For a second straight campaign and the third time in the last four years, Moeller sits atop the preseason Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com. The Crusaders are one of three teams from the GCL South in the top 6. Right behind Big Moe in the poll is Princeton, the highest ranked of four GMC schools in the top nine. Highlands is the only Northern Kentucky team in the top 10.
A fantastic Week 1 slate features three matchups between teams ranked in the top seven with #1 Moeller at #2 Princeton, #4 Elder hosting #7 Elder and #5 Lakota West welcomes in #6 St. Xavier. There are three more battles between teams in the top 25 as #14 La Salle goes to #18 Colerain, #15 Covington Catholic is at #21 Ryle and #17 Hamilton hits the road to crosstown rival #24 Badin.
Here’s a look at the 2026 Blitz 5 Top 25 preseason rankings:
1. Moeller (8-4 in 2025) – LAST SEASON: A run for a fifth straight regionl championship fell short. The Crusaders have averaged 36.3 points per game in Bert Bathiany’s three years as head coach. NEXT UP: 8/20 – at #2 Princeton (9-3 in 2025), at Paycor Stadium
2. Princeton (9-3) – LAST SEASON: Fell to Elder 32-30 in the second round of the playoffs after leading 23-0 one play into the third quarter. The Vikings have averaged 10 wins per season in Andre Parker’s five years as head coach. NEXT UP: 8/20 – #1 MOELLER (8-4), at Paycor Stadium
3. Anderson (14-1) – LAST SEASON: Finished Division II state runner-up for a second straight year and won the school’s third consecutive regional title and fifth in program history. The Raptors return all of their skill positions players from an offense that averaged 42.7 points per game, had 80 offensive touchdowns and amassed 458.4 yards per contest. NEXT UP: 8/21 – LOUISVILLE TRINITY (KY)(13-2), 2025 KHSAA Class 6A state champions
4. Elder (12-1) – LAST SEASON: Had the fourth undefeated season and first 12-0 start in program history before falling to St. Xavier in the regional finals. The Panthers will face teams that were a combined 87-40 (.685 winning %) in 2025. NEXT UP: 8/21 – #7 MIDDLETOWN (11-3)
5. Lakota West (7-5) – LAST SEASON: Had a winning campaign and made the playoffs for a seventh straight season. Three Firebird seniors have committed to Big 10 schools; Roman Combs (Purdue), Reilly Newman (Iowa) and Kenyon Norman (Northwestern). NEXT UP: 8/21 – #6 ST. XAVIER (11-3)
6. St. Xavier (11-3) – LAST SEASON: Finished as the Division I state runner-up and won the program’s eighth regional championship. The Bombers defense allowed just 13.5 points per game a year ago. NEXT UP: 8/21 – at #5 Lakota West (7-5)
7. Middletown (11-3) – LAST SEASON: Won the school’s first ever regional title. The Middies defense allowed just 9.0 points per contest last fall. NEXT UP: 8/21 – at #4 Elder (12-1)
8Winton Woods (9-3) – LAST SEASON: The Warriors were 10 points away (losses by one, two and seven points) from having a perfect regular season. Winton Woods hasn’t had a losing season in 24 years. NEXT UP: 8/21 – at Springfield (8-5)
9. Lakota East (8-4) – LAST SEASON: Won eight games for a second straight season. The 16 victories are the most in a two year period since 2004-05. The Thunderhawks are looking to make the playoffs for a third straight year for the first time in program history. NEXT UP: 8/21 – CENTERVILLE (3-7)
10. Highlands (10-3) – LAST SEASON: Won 10 games for a third straight year. The Bluebirds have made it to the final four twice and the elite eight once in that span. NEXT UP: 8/21 – at Frederick Douglass (8-5)
11. Withrow (9-3) – LAST SEASON: Won nine games, eight of those by an average margin of 42.1 points. In their three losses the Tigers only averaged 10.7 points in those contests. NEXT UP: 8/21 – WALNUT HILLS (2-8)
12. Fairfield (6-6) – LAST SEASON: Made the playoffs for an 11th straight year. The Indians went 3-2 in games decided by seven points or less. NEXT UP: 8/21 – WAYNE (9-5)
13. La Salle (9-4) – LAST SEASON: The Lancers posted at least nine wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2016-17. Making the playoffs for an eighth straight year won’t be easy against a schedule that includes a six-game stretch versus teams that won at least eight contests and had a combined winning percentage of .776 in 2025. NEXT UP: 8/21 – at #18 Colerain (1-9)
14. East Central (9-3) – LAST SEASON: The program captured its fifth consecutive sectional title, 24th in school history and ninth in the last 11 years. Seniors Ryan Minges and Colton Bellman have combined to run for 4,225 yards and 51 touchdowns over the past two campaigns. NEXT UP: 8/21 – LAWRENCEBURG (10-2)
15. Covington Catholic (9-4) – LAST SEASON: Had its 10th straight campaign of nine wins or more. The Colenels score 48 points or more on five occasions a year ago. NEXT UP: 8/21 – at #21 Ryle (10-4)
16. Mason (5-6) – LAST SEASON: Made the playoffs for an 11th straight year. The Comets haven’t had a player run for more than 1,000 yards in a season since 2018 (Logan Dalton – 1,095). In that same span they have had at least one First Team All-GMC offensive lineman in seven of those eight seasons. NEXT UP: 8/21 – at Springboro (7-5)
17. Hamilton (4-7) – LAST SEASON: Made the playoffs for a seventh straight year. The Big Blue gave up 28 points or more in all seven of their 2025 losses.
NEXT UP: 8/21 – at #24 Badin (10-2)
18. Colerain (1-9) – LAST SEASON: Broke a 27-game losing streak. The Cardinals have had five straight losing campaigns. The program had 29 consecutive winning seasons prior to that. NEXT UP: 8/21 – #13 LA SALLE (9-4)
19. Lebanon (8-4) – LAST SEASON: Had its third straight winning campaign for the first time since 2012-14. The Warriors were 4-0 in games decided by 3 points or less last fall. NEXT UP: 8/21 – NORTHMONT (0-10)
20. Kings (9-2) – LAST SEASON: Made the playoffs for a fifth straight year. The Knights have never made the postseason in six consecutive campaigns. NEXT UP: 8/21 – SYCAMORE (0-10)
21. Ryle (10-4) – LAST SEASON: Won a second straight Class 6A regional title. The Raiders have also won three consecutive district titles for the first time in school history. NEXT UP: 8/21 – #15 COVINGTON CATHOLIC (9-4)
22. Oak Hills (4-7) – LAST SEASON: Made the playoffs for a sixth straight year, however the Highlanders have not finished above .500 since 2006. NEXT UP: 8/21 – EDGEWOOD (4-6)
23. Beechwood (11-2) – LAST SEASON: Won 10 or more games for a sixth consecutive year. The Tigers are on a quest for a fifth state title in the last seven seasons. NEXT UP: 8/28 – #25 INDIAN HILL (13-1)
24. Badin (10-2) – LAST SEASON: Won a share of its seventh consecutive GCL Co-ed title. The Rams have won eight games or more for eight straight years. NEXT UP: 8/21 – #17 HAMILTON (4-7)
25. Indian Hill (13-1) – LAST SEASON: Won the schools first ever regional championship (Division IV, Region 16). The Braves finished the regular season 10-0 for the first time since 2015. NEXT UP: 8/21 – at Roger Bacon (5-6)
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Knocking on the Door: Bishop Fenwick, Clinton-Massie, Goshen, Harrison, Holy Cross, Lawrenceburg, Lloyd Memorial, McNicholas, North College Hill, Talawanda & Wyoming
