationally so North Shore can't show up for this one and sleepwalk their way through it. But, they did beat Westfield 47-3 at home last year so, ultimately, we expect North Shore to get the win in this battle of Mustangs Friday night.

No. 20 Jenks [OK] Trojans

2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 19

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Union [Tulsa, OK] Redhawks (0-2)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Jenks 31, Owasso [OK] Rams 21
W/L Streak: 2 wins

Jenks is one of two Oklahoma schools getting attention on the national scene along with the Bixby Spartans, who are currently ranked No. 23 in the TSN Composite Rankings. That's due in large part to the Massey ratings which have the Spartans ranked No. 8 – down from No. 2 last week despite winning yet again. Massey's ratings are usually a bit of an outlier earlier in the season, however, and Jenks will get an opportunity to prove their own worth on September 26 when they host Bixby in what could be the game of the year in Oklahoma (at least until the playoffs). In the meantime, the Trojans should fare well this weekend against the winless Union Redhawks of Tulsa.

No. 21 La Vega [Waco, TX] Pirates

2025 Record: 1-1
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 23

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — at NR West Orange-Stark [Orange, TX] Mustangs (1-1)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Celina [TX] Bobcats 36, La Vega 6
W/L Streak: 1 loss

La Vega was no match for Celina last week, but they still stack up well against their Lone Star State brethren in 2025. They travel to Orange, Texas, Friday night to take on the West Orange-Stark Mustangs where they should be the better contingent.

No. 22 Westlake [Austin, TX] Chaparrals

2025 Record: 1-1
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 11

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Atascocita [Humble, TX] Eagles (2-0)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Westlake 66, San Benito [TX] Greyhounds 0
W/L Streak: 1 win

Westlake recovered from a rocky start in a 29-22 loss to the Prosper [TX] Eagles to wallop San Benito, 66-0, last week. But Friday's date with Atascocita promises to be more interesting as both these squads have already spent some time in our composite rankings this year.

No. 23 Longview [TX] Lobos

2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: Unranked

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — at TSN NEXT No. 1 South Oak Cliff [TX] Bears (1-1)
Last Game: 9/5/25 — Longview 20, Marshall [TX] Mavericks 7
W/L Streak: 2 wins

Longview has one of the biggest opportunities they'll get in the regular season this Friday night at South Oak Cliff. It might even be enough to push the Lobos into consideration for a spot in the TSN Top 25 if they can knock off the Bears who are in the No. 1 spot in these NEXT 25 rankings.

No. 24 St. Joseph's Prep [Philadelphia, PA] Hawks

2025 Record: 0-2
Last Week: TSN NEXT No. 25

Next Game: 9/13/2025 — vs. No. 8/TSN No. 7 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers (1-0)
Last Game: 8/30/2025 — DeMatha [Hyattsville, MD] Stags 45, St. Joseph's Prep Hawks 17
W/L Streak: 2 losses

Two second-half collapses have relegated St. Joseph's Prep to the final spot here in The NEXT 25, and it won't get any easier for the Hawks Saturday night. They'll host a St. Frances Academy squad that went to the wire with No. 2/TSN No. 3 St. John Bosco in California last Friday. This feels like the Hawks' 2025 swan song in our rankings.

No. 25 Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles

2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: TSN Composite No. 36 (tie)

Next Game: 9/12/2025 — vs. NR Forest Park [GA] Panthers (1-1)
Last Game: 8/30/2025 — Creekside 70, DeSoto 28
W/L Streak: 3 wins

Creekside put itself in this position by blowing out the previous Top 25 DeSoto [TX] Eagles, 70-28, two weeks ago. They've got a solid chance to run the table from here out, and they enter The NEXT 25 looking to continue their climb in the national rankings after spending time in the TSN Composite Rankings last week.

 

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Kendall Webb

Kendall Webb is a freelance writer with The Sporting News and the former publisher of the College Football America Yearbook. He is a proud alumnus of Kilgore College (AA), the University of Texas at Austin (BJ), Middle Tennessee State University (BS), and Harvard University (ALM). Webb has attended a high school or college football game in more than 40 states during his career as a freelance journalist, and he remains an avid follower of team sports at all levels.