Iowa high school football Top 25 rankings (10/24/2023)

Here are SBLive’s Iowa high school football rankings for the week of Oct. 22: 

1. Southeast Polk (9-0)

5A defending champ and only unbeaten will open playoffs at home against Linn-Mar (4-5).

2. West Des Moines Dowling (8-1)

Maroons open at home against Sioux City East; could get tested in 5A quarterfinals against Johnston or Ankeny.

3. Western Dubuque (8-1)

Remarkably, Bobcats are only 4A team to navigate the regular season with fewer than two losses.

4. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (9-0)

Lions host Roland-Story (7-2) in 2A round of 16. Northwest Iowa powers Central Lyon and West Lyon have been placed in separate pods, pleasing fans of those schools.

5. Van Meter (9-0)

Two-time defending 1A champs haven't missed a beat in 2A. Bulldogs host Union (3-6) in round of 16.

6. Creston (9-0)

Class 3A Panthers arguably have been surprise of the entire state. Tough opener though vs. Harlan Community (6-3), who they edged 25-22 in Week 5.

7. Pleasant Valley (8-1)

Eight straight wins for Spartans, but difficult 5A opener vs. West Des Moines Valley (4-5), which upset them in last year's opener.

8. Lewis Central (7-2)

Going 7-2 against a brutal schedule has Titans feeling confident going into the 4A first round vs. Le Mars (7-2).

9. Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-2)

Defending 4A champs open with Indianola (6-3), and may also have to beat North Polk (7-2) to reach the UNI-Dome.

10. Waukee Northwest (7-2)

Wolves, who edged Ankeny Centennial 17-7 in Week 8, will have to repeat the feat in the 5A first round.

11. North Scott (7-2)

Lancers open at home against Decorah (6-3), then could meet Western Dubuque (8-1) in the 4A quarterfinals.

12. Underwood (8-1)

Eagles host AHSTW (6-3), who they beat 28-12 in Week 4, in the round of 16 of Class 1A.

13. Solon (8-1)

With a home win over Fort Madison (6-3) in 3A, Spartans will meet either Davenport Assumption (7-2), whom they lost to 34-7 in Week 1, or West Delaware (6-3).

14. West Lyon (8-1)

Wildcats host Western Christian, whom they beat 20-3 in Week 5, in the round of 16 of Class 2A.

15. Williamsburg (8-1)

Last year's 2A runner-up might have to play last year's 3A runner-up, Mount Vernon, in a 3A quarterfinal if Williamsburg can get past Humboldt.

16. Mount Vernon (8-1)

Mount Vernon will have to beat Independence to make good on its end of the deal and possibly face Williamsburg for a trip to the Dome in 3A.

17. Ankeny (6-3)

Nobody in 5A is more battle-tested than the Hawks, who face Johnston (5-4), a team they beat 16-10 in Week 4.

18. Ankeny Centennial (5-4)

The Jaguars were outgained 363-163 in their 17-7 regular-season loss to 5A first-round foe Waukee Northwest (7-2)

19. Johnston (5-4)

The Dragons did outgain first-round opponent Ankeny 347-261 in their 16-10 regular-season loss.

20. Waukee (7-2)

After missing the postseason only twice between 2004 and 2020, Warriors didn't qualify in 2021 or 2022. So they're thrilled to be hosting Cedar Rapids Prairie (5-4) in 5A this week.

21. West Des Moines Valley (4-5)

Tigers' Cinderella run to the 5A finals last year started with a first-round win at Pleasant Valley, its opening opponent again this year.

22. Cedar Falls (6-3)

After nipping Cedar Rapids Kennedy 17-14 in Week 8, Tigers are asked to do it again in the first round of the 5A playoffs.

23. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (6-3)

Turnovers, including three interceptions, hurt the Cougars in their 17-14 regular-season loss to Cedar Falls.

24. Grundy Center (9-0)

Spartans get a round of 16 rematch with Pella Christian in 1A. They beat the Eagles 38-6 in Week 3.

25. Pella (6-3)

Two weeks after beating Bondurant-Farrar 40-13, the Dutch get a rematch with the Bluejays in the first round in 4A.