As a preview to the 2025 football season , the high school sports staff of USA Today Network Ohio's 21 newspapers and websites has compiled its annual Ohio's Best list.

The staff determined a pool of Ohio High School Athletic Association athletes based on criteria including state and national recognition, team success with their leadership and more. Writers ranked that pool of athletes from 1 to 25. Each placement received points (first received 25, second received 24, etc.). The totaled points provided this final ranking.

This is the last of a four-part series that also included girls volleyball , boys soccer and girls soccer .

No. 1 ‒ Matt Ponatoski, Cincinnati Moeller

Ponatoski is the reigning Mr. Football and Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year (in football and base

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