Which are the best prep football teams in NC and SC? Check our Carolinas Top 25
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mooresville entered the Carolinas Top 25 at No. 19 after beating East Forsyth.
- Providence Day claimed the No. 1 spot after a win over nationally-ranked Rabun Gap.
- The rankings are compiled by Chris Hughes and cover top teams in NC and SC.
There’s only one new team in the Carolinas Top 25 high school football this week.
Oceanside Collegiate, from Mount Pleasant, S.C., is new to the rankings of the top high school football teams in North and South Carolina.
After an 0-2 start, that included a 35-28 loss to No. 5 Irmo, the Landsharks have run off five straight wins, including beating Hanahan 49-8 last week.
Oceanside junior QB Aiden Manavian has thrown for 1,971 yards and 17 touchdowns, and he’s run for two more scores.
The Carolinas Top 25 is sponsored by McClatchy media properties in both states and compiled by longtime high school football expert Chris Hughes, a co-host of The Observer’s Talking Preps streaming show.
Carolinas Top 25
Rk., School, State/Hometown, Rec, Prvs.
1. Providence Day (NC, Charlotte) 6-0, 1
2. Hough (NC, Cornelius) 6-0, 2
3. Grimsley (NC, Greensboro) 6-0, 3
4. South Pointe (SC, Rock Hill) 5-1, 4
5. Irmo (SC, Irmo) 6-0, 5
6. West Charlotte (NC, Charlotte) 5-2, 6
7. Millbrook (NC, Raleigh) 6-0, 7
8. Northwestern (SC, Rock Hill) 6-1, 8
9. South Florence (SC, Florence) 5-1, 10
10. Dutch Fork (SC, Irmo) 4-1, 10
11. Mallard Creek (NC, Charlotte) 5-2, 9
12. Myers Park (NC, Charlotte) 5-1, 12
13. Weddington (NC, Weddington) 6-1, 13
14. Cleveland (NC, Clayton) 6-0, 15
15. Summerville (SC, Summerville) 5-1, 16
16. James Island (SC, Charleston) 6-0, 17
17. Dorman (SC, Roebuck) 5-1, 18
18. Mooresville (NC, Mooresville) 4-2, 19
19. Cardinal Gibbons (NC, Raleigh) 5-1, 20
20. Hoggard (NC, Wilmington) 6-0, 21
21. Greenwood (SC, Greenwood) 5-1, 22
22. Ridge View (SC, Columbia) 4-2, 23
23. Byrnes (SC, Duncan) 4-2, 24
24. Belton-Honea Path (SC, Honea Path) 7-0, 25
25. Oceanside Collegiate (SC, Mt Pleasant) 5-2, NR
This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Which are the best prep football teams in NC and SC? Check our Carolinas Top 25."
