Tampa Metro Top 25 Football Rankings (2025–2026 Season)
Tampa Metro Top 25 Football Rankings (2025–2026 Season)
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The Tampa Bay football scene is loaded with talent heading into the 2025–2026 season, and the latest Top 25 rankings are officially here.
From national powerhouses to rising local programs, this list highlights the teams setting the tone across the Tampa Metro area.
Let’s break it down 👇
🏆 Top 10 Teams to Watch
1. IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
No surprise here. IMG continues to dominate not just Florida—but the entire country. Loaded with elite recruits and Division 1 talent across the board.
2. Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota, FL)
One of the fastest-rising programs in the state. Strong coaching, discipline, and big-time playmakers make them a serious contender.
3. Lakeland (Lakeland, FL)
A Florida powerhouse with a championship pedigree. Expect them to be in the mix deep into the playoffs again.
4. Venice (Venice, FL)
Always physical, always disciplined. Venice continues to produce high-level talent year after year.
5. Armwood (Seffner, FL)
A Tampa staple. Speed, athleticism, and big-game experience keep Armwood in the Top 5 conversation.
6. Carrollwood Day (Tampa, FL)
A newer powerhouse that has quickly made noise. High-level talent and strong development pipeline.
7. Lakewood (St. Petersburg, FL)
Explosive offense and aggressive defense make Lakewood a dangerous matchup for anyone.
8. Booker (Sarasota, FL)
Athletic, fast, and improving every year. Booker is a team nobody wants to see on their schedule.
9. Jesuit (Tampa, FL)
Consistent, disciplined, and battle-tested. Jesuit always finds a way to compete at a high level.
10. Gaither (Tampa, FL)
A rising program gaining serious momentum. Expect Gaither to surprise some people this season.
🔥 Teams Ranked 11–25
Clearwater Central Catholic
Lake Wales
St. Petersburg Catholic
Sumner
Tampa Bay Tech
Riverview Sarasota
Zephyrhills
Clearwater
Palmetto
East Lake
Mitchell
Auburndale
Calvary Christian
Manatee
Berkeley Prep
📈 Big Takeaways
💪 Tampa Is DEEP
This isn’t just about IMG. The Tampa Metro area is stacked with competitive programs from top to bottom.
⚡ New Blood Rising
Programs like Carrollwood Day, Gaither, and Sumner are proving they belong and are pushing traditional powerhouses.
🏈 Playoff Picture Will Be CRAZY
With this much talent spread across the region, expect some major matchups and potential upsets when playoff time hits.
👀 Teams Just Outside the Spotlight
There are always teams on the edge ready to break in. Don’t be surprised if we see shakeups early in the season.
🎯 Final Thoughts
The 2025–2026 Tampa Metro football season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive we’ve seen in years.
Between elite national programs and hungry local teams, every Friday night is going to matter.
