2026 Michigan Preseason High School Football Rankings

The wait is over.

With the 2026 Michigan high school football season just weeks away, The Big Madonski has officially released its preseason rankings for every MHSAA 11-player division, along with both 8-player divisions. As teams across the state begin fall camp, expectations are high for several defending champions, while a number of challengers appear ready to make a run toward Ford Field.

Here’s a look at what to expect in each division heading into season 138 of Michigan High School Football.

Division 1

1. Detroit Catholic Central 

2. Cass Tech

3. East Kentwood

4. Howell

5. Clarkston

6. Saline

7. Rockford

8. Brighton

9. Rochester Adams

10. Hudsonville

11. West Bloomfield

12. Grand Blanc

13. Portage Central

14. Oxford

15. Romeo

16. Stoney Creek

17. Grandville

18. Davison

19. Dakota 

20. Belleville

Defending state champion Detroit Catholic Central enters the season as the team to beat. The Shamrocks return one of the state’s top quarterbacks in Duke Banta along with Texas Tech commit Gideon Gash, giving them one of the most talented rosters in Michigan. DCC will also be chasing a third consecutive CHSL championship before turning its attention toward defending its Division 1 state title.

Division 2

1. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

2. Birmingham Brother Rice

3. Muskegon

4. Mona Shores 

5. Walled Lake Western

6. Birmingham Groves

7. Traverse City Central

8. South Lyon

9. St. Clair Shores Lakeview

10. Gibraltar Carlson 

11. Grosse Pointe South 

12. Traverse City West

13. Byron Center

14. North Farmington

15. Midland Dow

16. Roseville

17. East Lansing

18. Caledonia

19. Portage Northern

20. Port Huron Northern

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s once again sits atop Division 2 after back-to-back state championships. The Eaglets have an opportunity to complete a rare three-peat, but familiar rival Brother Rice appears ready to challenge them. The Warriors have emerged as one of the fastest-rising teams in the state and another postseason showdown between the two CHSL powers wouldn’t be surprising.

Division 3

1. Harper Woods

2. Warren De La Salle

3. DeWitt

4. Detroit Martin Luther King Jr

5. Dexter

6. Mt. Pleasant 

7. Lowell

8. Zeeland West

9. East Grand Rapids

10. Fenton

11. Cedar Springs

12. Battle Creek Harper Creek

13. River Rouge

14. Chelsea

15. Zeeland East

16. Coopersville 

17. Mason

18. Forest Hills Northern

19. Waterford Mott

Few teams have generated more buzz than Harper Woods. Led by Oregon commit Dakota Guerrant and junior Deandre Bidden, the Pioneers possess one of the state’s premier playmakers and have championship expectations entering the fall. Defending champion DeWitt remains among the favorites despite replacing several key contributors from last season’s title-winning squad.

Division 4

1. Dearborn Divine Child

2. Goodrich

3. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills

4. Hudsonville Unity Christian

5. Portland

6. Beverly Hills-Detroit Country Day

7. Vicksburg

8. Grand Rapids South Christian

9. Big Rapids

10. Williamston

11. Haslett

12. Escanaba

13. Ludington

14. Grand Rapids Christian

15. Freeland

16. Forest Hills Eastern

17. Three Rivers

18. Marysville

Divine Child may have the strongest returning roster of any defending champion in Michigan. The Falcons return the majority of their starters, including quarterback Drew Sheridan and standout offensive tackle Jacob Taylor. Experience, leadership and continuity make Divine Child the early favorite in Division 4.

Division 5

1. West Catholic

2. GRCC

3. Notre Dame

4. Frankenmuth

5. Ogemaw Heights 

6. Swan Valley

7. Reed City

8. Whitehall

9. Monroe Jefferson

10. Summit

11. Negaunee

12. Kalamazoo United

13. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard

14. Wyoming-Kelloggsville

15. Redford Union

16. Armada

17. Kingsford

18. Clare

19. Wyoming-Godwin Heights

20. Ida

West Catholic enters the season with plenty of momentum after a dominant championship performance over Notre Dame Prep last November. Now, the Falcons become the hunted rather than the hunters. Led by linebacker Jael Djouguem and running back Colin Abram, West Catholic has the talent to defend its championship.

Division 6

1. Jackson Lumen Christi

2. Kingsley

3. Almont

4. Clinton

5. Kent City

6. Belding 

7. Gladwin

8. Traverse City St. Francis

9. Montrose 

10. Olivet

11. Montague

12. Detroit Edison

13. Durand

14. Ecorse

15. Calumet

16. Boyne City

17. Warren Michigan Collegiate

18. Marine City

History is on the line for Lumen Christi. The Titans are looking to become just the fourth program in Michigan history to win five consecutive state championships. Legendary head coach Herb Brogan enters his 46th season at the helm and his experienced program once again finds itself among the state’s 'blue bloods'.

Division 7

1. Menominee 

2. Pewamo-Westphalia

3. Schoolcraft

4. Millington 

5. SMCC

6. Lawton

7. Ithaca

8. North Muskegon 

9. Ottawa Lake Whiteford

10. Saginaw Valley Lutheran 

11. Pigeon-Bay Port

12. Charlevoix

13. McBain

14. Hanover-Horton

15. Leslie

16. Ravenna

17. Union City

18. Constantine

The Upper Peninsula continues to be represented by one of its traditional powers. Defending champion Menominee returns looking to prove it remains the standard in Division 7 as the Maroons attempt to bring another state championship back to the U.P.

Division 8

1. Hudson

2. Harbor Beach

3. Bark River-Harris

4. Beal City

5. Springport

6. New Lothrop

7. Nouvel Catholic Central

8. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary

9. Allen Park Cabrini 

10. Maple City Glen Lake

11. White Pigeon

12. Iron Mountain

13. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart 

14. Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech

15. Decatur

16. Gobles

17. Fowler

18. Manchester

19. Ubly

20. Clarkston Everest

Although Harbor Beach captured last season’s Division 8 state championship, this year’s preseason rankings place runner-up Hudson at No. 1. The Tigers return one of the state’s most complete rosters and have all the pieces necessary for another championship run. Harbor Beach begins the season close behind at No. 2, setting up the possibility of another memorable postseason matchup.

8-Player Division 1

1. Martin

2. Bridgman

3. Deckerville

4. Kingston

5. Blanchard Montabella

6. Pickford

7. Gogebic

8. Norway

9. Inland Lakes

10. Climax-Scotts

11. Capac

12. Concord

13. Grand Rapids Sacred Heart

14. Brown City

Martin enters the year with an opportunity to win its third consecutive state championship. Returning All-State running back Seth Torris headlines another talented Clippers roster. Meanwhile, Bridgman becomes eligible for the 8-player postseason for the first time and could quickly establish itself as one of the division’s biggest surprises.

8-Player Division 2

1. Portland St Patrick

2. Britton-Deerfield 

3. Mendon 

4. Pittsford 

5. North Dickinson

6. Lake Linden-Hubbell

7. Bay City All-Saints

8. Onekama

9. Powers North Central

10. Morrice

11. Gaylord St. Mary 

12. Lenawee Christian 

Portland St. Patrick opens the season as the favorite after returning a significant portion of its defensive unit. With experience on that side of the football and championship expectations once again surrounding the program, the Shamrocks will be the team every contender is trying to catch.

Looking Ahead

Preseason rankings always create debate, and that’s part of what makes high school football special. Every August, new stars emerge, underdogs exceed expectations and contenders prove themselves on Friday nights. As kickoff approaches, one thing is certain: Michigan is once again loaded with championship-caliber football teams.

The Big Madonski will provide statewide coverage throughout the 2026 season, including rankings, game previews, top performers, live updates and playoff coverage from Week 1 through Ford Field.