🏈Football: Preseason North Jersey Public Top 20 

Each week, the Varsity Aces will rank the Top 20 public-school teams and the Big Six non-public teams.

Here are the preseason rankings, with last year’s records in parentheses, as well as each team’s season-opening matchup.

Public Top 20 rankings

20. Butler (11-1)

First game: Sept 5 vs. Becton (6-3)

19. Hackensack (5-5)

First game: Aug. 28 at Passaic (4-5)

18. Cresskill/Emerson (6-3)

First game: Sept. 5 vs. Glen Rock (9-2)

17. Passaic (4-5)

First game: Aug. 28 vs. Hackensack (5-5)

16. Hasbrouck Heights (7-3)

First game: Aug. 28 vs. Wallkill Valley (5-5)

15. Glen Rock (9-2)

First game: Aug. 28 vs. Waldwick/Midland Park (4-5)

14. West Milford (5-5)

First game: Aug. 28 vs. Paramus (2-7)

13. Rutherford (6-3)

First game: Aug. 28 vs. Pompton Lakes (3-6)

12. Ridgewood (6-4)

First game: Aug. 28 at Clifton (3-6)

11. Wayne Valley (6-4)

First game: Aug. 30 vs. Cedar Grove (13-1) in West Point, N.Y.

10. Wayne Hills (5-5)

First game: Aug. 29 at Wheat Ridge (Colo.) (5-5)

9. Ramsey (7-3)

First game: Aug. 29 at Edgewood (Ohio) at Hall of Fame Stadium

8. Westwood (8-2)

First game: Aug. 28 at Lyndhurst (7-2)

7. Passaic Valley (7-3)

First game: Sept. 5 vs. Caldwell (4-5)

6. Pascack Valley (10-2)

First game: Aug. 28 at Union City (11-2)

5. River Dell (8-4)

First game: Aug. 28 vs. Nutley (4-6)

4. Northern Highlands (6-5)

First game: Aug. 28 vs. Holy Spirit (10-2), at Ocean City

3. Passaic Tech (9-3)

First game: Aug. 29 vs. Burlington Township (8-2), at West Orange

2. Ramapo (8-4)

First game: Aug. 29 vs. Irvington (4-4)

1. Old Tappan (12-1)

First game: Aug. 29 at West Essex (8-3)