Saint Michael the Archangel and Bethel are the two new faces in this week’s High School On SI Virginia high school football Top 25, joining the rankings at Nos. 23 and 24 after both opened 2-0.
At the top, not much has changed. Varina is still No. 1 after an overtime win against No.
3 Maury, while The Saint James Performance Academy holds the No. 2 spot. Maury, Oscar Smith and Huguenot fill out the rest of the Top 5.
The middle of the poll also stayed steady, with Stone Bridge, Highland Springs, Indian River, Green Run and Thomas Dale rounding out the Top 10.
This week’s slate is headlined by another 757 vs. 804 matchup, as Varina - the reigning Virginia Class 4 state champion - goes on the road to face two-time defending Class 6 champion Oscar Smith. No.
7 Highland Springs also has a major test, traveling to Richmond-area rival No. 11 Dinwiddie.
Another ranked showdown is on deck when No. 13 Trinity Episcopal School visits No.
20 Hermitage. Trinity Episcopal is coming off a win over then-No.
5 Benedictine College Prep.
Here are the latest High School On SI Virginia high school football Top 25 rankings:
This week: at Fredericksburg Christian School, Sept. 12
Last week: Defeated then-No. 5 Benedictine College Prep, 7-0
Last week: Lost to then-No. 16 Trinity Episcopal School, 7-0
This week: Off; next game vs. John Marshall, Sept. 18
This week: vs. No.
13 Trinity Episcopal School, Sept. 11
Last week: Did not play; game at Henry A. Wise (Md.) canceled
In Other News...
Virginia's Best Chance To Find New Playmakers Comes This Week
Virginias opener against an FCS opponent with a poor record from last season should give the Cavaliers a rare early look at the pieces behind their top line. With Virginia heavily favored, most starters are expected to be out after only a few drives, which means the real intrigue shifts to the backups and reserves who rarely get a full stage this early in the year.
That is especially true for the depth pieces at quarterback and in the passing game, where opportunities can reshape a pecking order fast. For Virginia, this week is less about polishing the obvious starters than finding which young or unproven players can turn extra snaps into a larger role as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Virginias Recruiting Momentum Could Finally Lead To Something Bigger
Virginia football used the NC State weekend as more than just a chance to add another win. The Cavaliers turned the date into a major recruiting showcase, bringing in a large group of prospects while the programs on-field momentum gave visitors a better look at what Tony Elliotts staff is trying to build. It was the kind of setup Virginia has wanted more often: a home game with energy around it and a chance to put the program in front of the next wave of high school talent.
Recruiting analyst Brian Dohn pointed to the speed of Virginias approach as part of the story, noting that the staff is getting earlier with offers and trying to stay ahead of future cycles. The Cavaliers have also been making progress with in-state recruits, a key piece for a program that has to win more consistently on the road to roster depth and long-term stability. With college football rules potentially shifting the way teams recruit and build, Virginias recent push feels like more than a one-weekend burst, even if the real payoff still has to come later. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Fans Just Got An Early Read On This Teams Test
Virginias mens basketball program gave fans an early look at the 2026-27 non-conference slate, and it does not exactly read like a tune-up schedule. The Cavaliers have 13 games lined up outside the league, with eight of them coming at John Paul Jones Arena, and the calendar includes a marquee SEC/ACC Challenge matchup with Kentucky along with a trip to the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Before the regular season even gets rolling, Virginia will also work through a set of exhibitions against Vanderbilt, Richmond and Villanova, which should offer a decent first glance at how the roster is coming together. For a team that usually measures itself by how it handles the seasons first real tests, the early portion of this schedule already suggests there will be no shortage of high-end checkups. [Read more 🡒]