THE TOP PREP TEAMS TO WATCH IN OHIO IN 2026
By Kyle Holsinger
Welcome back everyone for the beginning of the 2026 high school football season. I’m excited to get back on the sidelines to cover some games in the coming weeks.
During the season, I do not make any picks or predictions publicly in case I end up getting sent to cover that game on short notice. That being said, the following series of articles are my preseason predictions to win all 28 regions, and my picks for state champions in each of the seven divisions in OHSAA 11-man football this season. There will be seven articles—one for every OHSAA division.
At the end of each division’s predictions, I will list my state champion pick along with some contender and dark horse schools that were not picked as regional champions that could hoist the state championship trophy at the end of the 2026 season.
I also want to preface that it was difficult to gauge some non-Ohio opponents for these schools. So, if I wasn’t sure then I didn’t consider them for a team’s toughest opponent or key game. Some schools’ schedules were so difficult that it was eenie, meanie, miney, moe as to who their toughest opponent was actually.
Last year, I only picked one-of-four of the Division I regional champions correctly (Lakewood St. Edward) and did not pick Olentangy Orange to win the division. I've recalibrated my metrics for this season, and feel that I'm going to get a lot more correct.
All recruiting information is thanks to 247Sports.com.
County: Cuyahoga.
Enrollment: 998.
Nickname/Mascot: Eagles.
Colors: Green & Gold.
Conference: Independent.
Head Coach: Tom Lombardo (12th season at St. Ed, 115-23; 23rd overall, 294-61).
Last Season: 11-3; D-1 state semifinalists; and Region 1 champions.
Class of 2027: 35-10 (.778); state title; three state semifinals appearances.
Toughest Opponent: Oct. 17 vs. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller @ West Clermont Stadium.
Key Games: Sept. 11 vs. Akron Archbishop Hoban; Sept. 18 vs. Massillon Washington @ Baldwin-Wallace University's George Finnie Stadium; and Sept. 26 vs. Washington (DC) St. John’s.
2025 Region 1 Final: St. Edward defeated Mentor, 27-7, at at Parma Byers Field at Robert Boulton Stadium.
Team Preview: Offensively, St. Edward lost a lot, but the Green & Gold are a program that reloads instead of rebuilding. They do return first team All-Ohio offensive lineman Jack Marquard—a Mizzou commit. Senior classmates Brody Kincaid and Xavier Krzak—who both were honorable mention all-district last season—also return on the offensive line in 2026.
The returning leader in all-purpose yards in senior tight end Joe Moore. Moore was honorable mention all-district after making 11 catches for 187 yards and four TDs a year ago. He is committed to UConn.
On defense, the Eagles bring back second team All-Ohio defensive back Landon Lehmer to go with four honorable mention all-district performers: defensive lineman B.P. Paulozzi and linebackers Luke Ardito, Gavin Dubinsky, and John Troy.
Lehmer—a Miami (OH) commit—had 158 tackles, 5.5 TFL, four interceptions, two pass deflections, and one forced fumble. Paulozzi—who is committed to Syracuse—had 78 tackles, eight TFL, four sacks, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble and recovery. Ardito accounted for 89 tackles, nine TFL, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery. Dubinsky finished with 52 tackles, 2.5 TFL, two fumble recoveries, and 0.5 sack. Troy’s 2026 stats were 66 tackles, eight TFL, two sacks, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble.
Punter Landon Walkem made honorable mention All-Ohio last year. Walkem punted 14 times for 456 yards—a 32.6-yard average with five punts being downed inside the 20-yard line.
County: Clark.
Enrollment: 757.
Nickname/Mascot: Wildcats.
Colors: Gold, White, & Blue.
Conference: Greater Western Ohio Conference.
Head Coach: Maurice Douglass (13th at Springfield, 97-50; 26th overall, 199-104).
Last Season: 8-5; Region 2 semifinalists; and GWOC champions.
Class of 2027: 24-16 (.600); one state runner-ups; a state semifinals appearance; a regional semifinals appearance; a regional first round appearance, and a GWOC title.
Toughest Opponent: Aug. 28 at Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit.
Key Games: Aug. 21 at Cincinnati Winton Woods; Sept. 4 vs. Trotwood-Madison; and Oct. 2 vs. Huber Heights Wayne.
2025 Region 2 Final: Middletown beat Huber Heights Wayne, 21-14, at Trotwood-Madison High School Attorney Michael L. Wright SportsPlex.
Team Preview: Springfield QB Christopher Wallace completed 193-of-319 passes for 2,348 yards with 24 TDs and 10 INTs last season. Blocking for Wallace—who was third team All-Ohio for his efforts—is second team All-Ohioan Marquis Myers. Wallace’s top returning target, Braylon Keyes, caught 40 balls for 445 yards and five TDs last season. Keyes also returned 20 punts for 198 yards while also taking three kick returns for 39 yards a year ago.
Defensively for the Wildcats, Jahmiere Daniels-Portis, a second team All-Ohioan committed to Colorado, returns after making 88 tackles, 14.5 TFL, five forced fumbles, three sacks, two interceptions, one pass deflection, and a fumble recovery last season.
Juniors Carter Bumgardner and Amileo Norvell Jr. will provide support for Daniels-Portis. Bumgardner, an inside linebacker, had 58 tackles, 10 TFL, three sacks, and a fumble recovery for a defensive TD while Norvell Jr., a cornerback, made 39 tackles, 2.5 TFL, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble as sophomores.
County: Fairfield.
Enrollment: 734.
Nickname/Mascot: Panthers.
Colors: Black, White, Silver, & Purple.
Conference: Ohio Capital Conference - Ohio Division.
Head Coach: Nate Hillerich (10th at PN, 75-30; 17th overall, 126-53).
Last Season: 9-2; Region 3 quarterfinalists; OCC Ohio champions.
Class of 2027: 31-7 (.816); regional runner-ups; a regional semifinals appearance; a regional quarterfinals appearance; a OCC Ohio title; and two OCC Ohio runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 18 at Lewis Center Olentangy Orange.
Key Games: Aug. 21 at Troy; Sept. 4 at Pickerington Central; and Oct. 23 vs. Gahanna Lincoln.
2025 Region 3 Final: Olentangy Orange defeated Pickerington Central, 39-7, at Columbus Historic Crew Stadium.
Team Preview: On offense, Andryq Thomas returns after a second team All-Ohio junior season. Thomas had 212 carries for 1,246 yards and 15 TDs in 2025.
Also returning are senior receivers Kymani Johnson and Noah Dumas. Johnson made 19 catches for 351 yards and six TDs a year ago. Dumas had 12 receptions for 176 yards and a TD but also had nine kickoff returns for 269 yards—a 29.9-yard per return average.
The number one offensive question is how senior Muhammad Rehman will fare taking over the reins at quarterback? Rehman was 6-of-7 passing for 86 yards and three TDs last season.
Defensively, junior Demetrius Curtis, a second team all-district selection,returns after leading the Panthers with 83 tackles last year. Curtis also had 21 TFL, two sacks, and a forced fumble and recovery.
Defensive back Geo McKnight was second team All-Ohio in 2025 for his performance of 40 tackles, six INTs, four pass breakups, two TFL, two defensive TDs, and a fumble recovery. Junior Marquis Ray was honorable mention all-district after 20 tackles and three pass deflections a year ago. Massuod Seidu, a senior DB, returns after 22 tackles, eight pass breakups, four TFL, and two interceptions last season—good enough for honorable mention all-district.
County: Hamilton.
Enrollment: 716.
Nickname/Mascot: Panthers.
Colors: Purple & White.
Conference: Greater Catholic League - South Division.
Head Coach: Doug Ramsey (30th at Elder, 235-109).
Last Season: 12-1; Region 4 runner-ups; GCL South champions.
Class of 2027: 25-12 (.676); regional runner-ups; three regional quarterfinals appearances; a GCL South title; and a GCL South runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Oct. 2 at Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller.
Key Games: Sept. 11 vs. Cincinnati La Salle; Sept. 18 vs. Louisville (KY) St. Xavier; and Sept. 25 vs. Cincinnati St. Xavier.
2025 Region 4 Final: Cincinnati St. Xavier beat Cincinnati Elder, 42-34, at Cincinnati Paycor Stadium.
Team Preview: First team All-Ohio quarterback Kaden Estep returns for his senior season after completing 190-of-280 passes for 2,430 yards with 15 TDs and eight INTs. Estep, whose committed to Miami University, is also the Panthers’ returning leading rusher 131 rushes for 924 yards and 10 TDs. Wideout Chase Walpole returns after catching 43 balls for 615 yards for three TDs. Drew Wauligman caught 42 passes for 377 yards for four TDs a season ago.
Defensively, Elder bring back junior LB Brody Turner—who had 90 tackles, seven TFL, and 1.5 sacks. Pete Fortkamp—an honorable mention all-district selection—made 81 tackles, eight TFL, six pass deflections, five sacks, three fumble recoveries, an interception, and a forced fumble last season.
Andrew Paff comes back after 54 tackles, three TFL, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and an interception.
On special teams, Estep also punted 26 times for 983 yards for a 37.8 yard average. Wauligman returned nine kickoffs for 128 yards and three punts for 15 yards in 2025.
Head coach Doug Ramsey was all-district coach of the year in 2025.
I hope all of the schools in the state have a healthy and sportsmanlike year, and at the end of the season, we’ll recap and see how close I ended up on these picks. We'll see you tomorrow for Division II.
HEART OF OHIO SPORTS PREP PIGSKIN PREVIEW
DIVISION II - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-ii-2026/
DIVISION III - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-iii-2026/
DIVISION IV - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-iv-2026/
DIVISION V - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-v-2026/
DIVISION VI - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-vi-2026/
DIVISION VII - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-vIi-2026/
