Iowa's top high school football teams head to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls this week, with No. 1 Southeast Polk and No. 2 Dowling Catholic on a collision course for a Friday night semifinal showdown.
USA TODAY Sports released its latest Super 10 rankings for the Hawkeye State on Nov. 11, two days before the biggest classification semifinals kick off. The rankings list, which also ran on Yahoo Sports, tracks the ten best teams in Iowa regardless of class as the season enters its final two weeks.
Who Are the Top 10 Teams in Iowa?
Southeast Polk sits at the top of the list at a perfect 11-0. The Rams held off Prairie 38-28 in their last outing and now face their toughest test of the season: a Nov. 13 semifinal against No. 2 Dowling Catholic at 7 p.m. CT.
Dowling Catholic, the West Des Moines power at 10-1, rolled past Cedar Falls 42-14 to earn its spot in the semifinal. The winner of that game will be the clear favorite in the state championship.
Johnston checks in at No. 3 with a 9-2 record after a workmanlike 21-7 win over Valley. The Dragons meet No. 4 Ankeny at 4 p.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 13, in the other half of the top-class bracket.
Unbeaten Teams Crowd the Middle of the Rankings
Cedar Rapids Xavier leads the unbeaten contingent at No. 4. The Saints improved to 11-0 with a 48-9 dismantling of Newton and will face No. 5 Western Dubuque on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. CT. Western Dubuque survived a scare against Waverly-Shell Rock, winning 27-24 to move to 10-1.
Solon, at No. 6, is another 11-0 squad. The Spartans beat West Delaware 23-14 and draw Algona in a Saturday, Nov. 14 semifinal at 4 p.m. CT.
Clear Lake and Des Moines Christian meet in a matchup of ranked teams on Saturday night. No. 7 Clear Lake shut out Mt. Vernon 36-0 to stay perfect at 11-0, while No. 8 Des Moines Christian moved to 10-0 with a 43-26 win over Mt. Pleasant. Their semifinal is set for 7 p.m. CT on Nov. 14.
Sergeant Bluff-Luton holds the No. 9 spot at 11-0 after a 28-17 win over Glenwood. The Warriors face Carlisle on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 4 p.m. CT.
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock rounds out the list at No. 10. The Rock Rapids cooperative is 10-0 after a 45-26 win over Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove and plays Roland-Story on Friday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. CT.
What the Semifinals Mean for Iowa Football
The Super 10 reflects how consistently the state's traditional powers have performed. While a few programs needed late-game heroics to reach Cedar Falls, most of the top teams took care of business week after week, which is why the rankings stayed largely stable heading into the final stretch.
The UNI-Dome hosts all semifinal and championship games, giving players across every class a chance to play indoors on the same field where the state titles are decided. Championship games are scheduled for the following week, according to The Des Moines Register's live playoff bracket coverage.
For fans tracking the full statewide picture beyond the top ten, Sports Illustrated's Iowa Top 25 rankings include teams from Class A through 5A and added Aplington-Parkersburg and Woodbury Central this week after those programs punched their own semifinal tickets.
Games to Watch This Week
- Southeast Polk vs. Dowling Catholic, Friday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m. CT: the headline matchup of the week between the state's top two teams.
- Xavier vs. Western Dubuque, Thursday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. CT: an unbeaten team against a one-loss squad with a title berth on the line.
- Clear Lake vs. Des Moines Christian, Saturday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. CT: two unbeaten or near-perfect teams in a late-week showdown.
FAQ
Who is the No. 1 ranked high school football team in Iowa?
Southeast Polk (Pleasant Hill) holds the top spot in the USA TODAY Sports Super 10 with an 11-0 record entering its Nov. 13 semifinal against Dowling Catholic.
Where are the Iowa high school football semifinals played?
All semifinal games are played at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on the University of Northern Iowa campus.
How many undefeated teams are in Iowa's Super 10?
Five teams enter the semifinals without a loss: Southeast Polk, Xavier, Solon, Clear Lake, and Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Des Moines Christian is 10-0 and Central Lyon/George-Little Rock is 10-0 as well.