UPDATE: The NW's Top 20 Teams Regardless of Classification

Dom Skene of PRZ recently did a good job of breaking down Washington's Top 25 Teams, using the FSP Top 25 Preseason Power Rankings <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/fsp-top-25-preseason-power-rankings/">https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/fsp-top-25-preseason-power-rankings/</a>     A few months back I compiled a list of the NW's top 20 teams regardless of classification. Referenced here will be an updated rankings board using the FSP list and my own. Have a look..       1.West Linn OR   As most remember the reigning 6A champs absolutely throttled Washington 4A state title winner Lake Stevens 45-6 last year. They return a host of talent and numerous D1 prospects with a top tier line. It's important not to look too far ahead, but the Lions have the potential of winning a handful of state titles in a row, with the talent coming up through the youth ranks being unmatched. The key this season will be the QB spot where they lose Michigan St commit and Oregon 6A POY Sam Leavitt.     UPDATE: 6-5 210 Jr. QB [player_tooltip player_id='406774' first='Baird' last='Gilroy'] has been named the starter at QB. He is one of the fastest rising prospects in the state. Not to mention freshman [player_tooltip player_id='632957' first='Josiah' last='Molden'] who has the potential of being the first ever 9th grader to earn 1st team all-state honors.    2.Central Catholic OR   Give Coach Steve Pyne and his guys a lot of credit. Most years they would be a heavy favorite to win the state title returning some unreal young talent and 2x Mt Hood POY [player_tooltip player_id='152354' first='Cru' last='Newman'] at QB. This could be the first time in state history when two Oregon teams have a chance to earn a top 25 national ranking. CC will have three of the top five 2025's in Oregon with [player_tooltip player_id='152653' first='Zhaiel' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='406759' first='Zac' last='Stascausky'], and [player_tooltip player_id='286686' first='Zachary' last='Davis'].    UPDATE: I moved CC up from #3 overall to #2 as both Oregon teams are that good.   3.O'Dea WA   Any team with a legit line has a shot. The Irish feature one of the top lines in the country on both sides of the ball, to go with the nations #4 RB in [player_tooltip player_id='115335' first='Jason' last='Brown']. The top 3A teams in Washington are some of the best in the West and potentially the country. The Irish will have a chance to be special.    UPDATE: It's a tough call between O'Dea and Yelm but the Irish roster on paper is ridiculous.   4.Yelm WA   The returning 3A state champs beat teams by an average margin of 50-10 in 2022 and could very well do something similar this year, but it's always tough to replicate such a special season. Bryaden Platt and [player_tooltip player_id='338788' first='Isaiah' last='Patterson'] return as one top LB duos in the nation, but the Tornado loses a special group of seniors with a legit line that will be difficult to make up for.     UPDATE: You could make a movie about the community and how special their football is. It's just tough to win back-to-back, considering the competition in 3A WA.   5.Bellevue WA   It wouldn't surprise me to see the Wolverines match 2021's 14-0 record and win the 3A title as they to feature one of the top 2025-line tandems in the region, with 6-7 340-pound [player_tooltip player_id='348139' first='Demetri' last='Manning'] and 1st team returner Willie Wascher. The biggest question will come with the results they get on the perimeter, and what type of production they get from the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='348143' first='Ryken' last='Moon'] and Michigan TE commit [player_tooltip player_id='115338' first='Hogan' last='Hansen'].    UPDATE: Week 1 will be telling on the road versus #2 Central Catholic.   6.Eastside Catholic WA   It's difficult to put EC at #6 with numerous nationally ranked athletes on the roster. That said as Crusaders might be a year away with 2026's such as 6-6 270-pound tackle [player_tooltip player_id='536980' first='Kodi' last='Greene'] and elite athletes [player_tooltip player_id='402799' first='Wassie' last='Lugolobi'] and [player_tooltip player_id='402787' first='Asa' last='Thompson'] still so young.    UPDATE: They will have as good a chance as anyone to win a title if the young guys play up to their potential.   7.Skyview WA   As of right now I might have the Storm as the 4A title favorite in the state of Washington. It's one of the most complete rosters anywhere in the West with a litany of 1st team all-league talent returning. Look for returning GSHL Offensive POY [player_tooltip player_id='915395' first='Jake' last='Kennedy'] to lead with 2025's [player_tooltip player_id='587332' first='Noah' last='Thomas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='693684' first='Gavin' last='Packer'] both blowing up on the recruiting front this coming season.    UPDATE: This is the biggest discrepancy between my list and the FSP Top 25. I have Skyview listed the #5 overall school in WA, where FSP has them at #21. I give them the edge of beating Oregon #3 Jesuit in week 1 and being a 4A favorite/contender.   8.Graham Kapowsin WA   GK is always in the mix and this season will be no different. 3* [player_tooltip player_id='115330' first='Malachi' last='Durant'] made the transfer from Puyallup and will join fellow 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='115340' first='Jabez' last='Woods'] and one of the top TE's in America for 2025 in [player_tooltip player_id='693678' first='Noah' last='Flores']. A lot will depend on how the D plays and how well QB [player_tooltip player_id='158402' first='Daveon' last='Superales'] directs the offense.    UPDATE: It all comes down to the line play in my opinion.    9.Emerald Ridge WA   The Jaguars made a run to the state semi's last year and have D1 QB [player_tooltip player_id='115343' first='Jake' last='Schakel'] and numerous other division 1 athletes on the perimeter returning. They will definitely put-up points, but will it be enough?    UPDATE: Initially I had Emerald Ridge #11 overall in WA but moved them up to #7, and #9 in the NW, after seeing the FSP list. Good points were made, specifically with incoming transfers [player_tooltip player_id='206270' first='Navarre' last='Dixon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='158339' first='Isaac' last='Syph'].    10. Jesuit OR   The Crusaders rank as the #3 team in Oregon coming into this season but graduate the state's top offensive line, which is always tough to make up for. That being said as you can expect 1st team all-conference LB [player_tooltip player_id='152333' first='Lonnie' last='Burt'] Jr to lead Oregon in rushing and [player_tooltip player_id='520433' first='Elias' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='152334' first='Jace' last='Burton'] to lock people down in the secondary.    UPDATE: A lot will be determined by game 1. Jesuit beat Skyview at home in last season's opener 24-21. It will be tough on the road against the Storm this year at the Kiggins Bowl to start the year.    11.Kennedy Catholic WA   Much like Eastside Catholic, the Lancers return some of the top young talent in the West and will have a real shot at a 4A title if the underclassmen step up. The 2-point loss to Lake Stevens in last year's 4A state championship speaks to their potential.    UPDATE: Will the young guys play up to their potential?   12.Lake Oswego OR   Steve Coury might be the best coach in the NW, and he has a host of young talent returning from last year's quarterfinal team which overachieved. The Lakers will once again be led by numerous 2025 and 26' athletes, including standout sophomore RB [player_tooltip player_id='402416' first='Lamarcus' last='Bell'] and two of the region's top defenders in [player_tooltip player_id='285849' first='Oliver' last='Macy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='285881' first='Lusiano' last='Lopez'].   UPDATE: LO could be a clear cut #3 in Oregon, especially with the emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='738963' first='Hunter' last='Kavanaugh'], who had one of the best-off seasons of any athlete in the state. Transfers [player_tooltip player_id='902383' first='Carson' last='Schwindt'] from Oregon City and [player_tooltip player_id='738976' first='James' last='Bauman'] from Putnam will help as well.    13.Tualatin OR   The T-Wolves feature one of the top perimeters on the west coast with three D1 kids leading the way in [player_tooltip player_id='152339' first='Jayden' last='Fortier'], [player_tooltip player_id='152355' first='AJ' last='Noland'], and [player_tooltip player_id='152338' first='Kenen' last='Elder']. Incoming 6-4 junior QB [player_tooltip player_id='285857' first='Nolan' last='Keeney'] is one of the top recruits in Oregon for his class. The question comes down to line play and whether or not the D can stop top TRL competition.   UPDATE: If the T-Wolves want to compete for a title they must leave no doubt when they play Jesuit in week 4 and Lake Oswego in week 7   14.Lake Stevens WA   The Vikings won the 4A state title so give credit where it's due. That said as they lost Ducks commit Jayden Limar to graduation and did get absolutely blasted by West Linn last season. Younger brother [player_tooltip player_id='348138' first='Jayshon' last='Limar'] will need to play out of his mind.    UPDATE: Still a lot of question marks for me here, even with the back-to-back to titles. Let's see if they can hang with West Linn at home in week 5.    15.Sumner WA   Player of the year [player_tooltip player_id='206282' first='Matthew' last='Spurbeck'] is back and will run behind the likes of Oregon St commit (Dylan) [player_tooltip player_id='115347' first='Gregory' last='Sikorski']. The Spartans are consistently one of the top programs in Washington, but the depth might not be what it's been in years past.    UPDATE: Always consistent. That will once again be the case.   16.Camas WA   Camas has dudes everywhere but it's not the same as when Jon Eagle was leading the program. The Papermakers feature one of the top football communities in the NW, going 6-4 last season but losing to legit competition. They will have a shot this year with one of the state's better lines and elite WR [player_tooltip player_id='846364' first='Trenton' last='Swanson'] who will be a D1 kid.    UPDATE: The biggest miss to me from the FSP top 25 is having Skyview ranked #21 in WA and Camas not in the top 25. The SW Washington teams always come to play. We will find out shortly.    17.Lakeridge OR   On paper the Pacers have one of the best rosters in the Northwest. USC commit [player_tooltip player_id='152356' first='Joey' last='Olsen'] and 2026 RB [player_tooltip player_id='284119' first='Ansu' last='Sanoe'], who was recently offered by Georgia, will be tough to stop. That said, Lakeridge has won one conference game in the last two TRL seasons and will need to get a couple big wins in league to set the tone.    UPDATE: They have great coaches and players. It's now or never.   18.Garfield WA   UPDATE: I did not have Garfield in the top 20 initially, but the additions of Cal commit [player_tooltip player_id='115327' first='Rahshawn' last='Clark'] and DL [player_tooltip player_id='115346' first='Elijah' last='Napihaa'] on the FSP list are well noted.    19.Lakes WA   The Lancers will be relatively young but super talented. QB [player_tooltip player_id='402792' first='Legend' last='Galeai'] looks to be the real deal with multiple underclassmen already receiving division 1 offers ([player_tooltip player_id='726155' first='Tristan' last='Baker'], [player_tooltip player_id='726154' first='Ta'ulelei' last='Mareko']). I do not see them losing in the first round like last year, but 3A ball in Washington is littered with talent so it will be tough.    UPDATE: One of the more intriguing teams in the state   20.Lincoln WA   The Abes are always good but what will it look like with 4* QB Gabarri Johnson gone? To say he will be missed would be a massive understatement. Look for RB [player_tooltip player_id='206270' first='Navarre' last='Dixon'] to have a monster year and other young talent to step up from last year's 11-1 team.    UPDATE: With [player_tooltip player_id='206270' first='Navarre' last='Dixon'] transferring it could be a tough year. Look for week 2 at home versus Oregon #5 Tualatin to be telling.