The Indiana Football Coaches Association has unveiled its official preseason rankings for the upcoming high school football season. The poll highlights the top teams across various classes, with Brownsburg dominating Class 6A and New Palestine leading Class 5A, signaling a promising season ahead for Indiana high school football enthusiasts.
IFCA Releases 2026 Preseason High School Football Poll
Indianapolis, IN – On Monday, August 10, 2026, the Indiana Football Coaches Association (IFCA) officially announced its eagerly awaited preseason high school football poll. This comprehensive ranking provides an early look at the teams expected to contend for state titles across five different classes, from 1A to 6A.
In Class 6A, the Brownsburg Bulldogs emerged as the clear favorites, garnering 100 votes to secure the top spot. They are closely followed by Carmel and Westfield, who are tied for second place with 77 votes each. Center Grove and Warren Central also share the fourth position, each receiving 63 votes, indicating a highly competitive landscape in the largest classification. Lawrence North rounds out the top six with 56 votes, while Crown Point, FW Carroll, Hamilton SE, and Penn complete the top ten.
For Class 5A, New Palestine claimed the number one ranking with an impressive 99 votes. Cathedral, with one first-place vote, sits in second with 90 votes. Bloomington South, Lafayette Jeff, and Concord also made strong showings in the top five. Other notable teams in the Class 5A top ten include FW Snider, Plainfield, Castle, Floyd Central, and Warsaw.
In Class 4A, East Central leads the pack with 82 votes, closely followed by Roncalli. FW Dwenger and Bishop Chatard are tied for third, each with 76 votes. East Noble, Mishawaka, Yorktown, Hobart, SB St. Joseph, FW Luers, and Heritage Hills also feature prominently in the rankings.
The Class 3A poll sees Andrean at the top with 77 votes, just ahead of Gibson Southern. Lawrenceburg and Evan. Memorial complete the top four, with Adams Central and Tri-West also showing strong support. The Class 2A rankings are headed by Brownstown Central, with Lutheran and Lapel tied for second. Cascade, South Putnam, and Linton-Stockton are also among the leading contenders.
Finally, in Class 1A, Riverton Parke secured the top position with 87 votes, narrowly beating out Pioneer, who received 86 votes. South Adams and Milan round out the top four, with North Judson, Springs Valley, Frontier, Sheridan, North Decatur, and Laf. Central Catholic also making the top ten.
An Anticipated Season of Gridiron Action
This preseason poll from the IFCA offers a compelling preview of the talent and potential within Indiana high school football. As teams gear up for the start of the season, these rankings will undoubtedly fuel discussions and rivalries, setting the stage for an exciting period of gridiron action. The strong showing by local teams like Brownsburg and New Palestine suggests that central Indiana will be a hotbed of competitive football, and fans can look forward to witnessing some thrilling matchups as these highly-ranked teams vie for supremacy.
