By Rob Gullo & Andy Close
1. New Canaan
The New Canaan Rams started last season and finished last season as the No. 1 ranked team in Connecticut (according to GameTime CT polls.) They defeated No. 2 Darien for a third-straight CIAC Class L football championship and will look to win a fourth-straight title.
2. Greenwich
The Greenwich Cardinals were one of the best teams in the state last season, and they shut out West Haven 14-0 in the Class LL state championship game. The Cardinals won its 10th state title in program history and avenged a loss to Staples in the semifinals during its playoff run.
3. Masuk
Heading into Masuk’s Class MM state title game, they were going against the No. 1 ranked team in the state, the undefeated Windsor Warriors. With a 24-21 thrilling win, Masuk not only won the Class MM state title, but became the only team in the state last season to beat two No. 1 ranked teams (Windsor, New Canaan.)
4. Windsor
The Windsor Warriors held the No. 1 ranking longer than any team in the state of Connecticut last year. They fell to Masuk 24-21 in the Class MM state title, but proved to be one of the most talented teams in the state this offseason by winning the 2025 ‘Grip it and Rip it’ Tournament hosted by New Canaan.
5. Killingly
Killingly was the only team in the state last season to end the season undefeated, which was capped off with a 48-33 Class SS state title win over the Sheehan Titans. Killingly returns almost their entire team from last season, including Hayden Allard, arguably the state’s best running back.
6. Brookfield
Brookfield was one yard away from doing what Killingly did last season. Brookfield’s two-point conversion fell short in their 21-20 Class M championship loss to St. Joe’s. Brookfield returns seven starters on each side of the ball including QB/LB Thad Balzi, who helped the team give up just 7.6 points per game last season on defense.
7. St. Joe’s
The Hogs took down the No. 2 ranked Hand Tigers in the Class M state semifinal before they derailed a perfect season from Brookfield, with a goal-line stand in its 21-20 Class M state title win. St. Joe’s will be looking to win its 17th state title this season, and return enough talent to make another run.
8. Newtown
The Newtown Nighthawks were one of the best teams in the state last season, and one of the few to end the regular season with an undefeated record. The Nighthawks’ undefeated season came to an end when they suffered a competitive 35-20 loss to the eventual Class L champions, the New Canaan Rams.
9. Staples
The Wreckers went 10-2 last season and fell to the Class LL champions Greenwich 14-0 in the semifinals. Staples will be under new leadership with Matty Jacowleff replacing Adam Behrends, who left for a position at the University of New Mexico. The team will return key players such as quarterback Nick Weli and receivers Justin Halky and Charlie Clark.
10. Hand
The Hand Tigers went 11-1 last season with its only loss coming to St. Joes in the Class M state title game. They return 10 total starters from last year’s team and will make the drop down to Class SS this season, where they should be a state contender.
11. West Haven
West Haven finished last season with a 10-3 record, which included a 42-7 beatdown on Fairfield Prep- a team that beat them weeks prior. The Blue Devils’ season ended in a second-straight Class LL title loss, falling to Greenwich 14-0.
12. Darien
Darien entered last season as the No. 2 ranked team in the state in preseason polls (GameTime CT.) The Blue Wave finished the year with a 10-3 record, and fell to eventual Class L champs, New Canaan, in the program’s 100th meeting.
13. Fairfield Prep
The Jesuits return a ton of talent, including QB Robbie Manning, from a team that was 10-2 and earned the top seed in the Class LL state tournament in 2024. They lost to West Haven in the Class LL semifinals.
14. Bunnell
Bunnell went 9-3 a year ago, earning the No. 7 seed in the Class MM state tournament. They knocked off No. 2 seed Bristol Central in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual state champion Masuk in the semifinals.
15. Wilton
Don’t let their 5-5 record in 2024 deceive you, the Warriors were much better than their record indicated in a loaded FCIAC. That record included a 33-26 loss to eventual Class MM state champion Masuk.
16. Sheehan
Competing in Class SS, Sheehan went 10-3 in 2024, with two of those three losses coming to Class SS state champion Killingly. The two met in the regular season, a 33-26 win for Killingly, and again in the state championship game, with a score of 48-33.
17. Ansonia
Ansonia rolled to a state title in Class S, the smallest classification in the state, beating Bloomfield 58-13 for the title. That came on the heels of a thrilling last-second win over Woodland Regional, 30-23 in the semifinals.
18. Glastonbury
Glastonbury went 8-2 in the regular season in 2024, earning the No. 4 seed in the Class LL tournament. They lost a competitive 6-0 game against perennial power West Haven in the first round.
19. Notre-Dame (West Haven)
At 6-4, the Green Knights were the last team into the field in the Class L tournament. They made the most of it, knocking off top seed Naugatuck, 15-7, before falling to Darien in the semifinals.
20. Ludlowe
Competing in the ultra-competitive FCIAC, Ludlowe went 8-2 in the regular season, earning the No. 5 seed in Class L. They fell to eventual state finalist Darien in the quarterfinals.
21. Bloomfield
Bloomfield established itself as one of the best teams in Class S a year ago. They went 8-3 in the regular season, earning the No. 4 seed, and advanced all the way to the championship game before falling to Killingly.
22. New Britain
New Britain went 8-2 in the regular season, scoring over 40 points in five of those wins. They earned the No. 6 seed and fell to the eventual state champion, No. 3 seed Greenwich, 27-6 in the quarterfinals.
23. Bristol Central
The Rams enjoyed a resurgent 2024 season, going 9-1 in the regular season, with seven of those wins coming by double-digits. They earned the No. 2 seed in Class LL, where they were upended by Bunnell, 21-12, in the quarterfinals.
24. Naugatuck
The Grehyounds enjoyed a highly successful regular season in the NVL in 2024. They went 9-1, earning the top seed in Class L. They were ultimately knocked off by Notre Dame (West Haven) in the quarterfinals, but still have plenty to be excited about going into 2025.
25. Newington
Newington went 9-1 in the regular season, with their only loss coming to Wethersfield, 22-14 in their regular season finale. The two teams met in the Class MM quarterfinals, where Newington avenged that loss, winning 20-15 before falling to Windsor.