Though both teams saw their playoff runs end in the state semifinals, Phillipsburg remains No. 1 in the Big Central Power Rankings for Week 12, while Bridgewater-Raritan moves up one spot to No. 2, taking a slight lead over New Providence.

No one else moved as the Stateliners and Panthers were the only teams in action last week, and those top teams should hold, regardless of Phillipsburg’s outcome on Thanksgiving against Easton. The only other Big Central teams to play on Thanksgiving will be Roselle and Roselle Park, the last time it’ll be played on Turkey Day. Marcus Borden will have live coverage on Twitter.

The power rankings are simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula, which helps determine a team’s OSI, which is 60% of the UPR playoff formula. SI values and will change each week as games are played. See methodology at the bottom of this page.

Statewide, Winslow remains at No. 1, but saw it’s SI drop below 110 after a 14-12 win in the Group 4 semifinals over Brick Memorial. Old Tappan edged up to No. 2, while Don Bosco’s win over Bergen Catholic in the Non-Public A semifinals moved the Ironmen up to third, while the Crusaders drop from two to four. Glassboro rose from No. 8 and jumped into the Top 5 with a 44-8 win over Burlington City in the Group 1 semifinals.

Phillipsburg remains the lone Big Central team in the statewide Top 25, and they dropped from 14 to 19 after the state semifinal loss to Ramapo. Two BCC teams should finish in the Top 50, with Bridgewater-Raritan at 48, and New Providence at 50.

Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.

Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).

Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.

Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.

Out-of-State Opponent SI: Strength Index ratings for non-New Jersey teams are calculated by finding their MaxPreps national ranking, then averaging the SI ratings of the next New Jersey team above and below them in the MaxPreps rankings.

Phillipsburg’s win in the North 2, Group 4 title game kept the Stateliners atop the Big Central Power Rankings in Week 11, while Bridgewater-Raritan’s win in the North 2, Group 5 final moves them further up, and well into the Top 50 statewide.

New Providence held in second, despite falling to Cedar Grove in the North 2, Group 1 final, while Old Bridge dropped from fourth to seventh after a loss in the Central Jersey Group 5 title tilt. Summit edged down from 13 to 11 in the BCC rankings with a loss in the North 2, Group 3 final. Montgomery held at ninth in the league after falling to Phillipsburg.

The power rankings are simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula, which helps determine a team’s OSI, which is 60% of the UPR playoff formula. SI values and will change each week as games are played. See methodology at the bottom of this page.

Statewide, Winslow is back at No. 1 for a second straight week, after the Eagles won the South Jersey Group 4 title, 53-14 over Millville. Their SI shot up to 111.61, slightly higher than the SI they finished with last year, at 111.39.

It’s also just 4.80 points behind the highest finishing Strength Index value since the formula first was used in 2019, set by Mainland following the 2023 season, when they went 14-0 and won the state Group 4 championship. Their SI that year finished at of 116.41, and Winslow potentially has two games to go to catch them: this week against Brick Memorial in the Group 4 semifinals, and the state final – should they beat Brick – against either Ramapo or Phillipsburg.

Winslow’s highest SI ever came last year, when they peaked at 112.03 after Week 10 play.

Speaking of the Stateliners, Phillipsburg remains the lone Big Central team in the statewide Top 25, as Bridgewater-Raritan’s win moved them from 50 to 41 statewide. Elsewhere, Don Bosco Prep dropped from two to four, while Bergen Catholic – which beat St. Joseph-Metuchen in the Non-Public Group A semifinals/first round – took their place, moving up from fourth. Old Tappan held in third, and St. Joseph-Montvale moved from eighth into the top five.

Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.

Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).

Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.

Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.

Out-of-State Opponent SI: Strength Index ratings for non-New Jersey teams are calculated by finding their MaxPreps national ranking, then averaging the SI ratings of the next New Jersey team above and below them in the MaxPreps rankings.

A convincing 35-7 win over Colonia that put Phillipsburg in its fourth straight sectional final kept them atop the Big Central Conference power rankings in Week Ten, even though they dropped one spot in the overall state Top 25.

Around the league, two new teams joined the Top Ten, including Montgomery – which moved up from 12 to nine – and Bridgewater-Raritan, which shot up from eleven to five. Both won semifinal games this past Friday night, with the Cougars facing Phillipsburg in the North 2, Group 4 final this Friday at 7 pm at Maloney Stadium, and the Panthers hosting Bayonne in the North 2 Group 5 final at 6 pm.

The power rankings are simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula, which helps determine a team’s OSI, which is 60% of the UPR playoff formula. SI values and will change each week as games are played. See methodology at the bottom of this page.

Note that Belvidere played Wilson Area (PA) this weekend, for which an SI number was not available, so Belvidere’s SI value remains unchanged this week.

Statewide, the flip-flop at the top continues, with Winslow back in the driver’s seat, switching places with Don Bosco. While Bergen Catholic remains in triple digits along with the two teams ahead of them, Old Tappan joined the “100 Club,” and passes the Crusaders into third. Ramapo holds at No. 5.

And for the second straight week, Phillipsburg is the lone Big Central team in the statewide Top 25, as they edge down one spot despite increasing their strength index, jumped by Camden, which went from 13 to ten.

Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.

Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).

Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.

Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.

Out-of-State Opponent SI: Strength Index ratings for non-New Jersey teams are calculated by finding their MaxPreps national ranking, then averaging the SI ratings of the next New Jersey team above and below them in the MaxPreps rankings.

Phillipsburg has returned to the top of the Big Central power rankings, following a 55-14 win over Newark Central in the opening round of the playoffs, while St. Joseph-Metuchen fell to No. 3 after a loss to Donovan Catholic back on Friday.

New Providence – still unbeaten after an opening round playoff victory over Secaucus – is up again this week, now in second. The Falcons fell to third, while Old Bridge stayed in fourth, and Manville’s first playoff victory ever moved them up to No. 5, ahead of Somerville, which was upset by Matawan in the opening round of the Central Jersey Group 3 playoffs, in a section they won last year.

The power rankings are simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula, which helps determine a team’s OSI, which is 60% of the UPR playoff formula. SI values and will change each week as games are played. See methodology at the bottom of this page.

Note that Belvidere played Wilson Area (PA) this weekend, for which an SI number was not available, so Belvidere’s SI value remains unchanged this week.

Statewide, the top three remain the same, with Don Bosco Prep, Winslow Twp. and Bergen Catholic in the same spots they were a week ago, while Old Tappan moves up from seventh to fourth, and Ramapo drops one spot to No. 5.

In the Big Central, St. Joseph’s loss to Donovan Catholic dropped them out of the Top 25, falling all the way from 14 to 43, while New Providence edged up from 35 to 33. That leaves Phillipsburg as the BCC’s lone rep in the Top 25, and the Stateliners climbed from 15 to tenth.

Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.

Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).

Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.

Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.

Out-of-State Opponent SI: Strength Index ratings for non-New Jersey teams are calculated by finding their MaxPreps national ranking, then averaging the SI ratings of the next New Jersey team above and below them in the MaxPreps rankings.

For a third straight week, St. Joseph-Metuchen leads the Big Central Power Rankings, with Phillipsburg right behind them, while Don Bosco Prep and Winslow Twp. are 1-2 on the statewide list.

New Providence – still unbeaten – has now moved into third, with Old Bridge pulling up to four and Somerville down one to fifth as the Knights and ‘Ville flip flop.

The power rankings are simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula, which helps determine a team’s OSI, which is 60% of the UPR playoff formula. SI values and will change each week as games are played. See methodology at the bottom of this page.

St. Thomas Aquinas – which took its second Big Central loss of the season after winning 35 in a row against league competition – falls out of the top ten, as Bernards, Rahway – on the strength of a home win over Montgomery Friday – Manville, Piscataway and Woodbridge close out the first ten.

Statewide, Don Bosco Prep replaced Bergen Catholic at No. 1, with the Crusaders falling to third, and Winslow Twp. holding in second. Ramapo and Washington Twp. again round out the top five in the same spots as last week.

In the Big Central, while St. Joseph-Metuchen held at 14, Phillipsburg climbed up from 19 to 20 on the strength of a good win over Bridgewater-Raritan Friday night.

Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.

Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).

Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.

Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.

Out-of-State Opponent SI: Strength Index ratings for non-New Jersey teams are calculated by finding their MaxPreps national ranking, then averaging the SI ratings of the next New Jersey team above and below them in the MaxPreps rankings.

For the second week in a row, St. Joseph-Metuchen leads the Big Central Power Rankings, with Phillipsburg right behind them, but some other teams made some moves.

New Providence – still unbeaten – continues to climb, hopping over Somerville and Old Bridge – now in fourth and fifth, respectively – into third place.

The power rankings are simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula, which helps determine a team’s OSI, which is 60% of the UPR playoff formula. SI values and will change each week as games are played. See methodology at the bottom of this page.

Ridge edged up to six, while Montgomery pulled into seventh with a win at Sayreville. Bernards went from eleven to eight, with Colonia climbing ten spots to ninth and St. Thomas Aquinas falling from six to ten.

Statewide, Don Bosco Prep fell to third, despite a win over Seton Hall Prep Saturday night, and the Ironmen dropped below 100, but Bergen Catholic and Winslow both topped that mark this week, and take to No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively.

Of the Big Central teams, St. Joseph-Metuchen – which made its debut last week at No. 18 – climbs to 14th, while Phillipsburg jumps from 25 to 19. New Providence and Somerville are No. 33 and No. 35 in the state, but out of the Top 25.

Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.

Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).

Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.

Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.

Out-of-State Opponent SI: Strength Index ratings for non-New Jersey teams are calculated by finding their MaxPreps national ranking, then averaging the SI ratings of the next New Jersey team above and below them in the MaxPreps rankings.

Week 6 of the high school football season has brought us our fourth different team to lead the Big Central Conference Power Rankings.

Somerville led the preseason rankings, followed by St. Thomas Aquinas for two weeks, and it’s been Phillipsburg atop the pile since after Week 2 of play. But this week, St. Joseph-Metuchen – by virtue of its 21-0 win over the Stateliners Saturday – have vaulted to the top of the heap.

Statewide, the Falcons join the Top 25, and Phillipsburg drops, but remains in at No. 25.

The power rankings are simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula, which helps determine a team’s OSI, which is 60% of the UPR playoff formula. SI values and will change each week as games are played. See methodology at the bottom of this page.

In the Big Central, the Falcons and Phillipsburg are followed by Somerville, which gets bumped to third on St. Joe’s rise. New Providence drops from three to five while Old Bridge holds steady at four.

Statewide, Don Bosco Prep maintains the top spot after taking it away from Glassboro last week. They fall to fifth this week. Bergen Catholic hangs in at two, followed by Winslow up a spot to third, and Ramapo jumping from seven to four.

Of the Big Central teams, St. Joseph-Metuchen makes its debut this week at No. 18, with Phillipsburg dropping to No. 25.

Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.

Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).

Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.

Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.

Out-of-State Opponent SI: Strength Index ratings for non-New Jersey teams are calculated by finding their MaxPreps national ranking, then averaging the SI ratings of the next New Jersey team above and below them in the MaxPreps rankings.

Another week, another Big Central Conference Power Ranking with Phillipsburg at the top, but a few new schools have climbed up right behind them.

Somerville, New Providence and Old Bridge – all with wins this weekend, including the boys in orange knocking off unbeaten Summit Saturday – have pulled up to spots two through four, with St. Joseph dropping three places to fifth, and St. Thomas Aquinas down five places to eighth, despite wins.

Sayreville climbed five spots to sixth after winning at Piscataway Friday, while Ridge held in seventh. Bernards and Rahway each dropped a spot to ninth and tenth, respectively, while Manville fell to 16 despite remaining undefeated.

The power rankings are simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula, which helps determine a team’s OSI, which is 60% of the UPR playoff formula. SI values and will change each week as games are played. See methodology at the bottom of this page.

Statewide, Don Bosco Prep wrested the top spot away from Glassboro, with the Bulldogs dropping down to third behind idle Bergen Catholic. Winslow and Washington Township also won and remain four and five, while Phillipsburg fell a bit to No. 11 from the eighth spot after a close win over West Orange.

Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.

Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).

Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.

Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.

Out-of-State Opponent SI: Strength Index ratings for non-New Jersey teams are calculated by finding their MaxPreps national ranking, then averaging the SI ratings of the next New Jersey team above and below them in the MaxPreps rankings.

Phillipsburg continues to be the dominant team in the Big Central Conference, still at No. this week in the Week Four Big Central Conference Power Rankings.

But while the Stateliners remain in the state Top Ten, and atop the league rankings, many other Big Central teams shuffled around, and there’s a new No. 1 statewide.

The power rankings are simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula, which helps determine a team’s OSI, which is 60% of the UPR playoff formula. SI values and will change each week as games are played. See methodology at the bottom of this page.

In the league, the top two remained the same with Phillipsburg followed by St. Thomas Aquinas, but Somerville dropped from third to fifth and Bernards went from four to eight, even though both won, just against weaker opponents. New Providence gained a spot to fourth, St. Joseph-Metuchen moved up three spots to third. Old Bridge and Ridge each went up one spot, while a loss by Bridgewater-Raritan knocked the Panthers out of the league top ten, and Woodbridge won, but over 1-4 Linden, dropping them from ten to 15. Rahway and Manville – the second of which is 5-0 – joined the Top Ten.

Statewide, Bergen Catholic’s showdown loss to Don Bosco Prep allowed Glassboro to take over the No. 1 spot, with the Crusaders moving down to two. Washington Township won, but dropped two places to fifth, with DePaul – a winner over 1-4 Paramus Catholic – suffered a similar fate dropping from five to seven. Don Bosco went from four to three. Winslow Twp. joined the Top Five at No. 4

From the Big Central, Phillipsburg moved from nine to eight.

Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.

Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).

Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.

Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.

Out-of-State Opponent SI: Strength Index ratings for non-New Jersey teams are calculated by finding their MaxPreps national ranking, then averaging the SI ratings of the next New Jersey team above and below them in the MaxPreps rankings.

Phillipsburg remains No. 1 again this week in the Big Central Conference Power Rankings, but they are now the lone remaining team from the BCC in the statewide Top 25.

That’s because even though St. Thomas Aquinas beat Franklin 57-45 Friday night in a shootout in North Edison, the state’s Strength Index formula says the Trojans “underperformed” against the Warriors. STA had an SI of 83.98 coming into the game, with a 57.42 rating for Franklin. That meant Aquinas should have won by 26.6 points. They won by 12, and that dropped St. Thomas to an 83.98, while Franklin jumped to a 60.33 SI.

The power rankings are simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula, which helps determine a team’s OSI, which is 60% of the UPR playoff formula. SI values and will change each week as games are played. See methodology at the bottom of this page.

But the Trojans remain No. 2 in the Big Central rankings, while Bernards moved up from fourth, knocking Somerville down a peg.

Statewide, Bergen Catholic moved back into the top spot after a win over Pope John, while Glassboro – which won at Salem Saturday – fell to No. 2. Washington Twp. remains third, while DePaul and Don Bosco flip to fourth and fifth, respectively.

Only Phillipsburg remains in the state Top 25 this week. Aquinas dropped to 28 in New Jersey, while Somerville – which dropped out last week after a loss to Montgomery – is at 36 (down one spot) and Bernards fell nine spots to 37.

New Providence rounded out the top five, up a spot from last week. New Providence checks in at 45, leaving five Big Central teams in the state Top 50.

Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.

Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).

Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.

Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.

Out-of-State Opponent SI: Strength Index ratings for non-New Jersey teams are calculated by finding their MaxPreps national ranking, then averaging the SI ratings of the next New Jersey team above and below them in the MaxPreps rankings.