2026 Top 10

[kvkougar2007]

1. Crown Point
2. Merrillville
3. Chesterton
4. Morton
5. Hobart
6. Griffith
7. Lowell
8. Valpo
9. Andrean
10. KV

[Jimbo23]

1. Crown Point
2. Merrillville
3. Chesterton
4. Morton
5. Hobart
6. Griffith
7. Lowell
8. Valpo
9. Andrean
10. KV

The teams in bold and italics I have some questions about their placement in their locations but the main one is... Why?

I agree that Chesterton and Morton belong ranked between 4-6 somewhere it's hard for me to see Chesterton being superior to Hobart given Hobart is losing 3 two-way starters and 1 additional starter on each side of the ball. Replacing 4 starers on each side of the ball (meaning they retain 7 starers on each side) isn't too tall as task in HS football especially at a place that values the sport and retained their coaching staff (who didn't surrender a touchdown to the Trojans a year ago). Oh, and they won a Sectional with that young roster... I know Morton lost a little more than Hobart did BUT the Govs are LOADED at the skill positions and I love my alma mater as much as the next guy but I learned while I was there that you have to EARN your rankings and WHEN the Govs knock off Chesterton and Hobart, I'll rank them accordingly (I give the Govs the boost over the Trojans for now because that first down that "wasn't" last year was ABSURD to put it mildly). Similarly to Hobart, Andrean (defending 2A State Champions) is only losing 3.5 starters from the Offense and 5 defensive starters. Very odd for me to see Andrean not ranked #3 in a preseason poll when they EARNED it (and retain so much talent). As far as KV is concerned, I really hope your only possible reasoning is your love for KV lol because I would pick every team in my Honorable Mention to beat the Kougars by 10+. No offense meant at all my man just saying that it is EXTREMELY difficult for head coaches in year 1 at a place to be better than the previous season let alone be good enough to warrant a top 10 ranking. Hope the Kougars are good and have a great year but being a top 10 team is a tall task for a team that lost 14 of the 37 players from last years roster to Graduation...

[Coach_Brett_Jennings]

1. Crown Point (Still the class of the Region imo)
2. Merrillville (Lost Johnson, Smoot and some DL but bringing back a lot of talent)
3. Andrean (Bringing back a ton of talent, this is the year)
4. Hobart (Loss of Peters and Pickett will hurt but a lot of young talent coming back)
5. Morton (Graduated a lot of production but Mac always seems to find some talent. Young, talented QB)
6. Chesterton (Lost a ton. QB is solid.)
7. Griffith (Bringing back some experience. Andrean & TL in Sectional.)
8. Hanover Central (Young last year in key spots. Should be a better season.)
9. Lowell (Lost some key players on both sides of the ball.)
10. City (Graduated a lot of talent. Can compete for sectional though).

I think Top 5 is set, from there it's a crap shoot. Obviously, this doesn't account for transfers and such.

I'm curious to see Lowell this year. Losing Kalwinski and Scharnke is tough to overcome. Scharnke did a lot both sides of the ball and, in my opinion, was the leader of that team. Obviously bringing back James definitely helps and, from my notes, bringing back 3 starters on the OL. Kind of a big year for McKim.

[Jimbo23]

1. Crown Point (Still the class of the Region imo)
2. Merrillville (Lost Johnson, Smoot and some DL but bringing back a lot of talent)
3. Andrean (Bringing back a ton of talent, this is the year)
4. Hobart (Loss of Peters and Pickett will hurt but a lot of young talent coming back)
5. Morton (Graduated a lot of production but Mac always seems to find some talent. Young, talented QB)
6. Chesterton (Lost a ton. QB is solid.)
7. Griffith (Bringing back some experience. Andrean & TL in Sectional.)
8. Hanover Central (Young last year in key spots. Should be a better season.)
9. Lowell (Lost some key players on both sides of the ball.)
10. City (Graduated a lot of talent. Can compete for sectional though).

I think Top 5 is set, from there it's a crap shoot. Obviously, this doesn't account for transfers and such.

I'm curious to see Lowell this year. Losing Kalwinski and Scharnke is tough to overcome. Scharnke did a lot both sides of the ball and, in my opinion, was the leader of that team. Obviously bringing back James definitely helps and, from my notes, bringing back 3 starters on the OL. Kind of a big year for McKim.

Agreed on your top 10 assessment, notes on all top 10 teams, and all things Lowell. Excited for the season to get here!

[North of 30]

Morton? Blimey. You can’t call yourself a football school when Week 5 and 6 looks like a church picnic schedule. Phalen Leadership Academies and Calumet Christian School? Have some shame, mate.

Oi, Kinsey — Bloomington South High School is sitting there wide open in Week 6. Pick up the phone. It’s not exactly scheduling the bloody SEC, is it?

[Coach_Brett_Jennings]

Morton? Blimey. You can’t call yourself a football school when Week 5 and 6 looks like a church picnic schedule. Phalen Leadership Academies and Calumet Christian School? Have some shame, mate.

Oi, Kinsey — Bloomington South High School is sitting there wide open in Week 6. Pick up the phone. It’s not exactly scheduling the bloody SEC, is it?

5 & 6 look like they do because of 3 and 4.

Unity Christian was 12-2 last year and lost in the Div 4 State Finals. 700+ kids
Byron Center was 7-4 last year and lost in the Div 2 Division Finals. 1300+ kids.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but I'm sure that was factored into the thought process.

[junior11]

Morton? Blimey. You can’t call yourself a football school when Week 5 and 6 looks like a church picnic schedule. Phalen Leadership Academies and Calumet Christian School? Have some shame, mate.

Oi, Kinsey — Bloomington South High School is sitting there wide open in Week 6. Pick up the phone. It’s not exactly scheduling the bloody SEC, is it?

5 & 6 look like they do because of 3 and 4.

Unity Christian was 12-2 last year and lost in the Div 4 State Finals. 700+ kids
Byron Center was 7-4 last year and lost in the Div 2 Division Finals. 1300+ kids.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but I'm sure that was factored into the thought process.

Morton should be top 5 school every year but I have no faith in their coaching staff. Underachieve year in and year out. Moving down to 4a will help but u can always count on some bad coaching decisions or having the team unprepared which will result in loses.

[Coach_Brett_Jennings]

Morton? Blimey. You can’t call yourself a football school when Week 5 and 6 looks like a church picnic schedule. Phalen Leadership Academies and Calumet Christian School? Have some shame, mate.

Oi, Kinsey — Bloomington South High School is sitting there wide open in Week 6. Pick up the phone. It’s not exactly scheduling the bloody SEC, is it?

5 & 6 look like they do because of 3 and 4.

Unity Christian was 12-2 last year and lost in the Div 4 State Finals. 700+ kids
Byron Center was 7-4 last year and lost in the Div 2 Division Finals. 1300+ kids.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but I'm sure that was factored into the thought process.

I meant to actually post Morton's 2026 schedule and not their 2022 schedule which proved to be a nightmare for them.

[Coach Nowlin 2.0]

GO BOMBERS

Had to bump SOMETHING above the 9 threads of nonsense.......

Tell me you hate the message board feature without telling me you hate the message board feature RSN staff. AMIRITE !!!

All our customers who come to read our articles and videos and then click on the boards... yea screw those guys....make them have to sift through endless bots of stupidity... GO CUSTOMERS GO !!! woo hoo.

[Coach Nowlin 2.0]

Okay: I tried to do my part to push down nonsense