The path to a state is clear for all the 256 state playoff qualifiers. That always makes the Super 25 rankings feel silly, which is the way it should be.
But we soldier on, trying to make sense of all the chaos.
Week 9 provided more questions than answers overall. Lincoln-Way East, without Jonas Williams and Jacob Alexander, lost to Sandburg.
The Griffins drop to No. 14 after two short-handed losses.
Providence lost to Joliet Catholic. It was a must-win showdown for the Hilltoppers, and they won and got into the playoffs. That game impacted the Super 25 significantly, with Carmel unable to rise after beating Fenwick because Providence beat Carmel in Mundelein.
It was that type of week, with the full regular season’s results weighing heavily on everything.
St. Francis held on despite losing to Nazareth and Morris sticks after losing in Michigan.
Glenbrook South returns and replaces Kankakee, which lost to Crete-Monee. I considered adding the Warriors, who were ranked in the preseason, but Glenbrook South’s early win against York shows its potential to be a factor in the Class 8A.
Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 10
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Mount Carmel (9-0) 1
8A: vs. Loyola
2. Brother Rice (8-1) 3
7A: vs. Jefferson
3. Maine South (8-1) 4
8A: vs. Downers Grove South
4. Nazareth (8-1) 5
6A: vs. Hononegah
5. Montini (9-0) 6
4A: vs. UP-Bronzeville
6. Glenbard West (8-1) 8
7A: vs. Willowbrook
7. Fremd (8-1) 9
8A: vs. Huntley
8. Batavia (7-2) 10
7A: vs. Hoffman Estates
9. Downers Grove North (7-2) 13
7A: vs. Prospect
10. Warren (8-1) 14
8A: vs. New Trier
11. Barrington (8-1) 15
8A: vs. Elgin
12. Carmel (7-2) 12
7A: vs. Normal
13. St. Charles North (8-1) 16
7A: vs United
14. Lincoln-Way East (7-2) 2
8A: vs. Stevenson
15. Fenwick (6-3) 7
6A: vs. Kennedy
16. Providence (6-3) 11
5A: vs. Springfield
17. Lyons (7-2) 17
8A: vs. York
18. Prairie Ridge (8-0) 18
5A: vs. Vernon Hills
19. Lincoln-Way Central (8-1) 19
7A: vs. Reavis
20. York (6-3) 20
8A: at Lyons
21. Hersey (7-2) 21
7A: vs. Payton
22. Bradley-Bourbonnais (8-1) 24
6A: vs. Shepard
23. Morris (8-1) 22
4A: vs. Woodstock
24. Glenbrook South (7-2) NR
8A: vs. Minooka
25. St. Francis (6-3) 25
5A: at Morgan Park
