We’re bearing down on Day 1 of Week 1 of the 2025 high school football season — the season busts out Thursday. Here’s Jim Paulsen’s preseason Minnesota Top 25, his ranking of the best teams in the state regardless of class.

The Minnesota Top 25

1. Maple Grove: Kaden Harney deserves to be included in any discussion of the top QBs in the state.

2. Minnetonka: Moving Caleb Francois to RB and installing Caden Gutzmer at QB should make the offense more diverse.

3. Shakopee: The Sabers defense is deep and talented.

4. Edina: Don’t miss out on a chance to see rough-and-rugged DL Sawyer Jezierski, who’s committed to Iowa.

5. Forest Lake: RB Mack Jurkovich is a force ready to break out.

6. Moorhead: Talent at the skill positions (QB Jett Feeney, WR David Mack, RB Taye Reich) will help the transition to Class 6A.

7. Elk River (5A): The Elks have won three state titles in nine years. No team is linked more tightly to its offensive approach — the Power T — than Elk River.

8. Chanhassen (5A): High-level talent, led by 6-5 OL Owen Linder, 6-5 TE Kade Bush and 6-5 QB Nathan Ramler, fuels the Storm.

9. Wayzata: Big things are expected from laser-limbed junior QB Thor Soukup.

10. Mankato West (5A): Always a big game, the Sept. 12 meeting against rival Mankato East sets up as titanic for two 5A powers.

11. Andover: QB Joseph Mapson is a dynamic dual threat who makes plays with his arm and his legs.

12. Eden Prairie: The Eagles need to supplement all that beef with some talented arms and legs.

13. Becker (4A): The Bulldogs lost plenty from the 2024 championship team, but coach Dwight Lundeen, now in his 56th year at Becker, always has the cupboard well stocked.

14. Prior Lake: Lots of talent returns on both sides of the ball. Who will replace graduated Myles Greenwood at QB?

15. Blaine: The Bengals have enough quality depth to replace graduated QB Sam Shaughnessy’s 2,700 total yards.

16. East Ridge: QB Cedric Tomes is committed to the Gophers for basketball, but he’s no slouch on the football field.

17. Orono (4A): The Spartans have to replace 1,700-yard passer Charlie Cordes, but there’s lots of depth to cushion the loss.

18. Mankato East (5A): Can the Cougars carry the momentum of a playoff victory over Mankato West into this year?

19. Stillwater: QB Nick Kinsey is gone to prep school, but uber-productive RB Emilio Rosario Matias is back, as is DL Ajibola Afuye, an Iowa State commit.

20. St. Thomas Academy (5A): Dominic Baez, a 1,100-yard rusher in 2024, returns for the always-physical Cadets.

21. Eagan: Program building continues. Can the six-win Wildcats improve on their most successful season since 2011?

22. Jackson County Central (2A): Some might think this is too high for a Class 2A team, but the Huskies have two Division I recruits in QB Roman Voss and OL Weston Rowe.

23. Rocori (4A): OL Andrew Trout is the highest-rated lineman in Minnesota. And a future Gopher.

24. Cretin-Derham Hall (5A): With a solid supporting cast, big things are expected of QB Izaak Johnson in his second year as a starter.

25. Hermantown (4A): Catch rocket-fast RB Martin Sleen when you can. Opponents can’t seem to.