Michael O’Brien’s Super 25 high school football…

Michael O’Brien’s Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 10

Loyola’s Michael Baker (11) celebrates his touchdown against Mount Carmel amongst teammates. (Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times)

Mount Carmel has been the king of the Super 25 for an astounding 426 days. The Caravan has been ranked No. 1 since Aug. 23, 2022. They were the preseason top-ranked team to begin last season. That means Mount Carmel has been No. 1 for 25 consecutive Super 25’s.

It’s been 694 days since another team was ranked No. 1. That was Cary-Grove back at the end of the 2021 season.

Loyola, no stranger to the top spot, takes hold of the crown after beating Mount Carmel on Saturday.

The Caravan doesn’t have long to respond to the loss in Wilmette. They will have their hands full in the first round of the Class 7A state playoffs against rival St. Rita.

The Mustangs, however, are one of the four teams that dropped out of the rankings this week. St. Rita lost to Brother Rice. I resisted the urge to pop the Crusaders back into the rankings, but they should give Batavia a stern test in the first round.

Naperville Central falls out after losing to Neuqua Valley. I don’t know what to do with DuPage Valley teams. It will be very interesting to monitor how they do in the playoffs.

Joliet Catholic drops out after losing to St. Ignatius. It’s very possible the Hilltoppers have been coasting by on their reputation and may have not been a Super 25 caliber team this season.

Geneva, IC Catholic and Kenwood all return to the rankings and Huntley makes its season debut.

Super 25 rankings for Week 10
With record and last week’s ranking

1. Loyola (9-0) 2
8A: vs. Plainfield North

2. Mount Carmel (8-1) 1
7A: vs. St. Rita

3. Lincoln-Way East (9-0) 3
8A: vs. Taft

4. Batavia (8-1) 4
7A: vs. Brother Rice

5. Maine South (8-1) 5
8A: vs. Lockport

6. Hersey (9-0) 6
7A: vs. Wheaton-Warrenville South

7. Barrington (9-0) 7
8A: vs. Glenbrook South

8. York (8-1) 8
8A: vs. Homewood-Flossmoor

9. Prairie Ridge (9-0) 9
5A: vs. Nazareth

10. Kankakee (9-0) 10
6A: vs. Bremen