IMG Academy Rises to No. 1 in USA TODAY Super 25 Football Rankings

For the third time this year, a new team sits atop the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 football rankings — and this time, it’s Bradenton’s own IMG Academy.

The Ascenders climbed to the No. 1 spot after improving their record to 9-0 with a 31-13 victory over The Hun School of Princeton, New Jersey. The win continued IMG’s dominant season, marked by a strong defense and a balanced offensive attack against some of the nation's toughest competition.

IMG’s ascent came after former No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) fell to Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) in a thrilling Halloween matchup that ended with a 36-31 score. The result reshuffled the top of the rankings, pushing IMG into the national lead and making it the fourth team this season to hold the top position.

With one regular-season game remaining, IMG Academy now stands as the team to beat in the national high school football landscape, carrying an unblemished record and the momentum of a championship-caliber run.