Top billing for St. Thomas Aquinas in USA TODAY Florida Super 25
St. Thomas Aquinas, the powerhouse high school program in Florida, opens the 2026 season at No. 1 in the USA TODAY Florida Network Super 25, the publication announced on Aug. 11. The Raiders, fresh off a 14-1 campaign and a Class 5A state championship in 2025, received eight first-place votes in the preseason ranking.
The program’s run of success is notable: the 2025 state crown marked the team’s seventh consecutive state title, setting a record for the program. The Raiders’ 2026 squad is highlighted by a cadre of nationally ranked prospects, led by senior offensive tackle Mark Matthews, who is listed as the No. 1 player in the USA TODAY Florida Network top 100 and is committed to Texas A&M.
Matthews is one of four St. Thomas Aquinas players ranked among the top 20 in the Florida Network list. Others identified in the ranking include:
- Wide receiver Julius Jones — Notre Dame commitment
- Edge rusher Wyatt Smith — Ohio State commitment
- Safety Zayden Gamble — Notre Dame commitment
"The Raiders received eight first-place votes,"
IMG Academy, which went 9-0 in 2025 in coach Greg Studrawa’s first season, drew two first-place votes and sits at No. 2 in the preseason Super 25. The list retains several traditional Florida powers near the top, with Chaminade-Madonna, American Heritage and Carol City rounding out the top five.
Preseason context and schedule highlights
The USA TODAY Florida Network provided a preseason snapshot of the top teams and noted some early-season kickoff matchups. St. Thomas Aquinas is set to open with a notable early test: a Kickoff Classic game at Cardinal Mooney on Aug. 14. Cardinal Mooney, itself a 14-1 Class 2A champion in 2025, is ranked No. 6 in the preseason list.
| Rank | Team | 2025 record / note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Thomas Aquinas | 14-1, Class 5A state champion |
| 2 | IMG Academy | 9-0 |
| 3 | Chaminade-Madonna | 11-3, Class 1A runner-up |
| 4 | American Heritage | 9-5, Class 4A state champion |
| 5 | Carol City | 6-5 |
Other notable preseason items from the list: Chaminade-Madonna was the Class 1A state runner-up in 2025; American Heritage repeated as the Class 4A state champion; and Carol City arrives at No. 5 with expectations buoyed by several impact transfers and a first-year coach, Toro Wallace.
Why this matters to readers in Ontario
Although the St. Thomas Aquinas program referenced in the ranking is located in Florida — and not in St. Thomas, Ont. — the prominence of the name can catch the eye of local high school football followers and families who track prospects and college commitments. The USA TODAY Florida Network’s top 100 also places a spotlight on individual recruits with firm college commitments, underscoring the continuing pipeline from elite high school programs to major U.S. universities.
For St. Thomas sports fans who follow high school football broadly, the ranking provides an early look at national-level talent and matchups to watch in the coming weeks. The Raiders’ matchup at Cardinal Mooney on Aug. 14 will be an early measuring stick for a team aiming to defend its state dominance and sustain a rare multi-year dynasty.
Local readers seeking coverage of teams named for St. Thomas should note the geographic distinction when following schedules and recruiting news: this ranking refers to the Floridian school St. Thomas Aquinas, not to any team based in Ontario.
