(8-18-26) Trimming the postseason from 16 to 12 teams per region looks like it hit the sweet spot for Ohio high school football. This number prevents ugly situations like in 2019 where undefeated teams Northwood and Gibsonburg were left out of the postseason. But on the flip side, it doesn’t force winless teams like Oak Hills (2021) to play an 11th game.

On top of that, the better teams received a well-earned bye week before the gauntlet that is the Ohio postseason.

For 2026, who is shaping up to earn those byes and make a deep run en route to Canton?

DIVISION I – COLUMBUS IS BACK

For years, Division I was dominated by teams from Cincinnati and Cleveland with Columbus-area programs playing second fiddle. That is not the case anymore after back-to-back state titles by teams in the 614. Our preseason ratings reflect that renewed parity.

Pickerington North and defending D-I state champion Olentangy Orange represent Columbus, Moeller and St. Xavier represent Cincinnati, and Mentor and preseason number one St. Edward represent Cleveland. Division I is back to being an all-inclusive statewide brouhaha.

DIVISION II – TWO CHAMPS, ONE TROPHY

Avon and Bishop Watterson are the only two schools chasing a three-peat in 2026. At most, only one of them will as Watterson was reclassified to Division II over the summer. However, there are plenty of teams who stand in the way.

Massillon, led by 4-star Oregon commit Brayton Feister, is primed to avenge its regional final exit last season. Toledo Central Catholic reclassified to D-II as well after three straight state championship appearances in Division III. And look out for an array of deep, talented public-school programs like Medina Highland, Anderson, Big Walnut, and Wadsworth.

DIVISION III – A RANKING WITH AN ASTERISK

Transparency is important, and the football fan in me does not believe Ursuline is the best team in Division III. But the day I start adjusting my computer rankings based on vibes is the day I surrender their objectivity. Ursuline’s rating is still carrying an excellent 2024 season and a red-hot start to 2025; it simply cannot fully account for the massive coaching and roster turnover following the news out of Youngstown last fall.

CVCA and Tippecanoe come into 2026 as the teams to beat in D-III. CVCA went a perfect 10-0 before falling to Toledo Central Catholic, 21-20, in the state semifinals, while Tippecanoe started 13-0 before falling to eventual state champion Bishop Watterson. But a deep pack of contenders—including Steubenville, Wapakoneta, Kettering Alter, and Lake Catholic—will be pushing them every week.

DIVISION IV – WHIP IT GOOD

And here comes another preseason asterisk. Glenville is as good and as dangerous as advertised. Under head coach and former Ohio State standout Ted Ginn Sr., the Tarblooders have won three state championships in the past four years. However, due to a consolidation with Collinwood High School, Glenville may not be in Division IV at this time next month. But for now, they are classified in D-IV.

Asterisk aside, Shelby is the team to beat. With Miami Redhawks commit Michael Shepherd under center, teams are going to have to find an answer to the most uniquely gifted quarterback in the state. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, with an FBS future at tight end, Shepherd presents a problem most high school defenses simply aren’t built to solve at quarterback. Add in Brady Bowman who racked up 1,659 yards and 24 touchdowns at wide receiver last year, and it’s clear why the Whippets are D-IV favorites.

DIVISION V – THE EDWARDS SHOW

Led by dynamic quarterback Kayden Edwards, Ironton is the clear favorite to raise the trophy in Canton for the second time in three years. The Boston College commit is the kind of player you want touching the ball every play with an 11.13 time in the 100m dash and incredible field vision on top of it.

After the Fighting Tigers, Division V gets crowded with legit contenders like Cardinal Mooney, Liberty-Benton, Perry, Coldwater and Lima Bath—not to mention Wheelersburg, Ironton’s likely regional-final obstacle.

DIVISION VI – THREE CHAMPS, ONE TROPHY

Division V defending state champion Liberty Center, Division VI defending state champion Kirtland, and Division VII defending state champion St. Henry, all one big happy family. Given this trio of teams, a savvy football fan could make a strong argument that Division VI is the third best division in the state of Ohio in 2026.

To make things more challenging, they all have to compete with a reloaded Harvest Prep team, 10-win Anna, and Columbus Grove, which lost to St. Henry by only three in the state semifinals. Yeah, good luck finding two divisions outside of D-I and D-II with a better collection of teams.

DIVISION VII – SEVEN STRAIGHT

The Midwest Athletic Conference has been the home to the Division VII state champion each of the last seven years. And unlike the SEC of the 2010s, the MAC has spread the wealth with five different teams winning D-VII over the past 11 years. Going into 2026, Marion Local is the heavy favorite as St. Henry and Columbus Grove both reclassified to Division VI.

New Bremen, Minster, and Fort Recovery all sit in the preseason top 6 in D-VII. The greatest threat to an eighth straight D-VII state title for the MAC is the Sandusky Bay duo of Gibsonburg and Hopewell-Loudon, the latter of which knocked out Coldwater in last year’s state semifinals.