Top 10 toughest high school football leagues in the nation

We've already seen which states are the toughest in the nation when it comes to high school football. But what about the toughest leagues in the nation?

Using the MaxPreps Computer Rankings formula, we have compiled which leagues and conferences are full of the toughest teams.

By taking the average rating of each team, we have come up with an overall number that sums up the league's strength.

Agree? Disagree? Give us your thoughts on Twitter @MaxPreps or on Facebook.


1. New Jersey, Big North - United League
Overall rating: 66.4
Normally the Big North United is led by Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco Prep, but thus far the teams have combined for only two wins. However, St. Joseph Regional and Paramus Catholic are both Top 25-ranked squads, and DePaul has its strongest team in years. When St. Joseph and Paramus Catholic clash to end the season, it will be one of the more intriguing games in New Jersey in years.

Schools

St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)
Rating: 82
Record: 1-0, 4-0

Paramus Catholic (Paramus)
Rating: 79.7
Record: 1-0, 4-0

DePaul (Wayne)
Rating: 60.8
Record: 2-1, 3-1

Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey)
Rating: 55.9
Record: 0-1, 1-3

Bergen Catholic (Oradell)
Rating: 53.4
Record: 0-1, 1-4


2. California, Trinity League
Overall rating: 60.1
Aside from Santa Margarita and Servite, all Trinity league teams are currently unbeaten. That will change as league play kicks into high gear, but it won't diminish the fact that the Trinity League is as deep as ever. Mater Dei is back in the Xcellent 25 and St. John Bosco could prove to be the state's -- and possibly the nation's -- best team.

Schools

St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Rating: 78.6
Record: 5-0

Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Rating: 67.9
Record: 5-0

Servite (Anaheim)
Rating: 55.7
Record: 3-2

JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)
Rating: 55.5
Record: 5-0

Orange Lutheran
Rating: 52
Record: 5-0

Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)
Rating: 51
Record: 3-2

3. Ohio, Greater Catholic - South League
Overall rating: 57.3
The teams at the top change each year, but what remains constant is the strength of Ohio's premier league. Moeller looks like the top dog this year but several teams are capable of making deep playoff runs if they emerge from Ohio's Division I, Region IV bracket. As St. Xavier head coach Steve Specht likes to joke, you can flip coins at the start of the season to determine the GCL winner and have as much luck as any expert. This league features tremendous rivalries as well as coaches and players that are extremely familiar with each other. As such, upsets are never too much of a surprise.

Schools

Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)
Rating: 69.3
Record: 2-0, 6-0

St. Xavier (Cincinnati)
Rating: 60.9
Record: 0-2, 3-3

Elder (Cincinnati)
Rating: 55.7
Record: 1-0, 5-1

La Salle (Cincinnati)
Rating: 43.4
Record: 0-1, 3-3






4. California, Serra League
Overall rating: 53.4
One of the most competitive leagues in California and therefore the country, the Serra league boasts two 5-1 teams in Alemany and Bishop Amat. Notre Dame is not too far behind. Keep an eye on Loyola and Crespi. Both have new coaches this fall and could be on the rise. Crespi hired alumnus Troy Thomas, the architect of the Servite football dynasty.

Schools

Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks)
Rating: 62.7
Record: 4-2

Alemany (Mission Hills)
Rating: 62.2
Record: 5-1

Bishop Amat (La Puente)
Rating: 54.8
Record: 5-1

Loyola (Los Angeles)
Rating: 50.3
Record: 3-3

Crespi (Encino)
Rating: 37
Record: 2-4


5. Michigan, Catholic Central League
Overall rating: 49.2
A league with great coaches unsurprisingly has some great teams. Four-hundred-game winner Al Fracassa leads the league's top team, Brother Rice, currently sitting at 6-0 and among the nation's top teams in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings. Fracassa's squad eeked past league rival De La Salle on a last-second Hail Mary that is one of the season's wildest endings thus far.

Schools

Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills)
Rating: 67.6
Record: 3-0, 6-0

Catholic Central (Novi)
Rating: 53.9
Record: 1-1, 5-1

De La Salle Collegiate (Warren)
Rating: 51.1
Record: 1-1, 4-2

St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake)
Rating: 42.9
Record: 1-2, 3-3

University of Detroit Jesuit (Detroit)
Rating: 3.7
Record: 0-2, 4-2


6. Maryland, Virginia & Washington D.C., Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
Overall rating: 48.9
Our Lady of Good Counsel has had a stranglehold over this powerhouse conference that features teams from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. It appears that the title will be up for grabs this year as DeMatha, Gonzaga and St. John's all appear formidable. This league is self-sufficient and does not fall under the umbrella of any high school state governing body.

Schools

DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
Rating: 63.7
Record: 3-0, 6-1

St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
Rating: 47.8
Record: 1-1, 4-2

Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)
Rating: 47.1
Record: 2-0, 4-2

Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)
Rating: 46.7
Record: 1-2, 4-3

Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)
Rating: 36.2
Record: 2-1, 5-1

Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.)
Rating: 11.9
Record: 0-3, 2-4

Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.)
Rating: 36.7
Record: 1-2, 4-3


7. Florida, 5A District 2
Overall rating: 48.5
The smallest league to crack the list, 2-5A teams have combined for a 14-2 record this year. Godby has not lost to any Florida opponents this year, but that streak will be in jeopardy when it takes on Trinity Christian on Friday. Rickards proved it is for real with a thrilling 43-42 victory over state power Lincoln. Meanwhile, Wakulla's only defeat came at the hands of Godby.

Schools

Godby (Tallahassee)
Rating: 55.6
Record: 1-0, 5-1

Rickards (Tallahassee)
Rating: 49.4
Record: 0-0, 6-0

Wakulla (Crawfordville)
Rating: 40.5
Record: 0-1, 5-1










8. Kentucky, 6A District 4
Overall rating: 47.4
Kentucky's top district finds itself on the list not because of its perennial private school powers, Trinity and St. Xavier, but because of the success of its public school programs. Both Male and DuPont Manual sit at 6-0. With Kenton and Scott County also undefeated, this year's Class 6A playoffs in Kentucky will be as interesting as ever.

Schools

Trinity (Louisville)
Rating: 55.5
Record: 1-0, 3-3

Male (Louisville)
Rating: 48.9
Record: 0-0, 6-0

St. Xavier (Louisville)
Rating: 45.4
Record: 0-1, 4-3

DuPont Manual (Louisville)
Rating: 39.8
Record: 0-0, 6-0






9. Indiana, Metropolitan Conference
Overall rating: 46.8
A strong nucleus of Indiana's top teams reside in the Metropolitan Conference. This year, Center Grove is the top-ranked squad but Ben Davis, Carmel, Pike and Warren Central all have state title potential. Those five teams rank among the state's top seven regardless of class according to the MaxPreps Computer Rankings.

Schools

Center Grove (Greenwood)
Rating: 63.5
Record: 5-1, 6-1

Ben Davis (Indianapolis)
Rating: 58.7
Record: 4-1, 5-2

Carmel
Rating: 54.4
Record: 4-1, 5-2

Pike (Indianapolis)
Rating: 53
Record: 3-2, 4-3

Warren Central (Indianapolis)
Rating: 51.4
Record: 3-3, 4-3

Lawrence Central (Indianapolis)
Rating: 44.3
Record: 2-3, 3-4

North Central (Indianapolis)
Rating: 33.3
Record: 1-5, 1-6

Lawrence North (Indianapolis)
Rating: 15.8
Record: 0-6, 0-7

10. Florida, 6A District 16
Overall rating: 46.6
Top 10-ranked Miami Central leads this district, which alone has more talent than several states. Homestead features one of the nation's top receivers in Ermon Lane, while Norland won a state title as recently as 2011.

Schools

Central (Miami)
Rating: 74.1
Record: 1-0, 4-1

Carol City (Miami)
Rating: 45.1
Record: 1-0, 4-2

Northwestern (Miami)
Rating: 42.5
Record: 1-1, 3-2

Homestead
Rating: 37.6
Record: 0-3, 4-3

Norland (Miami)
Rating: 33.9
Record: 1-1, 2-4


The Best of the Rest

Texas, 5A Region II District 10
Overall rating: 46.1

Texas, 5A Region I District 7
Overall rating: 45.9

Texas, 5A Region II District 12
Overall rating: 44

Illinois, Chicago Catholic League - Blue
Overall rating: 43.2

Texas, 5A Region I District 5
Overall rating: 42.8

California, Southern Section - Mission League
Overall rating: 42.3

Missouri, Suburban - Gold League
Overall rating: 42

California, Southern Section - South Coast League
Overall rating: 41.6

Georgia, AAAAAA Region 1
Overall rating: 40.9

Ohio, Central Catholic - Gold League
Overall rating: 40