SOUTH FLORIDA TOP 25: St. Thomas Aquinas Holds No. 1 as Columbus, Chaminade-Madonna Make Major Moves

South Florida produced no shortage of significant results in Week 3, and the latest FPRI Top 25 reflects just how much those games changed the regional picture.

St. Thomas Aquinas remains No. 1 after defeating Columbus 31-24, while West Boca Raton and Cardinal Newman continue to hold the next two positions. Columbus nevertheless makes one of the biggest moves near the top, climbing four spots to No. 4 after pushing the state’s new No. 1 team deep into the fourth quarter.

Chaminade-Madonna also climbs two positions following a convincing 46-27 victory over American Heritage (Plantation), while the Patriots fall to No. 7. Atlantic, Archbishop McCarthy, Dillard, Monarch and Benjamin are among several teams making significant moves farther down, while West Broward tumbles 14 positions after losing to Archbishop McCarthy.

FPRI Methodology Update

Readers may notice more movement than usual in this week’s FPRI rankings.

After reviewing how the first three weeks of the 2026 season were being reflected in the model, several refinements were made to better balance preseason expectations with actual on-field results. The changes were applied consistently across the entire statewide dataset and were not made to benefit or penalize individual teams.

The biggest update involves head-to-head results. FPRI now gives stronger recognition to statement wins over teams that entered a game rated significantly higher, but it does so in a controlled way. Rather than automatically transferring the defeated opponent’s full rating to the winner, the system moves the winning team part of the way toward that opponent’s pregame strength.

The model also now considers what happens after that win. A later loss to an elite or higher-rated opponent does not erase the value of an earlier statement victory, while a later loss to a significantly lower-rated opponent can reduce how much of that head-to-head boost remains.

Quality wins were also refined. Instead of using hard rating cutoffs that could create abrupt jumps in bonus value, the quality-win component now uses a smoother scale and gives more consideration to current-season performance when a team has already exceeded its preseason expectation.

A 35-point per-game margin-of-victory cap has also been added to the rating calculation. Actual scores and point differentials remain unchanged in the published statistics, but margins beyond 35 points no longer continue increasing a team’s rating. This helps prevent extreme blowouts from carrying too much weight in the overall formula.

Preseason ratings still remain part of FPRI early in the season because the sample size is small, but that influence continues to decline as more games are played and more 2026 data becomes available. Because these refinements are being applied to games already played this season, some teams may make larger-than-normal moves in this week’s rankings.

That movement is expected as the model adjusts to the stronger body of current-season evidence. As the season progresses, FPRI should naturally become more stable while remaining responsive to meaningful wins, losses, opponent strength and head-to-head results.

St. Thomas Aquinas Holds No. 1 After Beating Columbus

St. Thomas Aquinas entered Week 3 with one of the most significant games anywhere in Florida when Columbus visited Brian Piccolo Stadium, and the Raiders came away with a 31-24 victory.

That result keeps St. Thomas Aquinas firmly at No. 1 in South Florida and moves the Raiders to No. 1 statewide with a 99.63 FPRI rating.

The strength of the profile underneath that rating is equally important. St. Thomas Aquinas carries a 29.0 strength-of-schedule figure, one of the strongest numbers in the entire South Florida Top 25. The Raiders are not simply accumulating wins; they are doing so against a schedule providing the model with substantial opponent-strength information.

Columbus’ performance also adds value to the result. The Explorers entered highly regarded and remained within one score of St. Thomas Aquinas, which gives the FPRI useful information about both programs rather than producing a one-sided result that tells little about the loser.

The Raiders now lead No. 2 West Boca Raton by 3.09 rating points, creating some separation at the top but nowhere near enough to make the regional race untouchable.

Week 4 immediately provides another major South Florida matchup when St. Thomas Aquinas travels to face a rapidly rising Dillard team.

West Boca Raton and Cardinal Newman Keep Pressure on the Top

West Boca Raton remains No. 2 after another dominant performance, defeating Spanish River 37-0.

The Bulls now carry a 96.54 FPRI rating and remain No. 3 statewide. The result reaches the new 35-point margin-of-victory cap, meaning West Boca receives the maximum allowable margin value without the final two points continuing to inflate the rating.

Unlike several teams around it, West Boca currently carries a nearly neutral strength-of-schedule figure. That means future opponents will become particularly important as the preseason portion of the rating continues fading and additional 2026 results take over.

Cardinal Newman remains No. 3 after overwhelming John Carroll 45-7. The Crusaders climb two positions statewide to No. 4 and now carry a 93.52 rating.

Cardinal Newman’s 15.4 strength-of-schedule figure gives its profile more opponent support, while the 38-point win against John Carroll is treated as a 35-point margin for FPRI purposes.

The gap between West Boca and Cardinal Newman is only 3.02 points, and Week 4 gives the FPRI the cleanest comparison possible.

Cardinal Newman travels to West Boca Raton on Thursday night.

The No. 2 and No. 3 teams in South Florida will therefore settle their next comparison directly on the field.

Columbus Climbs Four Spots Despite Losing to No. 1

One of the more interesting movements anywhere in the rankings belongs to Columbus.

The Explorers lost 31-24 to St. Thomas Aquinas but climb four regional positions from No. 8 to No. 4 and make an enormous 20-position statewide rise, reaching No. 8 overall with an 84.92 rating.

A team moving substantially upward after losing may initially look unusual, but the context explains why.

Columbus faced the highest-rated team in the state and lost by only seven points. The Explorers also carry a 29.4 strength-of-schedule rating, one of the highest numbers in South Florida and slightly stronger than the schedule figure attached to St. Thomas Aquinas.

The FPRI therefore receives evidence that Columbus can compete closely with the state’s top-rated team while playing an exceptionally demanding schedule.

That does not make the loss irrelevant. Columbus still lost the head-to-head matchup, and St. Thomas Aquinas remains far ahead in the ratings. But it is a much different piece of information than a seven-point loss against an average or lower-rated opponent.

The Explorers now sit only 0.39 points ahead of Chaminade-Madonna and get another major head-to-head test Thursday when they travel to No. 11 Miami Palmetto.

Chaminade-Madonna Wins the Heritage Showdown and Climbs to No. 5

Chaminade-Madonna and American Heritage (Plantation) provided another of Week 3’s marquee South Florida matchups, and the Lions left little ambiguity about the result.

Chaminade-Madonna defeated American Heritage 46-27 and climbs two positions from No. 7 to No. 5 with an 84.53 FPRI rating.

The Lions also rise 10 positions statewide to No. 10.

That move is supported by more than the 19-point margin. Chaminade-Madonna carries a 22.1 strength-of-schedule figure and now owns a direct victory against a team that entered the week above it in the regional hierarchy.

That is exactly the type of current-season information the FPRI refinements are intended to recognize more strongly.

American Heritage falls two positions to No. 7 with an 81.40 rating, but the Patriots remain firmly among the region’s elite because of their extraordinary 29.7 strength-of-schedule figure, the strongest among the current South Florida Top 25.

The difference between No. 4 Columbus, No. 5 Chaminade-Madonna and No. 6 Miami Northwestern is only 0.69 rating points, creating one of the tightest clusters anywhere near the top of a regional ranking.

Miami Northwestern Wins 51-0 but Falls Two Spots

Miami Northwestern provides one of the clearest examples this week of why a large victory does not automatically guarantee upward movement.

The Bulls overwhelmed Hialeah 51-0 but fall two regional positions from No. 4 to No. 6 with an 84.23 rating.

The result itself reaches the 35-point margin-of-victory cap. Miami Northwestern receives full credit through a 35-point differential, but the remaining 16 points do not continue increasing the rating.

The opponent-strength side of the equation also matters. Miami Northwestern currently carries a deeply negative early strength-of-schedule figure, leaving the model with less quality-opponent support than teams such as Columbus, Chaminade-Madonna and American Heritage.

That explains why the Bulls can win by 51 and still be passed by teams generating more valuable information elsewhere.

Miami Northwestern remains only 0.30 points behind Chaminade-Madonna and gets one of Week 4’s most fascinating statewide matchups when the Bulls travel north to face Hawthorne.

American Heritage and Miami Central Remain Inside the Top Eight

American Heritage falls to No. 7 following its loss to Chaminade-Madonna, but the Patriots remain only 2.83 points behind the Lions and continue carrying arguably the most demanding schedule profile in the region.

Week 4 provides another major test when American Heritage travels to Jacksonville to face Trinity Christian.

Miami Central also falls two positions, moving from No. 6 to No. 8 despite defeating St. Brendan 43-7.

The Rockets now carry an 81.16 rating.

Like Miami Northwestern, Miami Central’s result reaches the 35-point margin cap, and its early strength-of-schedule figure remains significantly negative. That creates less upward pressure than the profiles of teams facing stronger schedules around it.

Still, there is virtually no separation between American Heritage and Miami Central. Only 0.24 points divide No. 7 and No. 8.

Miami Central gets perhaps the toughest Week 4 assignment of anyone in the Top 25 when the Rockets travel to Georgia to face Buford.

Atlantic Surges Into the Top 10

Atlantic makes one of the strongest moves in the upper half of the rankings after defeating Blanche Ely 9-6.

The Eagles climb five positions from No. 14 to No. 9 with a 73.89 rating and rise nine spots statewide to No. 34.

The score was not flashy, but the rating movement demonstrates why margin alone does not determine value. Atlantic carries a 13.3 strength-of-schedule figure, and another victory gives the model additional current-season evidence supporting the Eagles beyond their preseason starting point.

Atlantic now sits 1.69 points ahead of No. 10 Archbishop McCarthy.

Week 4 provides an especially interesting matchup when Atlantic travels to No. 14 Pahokee, creating a direct comparison between two teams that both made substantial upward moves this week.

Archbishop McCarthy Rockets Seven Spots Into the Top 10

Archbishop McCarthy produces one of the biggest moves inside the South Florida Top 25.

The Mavericks defeated West Broward 41-13 and climb seven regional positions from No. 17 to No. 10 with a 72.20 FPRI rating.

Statewide, Archbishop McCarthy jumps 18 positions to No. 40.

The significance comes partly from the direct relationship between the two teams. West Broward entered Week 3 at No. 9 in South Florida, eight places ahead of Archbishop McCarthy.

The Mavericks did not need an indirect comparison to challenge that order. They beat West Broward by 28 points.

That head-to-head result helps send Archbishop McCarthy into the top 10 while West Broward tumbles all the way to No. 23.

Week 4 gives the Mavericks a cross-regional test when Community School of Naples comes to Southwest Ranches.

Miami Palmetto Moves Up After Beating Southridge

Miami Palmetto climbs two positions to No. 11 after defeating Miami Southridge 28-6.

The Panthers now carry a 71.96 rating and sit only 0.24 points behind Archbishop McCarthy.

Southridge experiences the opposite effect, falling five positions from No. 15 to No. 20.

The direct result becomes especially useful because both teams entered the week inside the regional Top 15. Miami Palmetto now owns the comparison that matters most when evaluating those two programs against each other.

The Panthers immediately get another major opportunity Thursday when No. 4 Columbus visits.

That matchup has implications in two different portions of the rankings. Columbus is trying to validate its huge rise despite the loss to St. Thomas Aquinas, while Miami Palmetto has a chance to add a statement victory capable of moving it considerably higher.

Pahokee Moves Up While American Heritage Delray Falls

Pahokee makes another significant move after defeating Benjamin 33-3.

The Blue Devils climb four positions from No. 18 to No. 14 and rise 13 spots statewide to No. 54 with a 68.29 rating.

The victory gives Pahokee a substantial head-to-head result and adds another positive data point to a profile carrying a 5.7 strength-of-schedule figure.

American Heritage (Delray Beach), meanwhile, falls five positions from No. 10 to No. 15 despite overwhelming Boynton Beach 42-0.

This is another case where a convincing victory is not enough by itself to preserve ranking position. The Stallions’ early strength-of-schedule figure remains deeply negative, and the 42-point margin is capped at 35 for FPRI purposes.

While American Heritage Delray won comfortably, teams such as Atlantic, Archbishop McCarthy and Pahokee generated more meaningful new information relative to their previous ratings.

The result is a crowded section of the rankings, with only 0.95 points separating No. 14 Pahokee from No. 15 American Heritage Delray.

Dillard Makes a Seven-Spot Jump

Dillard is another major riser after defeating Coconut Creek 25-20.

The Panthers climb seven positions from No. 23 to No. 16 with a 67.07 rating and make a 26-position statewide jump.

The result is particularly valuable because Coconut Creek entered Week 3 ahead of Dillard in the regional rankings. Dillard now owns the head-to-head victory and moves five positions ahead of the Cougars, who fall one spot to No. 21.

Dillard also carries an 11.7 strength-of-schedule figure, giving the FPRI useful opponent context around the rise.

Week 4 could provide an even larger opportunity.

No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas comes to Dillard on Thursday night.

A strong performance against the state’s top-rated team would give the Panthers another high-value data point only one week after their surge into the Top 20.

Palm Beach Central and King’s Academy Continue Climbing

Palm Beach Central climbs four positions from No. 21 to No. 17 after defeating Dr. Joaquin Garcia 24-12.

The Broncos now carry a 66.88 rating and rise 12 positions statewide.

King’s Academy also makes a strong move, climbing five places from No. 24 to No. 19 following a 35-12 victory over NSU University School.

The Lions jump 25 positions statewide to No. 77 and now sit only 0.60 points behind No. 18 Cardinal Gibbons.

That portion of the rankings remains extremely fluid. Palm Beach Central, Cardinal Gibbons, King’s Academy, Miami Southridge and Coconut Creek are all separated by less than three rating points.

Palm Beach Central gets a district matchup against Wellington in Week 4, while King’s Academy travels south to face Miami Beach.

Monarch Surges After Beating Cardinal Gibbons

Monarch makes one of the week’s most significant rises after defeating Cardinal Gibbons 20-13.

The Knights climb six regional positions from No. 28 to No. 22 and make a massive 59-position statewide jump to No. 86.

The win provides exactly the kind of direct head-to-head evidence that can rapidly alter an early-season rating.

Cardinal Gibbons entered Week 3 at No. 16 in South Florida. Monarch entered outside the Top 25. The Knights then defeated the Chiefs directly, and the rankings respond accordingly.

Cardinal Gibbons falls two positions to No. 18 with a 65.35 rating, while Monarch closes to within 1.76 points.

The two teams remain separated because FPRI evaluates more than one game, but the result has dramatically reduced what had previously been a much larger gap.

Monarch has an open week in Week 4, while Cardinal Gibbons hosts Coconut Creek in another direct regional matchup.

West Broward Suffers the Biggest Drop Inside the Top 25

No team inside the South Florida Top 25 falls farther than West Broward.

The Bobcats entered Week 3 at No. 9 before losing 41-13 to Archbishop McCarthy.

That sends West Broward down 14 positions to No. 23 with a 63.00 rating.

Statewide, the drop is even larger: West Broward falls 58 positions to No. 91.

The loss is especially damaging because Archbishop McCarthy entered substantially below West Broward and then won decisively. Under the refined methodology, that provides strong evidence that the preseason and early-season gap between the two teams needed correction.

West Broward still carries a strong 16.4 strength-of-schedule figure, which helps prevent an even more severe collapse and leaves the Bobcats inside the Top 25.

Week 4 provides an immediate district opportunity against Western.

Miami Carol City and Benjamin Enter the Top 25

Miami Carol City climbs five positions from No. 29 to No. 24 after producing one of the week’s most decisive head-to-head results.

The Chiefs shut out Miami Norland 43-0 and rise 51 positions statewide to No. 99 with a 61.87 rating.

Miami Norland, which had been No. 19 in South Florida, falls eight regional positions to No. 27.

The 43-point margin is capped at 35 for FPRI purposes, but the direct victory against a team previously rated substantially higher gives Carol City additional value beyond the blowout itself.

Benjamin makes an even larger numerical move into the final Top 25 position.

The Buccaneers climb 12 regional positions, from No. 37 to No. 25, despite losing 33-3 to Pahokee.

That might look surprising, but Benjamin carries a 17.7 strength-of-schedule rating, and the broader methodology recalibration changes how its entire body of work compares with teams around the cutoff.

The loss itself still matters and prevents Benjamin from climbing higher. But rankings are relative, and the updated statewide calculation moved several teams around the bottom of the South Florida field even when their most recent result alone would not suggest upward movement.

Benjamin has an open week, leaving the No. 25 position vulnerable as teams immediately behind it add new results.

The Chase Just Outside the Top 25

Saint Andrew’s is the first team out at No. 26 with a 60.19 FPRI rating, leaving the Scots only 0.97 points behind Benjamin for the final Top 25 position.

Miami Norland falls to No. 27 with a 60.11 rating following the 43-0 loss to Miami Carol City. That leaves the Vikings only 1.05 points outside the cutoff despite the significant regional drop.

Glades Central climbs four positions to No. 28 after defeating Palm Beach Gardens 55-26, while Westminster Academy makes a 10-position jump to No. 29. Florida Christian rounds out the top 30.

The cutoff therefore remains highly vulnerable. Only 1.05 rating points separate No. 25 Benjamin from No. 27 Miami Norland, while teams such as Glades Central and Westminster Academy are also moving upward quickly.

With Benjamin idle in Week 4, the teams immediately behind it will have an opportunity to generate new information and potentially force their way into the Top 25.

Week 4 Spotlight: Cardinal Newman Heads to West Boca Raton

There is no need to search far for the biggest South Florida matchup of Week 4.

No. 3 Cardinal Newman travels to No. 2 West Boca Raton on Thursday night.

Only 3.02 rating points separate the two teams, and both enter among the top four teams statewide in the latest FPRI. That makes the matchup one of the cleanest possible opportunities to sort the top of the South Florida hierarchy.

West Boca remains unbeaten and has continued producing dominant results, while Cardinal Newman enters after beating John Carroll 45-7.

A Cardinal Newman victory would give the Crusaders a direct result over the team immediately ahead of them and could fundamentally reshape the race behind St. Thomas Aquinas. A West Boca victory would strengthen the Bulls’ hold on No. 2 and give them another major current-season result as preseason influence continues fading.

That is hardly the only significant game.

No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas travels to No. 16 Dillard, giving the Panthers an enormous opportunity one week after their seven-position climb.

No. 4 Columbus travels to No. 11 Miami Palmetto in a district matchup. Columbus has just risen despite losing narrowly to St. Thomas Aquinas, while Miami Palmetto is coming off a direct win over Southridge.

No. 6 Miami Northwestern travels to Hawthorne in one of the state’s most intriguing cross-regional games. The matchup gives Northwestern a chance to strengthen a profile currently held back by a weak early opponent-strength figure.

No. 7 American Heritage travels to Jacksonville to face Trinity Christian, while No. 8 Miami Central heads to Georgia for a major test against Buford.

No. 9 Atlantic visits No. 14 Pahokee, creating another direct Top 15 comparison between two teams that climbed this week.

Archbishop McCarthy hosts Community School of Naples, while Palm Beach Central visits Wellington in district play.

Cardinal Gibbons hosts Coconut Creek, giving the Chiefs and Cougars another direct opportunity to sort the crowded section around Nos. 18 through 21.

Immaculata-La Salle hosts Gulliver Prep in district play, American Heritage (Delray Beach) hosts Key West, and West Broward travels to Western.

King’s Academy visits Miami Beach.

Monarch, Miami Southridge, Miami Carol City and Benjamin have open weeks.

South Florida’s Elite Tier Is Getting Even More Crowded

South Florida remains home to some of the highest-rated teams in the state, but Week 3 changed the order considerably underneath the top three.

St. Thomas Aquinas is now No. 1 statewide after beating Columbus, while West Boca Raton and Cardinal Newman remain directly behind in the regional rankings.

Columbus climbs into the No. 4 position despite that loss because pushing the state’s top-rated team to a seven-point game while carrying one of South Florida’s strongest schedules provides powerful information about the Explorers’ level.

Chaminade-Madonna has moved to No. 5 after beating American Heritage head-to-head, while Miami Northwestern, American Heritage and Miami Central remain packed tightly behind.

Only 3.37 rating points separate No. 4 Columbus from No. 8 Miami Central.

The movement farther down is even more dramatic.

Atlantic has climbed five positions into the top 10. Archbishop McCarthy is up seven after beating West Broward. Dillard climbs seven after beating Coconut Creek. Monarch enters the Top 25 after knocking off Cardinal Gibbons. Miami Carol City jumps after shutting out Norland, while West Broward tumbles from No. 9 to No. 23.

Those results are creating exactly the kind of interconnected regional picture the FPRI needs as the season moves farther away from the preseason.

St. Thomas Aquinas has beaten Columbus.

Chaminade-Madonna has beaten American Heritage.

Archbishop McCarthy has beaten West Broward.

Miami Palmetto has beaten Southridge.

Dillard has beaten Coconut Creek.

Monarch has beaten Cardinal Gibbons.

Miami Carol City has beaten Miami Norland.

Each direct comparison gives the model stronger evidence about where teams belong relative to one another.

Week 4 could provide even more.

West Boca and Cardinal Newman meet with No. 2 directly on the line. Columbus gets Miami Palmetto. Atlantic faces Pahokee. Cardinal Gibbons gets Coconut Creek. St. Thomas Aquinas faces a rapidly rising Dillard team.

South Florida already owns one of the deepest collections of high-level teams in the state.

Three weeks into the season, the FPRI is beginning to sort them with increasingly meaningful evidence instead of preseason expectation.

Explore the Complete Florida Power Rankings Index

The South Florida Top 25 is part of FloridaHSFootball.com’s Enhanced Florida Power Rankings Index, which ranks all 587 football teams in Florida — 563 11-man teams and 24 8-man teams — while also powering the Florida Power 25, classification rankings and eight regional rankings throughout the season.

As more games are played, current performance and opponent strength will continue replacing preseason information within the ratings.

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