Ranking football teams before the first snap of official practice, much less live game action, is ridiculous. It’s way too early to predict how teams will gel together, which talent will fail to live up to its billing, and which no-name players will step up in a big way. Surprises always happen, and rankings at this point in the game are always proven wrong.
That said, MaxPreps has valiantly attempted to put the top football teams in Michigan in rank order.
Argue/complain/petition away in the comments.
MaxPreps Pre-Season Top-25 Michigan Football Teams
- Muskegon Big Reds
- Rockford Rams
- Lowell Red Arrows
- Utica Stevenson Titans
- Holland Christian Maroons
- East Grand Rapids Pioneers
- Lake Orion Dragons
- De La Salle Collegiate Pilots
- West Ottawa Panthers
- Lumen Christi Titans
- Caledonia Fighting Scots
- Montague Wildcats
- Oakridge Eagles
- Dakota Cougars
- Hudsonville Eagles
- Catholic Central Shamrocks
- Brother Rice Warriors
- St. Joseph Bears
- Romeo Bulldogs
- Davison Cardinals
- Grand Rapids Christian Eagles
- Grandville Bulldogs
- Kenowa Hills Knights
- St. Francis Gladiators
- Inkster Vikings
EDIT (8/6/09): Since this article was published, MaxPreps altered their Top-10 slightly. It now reads like this:
- Muskegon
- Rockford
- Lowell
- East Grand Rapids
- Hudsonville
- Lake Orion
- De La Salle Collegiate
- Oakridge
- Holland Christian
- Utica Stevenson
Yeah, I’m not seeing how Holland Christian is so high. They lost A.J. Plus, I’m not sure why Inkster is so low on this list. And Montague at #12? This list is just awful.
This list is just terrible. I’m giving MaxPreps a pass however. They have to rate every state in the country and that’s got to be tough to do accurately.
This is a huge Joke…. Oakridge ahead of Hudsonville? Caledonia that high? Hoalland Christian?
Im Oakridge could smoke all three of them….Montague too…
“Im Sure”
Not sure why West Ottwawa in the top 10?? Grandville in the top 25?? And Honestly I don’t think you can put Muskegon at the top with as much as they lost to graduation last year.
Yeah, I thought Caledonia should have been higher. They did not lose anything and were 10-1 last year with only loss to Lowell. I expect better this year.
I agree. But I would expect people on here to say something like that.
Remove HC and replace with GRCC and it’s a start. GR Christian has had some amazing athletes the past 3 years and don’t have dink to show for it. I am now a bit callous towards this team and it starts with Mockabee. Until they win something they are just a bunch of “Show” with no heart.
how bout Massey?*
Where is OLSM? I have a hard time believing they are not in the top 25. They are the only team with two four star seniors according to scout.
OLSM listed at #39 on the list. Don’t shoot the messenger.
Indian Trail, just off Orchard Lake Rd.
MaxPreps has no clue. You should be embarrased to gloat over that.
Hate to be “that guy,” but it’s spelled “embarrassed.”
Well you did a fantastic job of being “that guy”. Moreover, it didn’t appear that you really had a problem with it.
Despite his spelling error you knew what BigDVI meant. Instead of being “that guy” perhaps you could have presented an argument that supports your ranking.
Yes I know. My Sprint phone keypad acts up, but thanks. Pretty smart from a guy who posted that garbage poll.
5 OK Red teams. nice.
Holland Christian at #5. Has them higher on the list than EGR!?
Should West Ottawa even be on the list? Let alone at #9?
I dont mind Oakridge and Montague being on the list. But based on recent history, should Montague be ranked higher than Oakridge?
Kenowa Hills? Grandville? Maybe Maxpreps knows something that we dont?
From a west sider that list is rather dooo dooo. I don’t think you can just park Muskegon at the top this year pre season. Lost alot to graduation and new head coach. Also INKSTER at 25???? they should be alot higher on that list. Also West Ottawa at 9 and Grandville on the list at all???? What????
I guess it has to be tough picking these teams when they realy dont watch them play on a regular basis. These things are a joke ! Im a Oak fan but theres no way Oak could even hang with most of the bigger schools..Dont start yelling at me now please,Oak is probabley the best small school in the state year after year in my opinion and they are one of my three but they should even be on that list.
I don’t believe this is Maxprep’s list. I talked to the guy who is putting together the Maxpreps Michigan rankings–and he is doing a Top 5–not 25. They are doing a Top 5 for all states. Also, the teams listed above are not the teams he was thinking about for his Top 5. So, I guess I’m curious where this list originated. It’s not even close to an accurate Top 25.
This list was compiled directly from their site.
http://www.maxpreps.com/list/team_preview.aspx
Then filter to Michigan, and you’ve got your list.
Statpro, What happened to Cappetto I don’t see him on the Duke roster anymore?
Don’t know
I’ll wait for Searn to put out his Super 32 as I find that to be the most accurate, non biased poll out there and that includes the Freep,News or any of these other lists.
East side needs to step up this year fellas, West Side Owned us. Time to step up this year, eh?
Yes. Oakridge, JLC, Montague, MCC, TCSF, Nouvel. These teams should be included. Who’d want to look at a top 25 that was all class A schools? Granted the best class A teams should be at the top of any “top 25″ but you have to find a way to include the smaller schools as well.
I’d prefer a list that was maybe top 10 or even top 5 in each division.
I agree with you that it should be top 5 or maybe even 10 in each division seperatly but I disagree that all the schools you listed should be in the over all list,why do you need to include teams on the list that “Arent” in the top 25 high school teams in the state ? This is not youth club soccer where everyone is a winner and we dont want to hurt anyones feelings come on ! Those teams could not hang with a big school and we all know it.The Eagles are MY #1 fAVORITE TEAM but ill be the first to addmit that they dont belong.
Hey! Where in the hell is WC….They should be on this list right guys? Right? (Crickets chirping)
I think you could get an argument from TrophyDog. I’m sure he believes that Ravenna could hang with the likes of Muskegon, Rockford, or even EGR. Love is blind, isn’t it?
Yeah love is blind. I love the fact that people back there team no matter what and think they are giant killers,Heck thats what high school sports is all about ! But ive played on big and small school teams and my son also did (in florida) and theres just no comparison And people can argue all they want about how good there small school is and they beat a team that beat a team that beat a team that beat a team that beat your team so they must be better. Keep on supporting your teams and be proud win or loss those boys give it everything they can while us old fat (Bleacher coaches) talk trash.
Sorry OV’s only Lakes 8 championship was 08. Also think SL will be the conf winner with Fp a close second.
You happen to believe that a top tier D5 team couldnt beat a 2nd tier D1 team? By 2nd tier I mean….lets say…. out of the top 10.
Well maybe your right. It would be kinda like a MAC school beating a Big 10 school right? It will never happen.
Reality is they wont ever play… so we’ll never know for certain. Belive what you want, and I’ll do the same.
I do and I think Menominee in 06 could have played with anybody in the state and probably beaten most, and they were D5.
I agree. The year Oakridge beat JLC 42-28, quite a few writers had JLC tabbed as the best team in the state regardless of class.
EGR throws a big monkey wrench into this in my view. I think you look at most good D4 to D8 teams and most would agree they aint gettin past EGR. So if they cant get past D3 EGR how can they get by D2 and D1 Teams? BUT I also feel EGR could beat a…. hell I’ll say it….majority… of D1 and D2 schools. So EGR is not your typical D3 Football team.
And yes. That Menominee team was awesome. They played at a VERY high level.
Well said AGF. EGR could be a lot of upper divison schools. this is why Frpt has a tough time in D3.
Correction AGF. i mean beat, i really believe past EGR teams would beat any Muskegon teams. there program is that good with superior players, they reload every year.
does in deed throw a monkey wrench into it all.
Tournament of champions in december anyone??
nah I think mcc was good to go up through d4 and they could probably have beaten some of the weaker schools but they would not have beaten any of the d4 through d1 state champs that year, and the D5 and D6 champs would have been tough games for sure.
I’ll be the odd man out here. D-3 last year was not the usual wrecking ball. MCC would have competed hard v. EGR and I think they may have won. Musky-no, Rockford-no, but EGR a definite maybe. HC, remember this, HC had a rough start to the game b4 pulling away. Everyone wants to dismiss MCC’s win V. Country Day, but they took it to them. I would argue that MCC would have been in that game as well.
It’s all a fools argument, but my good friend Adi had it right when he pronounced MCC as a once in a 50 year team. They were that good.
LOL! Love seeing my Big Reds get the respect, but Oakridge shouldn’t be higher than some of those teams. Some of D1-D2 teams below them are a stretch. Love my Eagles, but come on!
Kenowa Hills ahead of Inkster? What are they smoking at that website? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLInkster is loaded, great QB, all the line back, and two wide receivers that burn….Ha ha ha ha I’m spliting my gut wide open because I’m laughing so hard
This list is a joke. Obviously they are not in touch with Michigan
High School Football. They are just basically “throwing darts” off of last year’s records. Holland Christian is losing both their coach, quarterback, and the coach’s son, who would have been H.C.’s best player. No way that 24 teams in the state are better then Inkster. NO way Montague, Lumen Christi, and Oakridge should be in the top 15!
Hey, who is that at #24? Not that you can put alot of stock in a pre-season poll, anyway…
Heck, it’s hard to put much stock in these rankings even in week 10!
Where is Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
What no Brooklyn Columbia Central????????????
Didnt the shamrocks of detroit catholic central dismantle hudsonville? 35-0 I think it was. The eagles never had a chance.