USA Today released its preseason Super 25 football poll Wednesday, and De La Salle High will begin the season No. 4 in the national rankings.

The Spartans are the second California team in the rankings, with defending Division I bowl champion Santa Margarita-Rancho Santa Margarita ranked No. 2 in the nation. De La Salle is the three-time defending Open Division champion.

Practice officially starts Aug. 6 for local high school teams. The Spartans welcome back a talented nucleus from last year's team, led by four highly-touted defensive recruits in Michael Hutchings, Austin Hooper, D.J. Moffitt and Victor Egu.

The only other California school to make the list is No. 22 Vista Murrieta. The Broncos feature heralded all-purpose player Su'a Cravens.

De La Salle's first game is Aug. 31 against Bellarmine Prep-San Jose at San Jose City College.