Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) enters the 2024 high school football season with the most challenging schedule in the nation. All 10 of their opponents are ranked in our expanded top 100, with five of them securing spots in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25.
Ranked No. 24 nationally, the Lancers are one of four teams from Southern California’s Trinity League to make our list of the top 10 toughest schedules. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) has the second-hardest schedule, followed by No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) and Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), who also feature in the top 10.
No. 14 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) comes in at No. 3. The Panthers will embark on a grueling journey, traveling approximately 18,540 miles round trip with games in seven different states. This includes a challenging three-week stretch in September with matchups against Orange Lutheran, No. 7 Duncanville (Texas), and No. 1 Mater Dei.
No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) also faces a demanding schedule, with five games against ranked teams: No. 13 Cocoa (Fla.), No. 14 St. Frances Academy, No. 18 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah), No. 19 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), and No. 22 Central (Phenix City, Ala.).
Read on for a complete look at this season’s toughest schedules. All teams listed are included in the top 100.
