There were no changes to the top five spots of the Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com after Week 2. There was a lot of movement in the rankings after that including Harrison and Wyoming entering the poll for the first time this season. Oak Hills has its highest ranking in years (and perhaps decades) at #13.
There are five Week 3 matchups pitting Blitz 5 Top 25 teams versus each other highlighted by the first ever meeting between #2 Elder and #12 East Central. Also on the slate, #16 Colerain at #1 Princeton, #3 Lakota West travels to #21 Mason, #8 Lakota East is on the road at #13 Oak Hills and #18 Fairfield hosts #10 Middletown.
Here’s a look at the 2026 Blitz 5 Top 25 rankings for Week 3:
1. Princeton (2-0, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at then #7 Middletown (0-1, 0-1), 28-7. Despite a sloppy performance which included being penalized 14 times for 137 yards and three turnovers, the Vikings still managed to win by 21 points on the road at Middletown. NEXT UP: 9/4 – #16 COLERAIN (1-1, 1-0)
2. Elder (2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at #14 Covington Catholic (1-1), 50-26. Receiver Andrew Lyman has 13 receptions for 265 yards and six touchdowns in his first two games as a Panther. NEXT UP: 9/4 – #12 EAST CENTRAL (2-0)
3. Lakota West (2-0, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #6 LAKOTA EAST (1-1, 0-1), 48-18. Defensive back Roman Combs has three interceptions and a scoop-and score to begin the season. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at #21 Mason (1-1, 1-0)
4. Moeller (1-1) – LAST WEEK: GROVEPORT MADISON (1-1), 45-7. The Crusaders defense is allowing just 67.0 yards per game rushing and has 17.0 tackles for losses. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at Louisville Trinity (KY)(2-0)
5. St. Xavier (1-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Wayne (0-2), 35-7. Quarterback Aidan Graham has had 134 and 136 yards rushing performances to open up 2026. NEXT UP: 9/4 – INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (IN)(0-2)
6. Anderson (1-1, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at West Clermont (1-1, 0-1), 70-19. Senior quarterback Owen Scalf threw for five touchdowns for the fourth time in his last 13 starts, of which five have come in the playoffs. NEXT UP: 9/4 – LITTLE MIAMI (2-0, 1-0)
7. Winton Woods (1-1, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #18 KINGS (1-1, 0-1). In his last 13 starts, senior Isaiah Garrett has averaged 110.7 yards per game on the ground with 16 rushing touchdowns. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at Milford (1-1, 1-0)
8. Lakota East (1-1, 0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at #3 Lakota West (2-0, 1-0), 48-18. The Thunderhawks gave up 303 yards rushing in loss to rival West. They gave up just 54 in Week 1 to Centerville. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at #13 Oak Hills (2-0, 1-0)
9. Withrow (2-0) – LAST WEEK: at Chaminade Julienne ( 0-2), 45-12. Nine different Tigers have found the end zone thus far. NEXT UP: 9/4 – SPRINGBORO (1-1)
10. Middletown (0-2, 0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to #1 PRINCETON (1-0), 28-7. The Middies have given up 63 points in two games, half of what they allowed in 13 tilts a year ago. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at #18 Fairfield (1-1, 0-1).
11. La Salle (2-0) – LAST WEEK: beat NORTHMONT (0-2), 38-6. Seven different Lancers have at least five offensive touches, six of those players have nine touches or fewer. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at Fairmont (0-2)
12. East Central (2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at New Palestine (1-1), 14-6. The Trojans ended New Palestine’s 29-game winning streak, which started after East Central defeated the Dragons in the 2024 IHSAA Class 4A state championship game. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at #2 Elder (2-0)
13. Oak Hills (2-0, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at #11 Fairfield (1-1, 0-1), 21-0. The Highlanders recorded their first shutout since October 21st, 2022 (Middletown). NEXT UP: 9/4 – #8 LAKOTA EAST (1-1, 0-1)
14. Highlands (1-1) – LAST WEEK: beat COOPER (1-1), 45-6. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Armstrong has amassed 503 yards of total offense and five touchdowns through the first two weeks. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at Campbell County (2-0)
15. Covington Catholic (1-1) – LAST WEEK:#2 ELDER (2-0), 50-26. The Colenels amassed 414 yards of total offense but gave up 546 yards in the loss to Elder. NEXT UP: 9/4 – SIMON KENTON (2-0)
16. Colerain (1-1, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #24 HAMILTON (0-2, 0-1), 41-7. The Cardinals topped the 40-point mark for the first time since October 21st, 2021 (a span of 42 games). NEXT UP: 9/4 – at #1 Princeton (2-0, 1-0)
17. Lebanon (2-0, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Loveland (0-2, 0-1), 42-7. The Warriors are 416.0 yards of total offense per game. Logan Schmenk is averaging 210.0 yards rushing per contest. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at West Clermont (1-1, 0-1)
18. Fairfield (1-1, 0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to then #19 OAK HILLS (2-0, 1-0), 21-0. The Indians fell to Oak Hills for the third time in the last four years. NEXT UP: 9/4 – #10 MIDDLETOWN (0-2, 0-1)
19. Badin (2-0) – LAST WEEK: DIXIE HEIGHTS (KY)(0-2), 34-13. The Rams are 2-0 for the sixth time in the last seven years. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at Edgewood (1-1)
20. Kings (1-1, 0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at then #9 Winton Woods (1-1, 1-0), 35-0. The Knights were shutout for just the second time since 2013 (154 games). NEXT UP: 9/4 – at Loveland (0-2, 0-1)
21. Mason (1-1, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Sycamore (0-2, 0-1), 43-24. Junior quarterback Alex Nagel had career highs of 189 yards and four touchdowns rushing in last Friday’s win. He has topped the 100 yard mark rushing in both games. NEXT UP: 9/4 – #3 LAKOTA WEST (2-0, 1-0)
22. Beechwood (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #25 INDIAN HILL (1-1), 42-0. The Tigers have scored 40 points or more in 10 consecutive games. They have averaged 52.2 points per contest in that span. NEXT UP: 9/4 – DIXIE HEIGHTS (0-2)
24. Harrison (2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at McNicholas (1-1), 28-0. The Wildcats have outscored their opponents, 63-0. Harrison has recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 2001. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at Beavercreek (2-0)
23. Ryle (1-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Conner (0-2), 36-21. The Raiders haven’t started a season 1-2 since 2020. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at Cooper (1-1)
25. Wyoming (2-0) – LAST WEEK: beat PURCELL MARIAN (1-1), 48-8. Quarterback David Dupee has thrown for four touchdowns in both of the Cowboys victories. The senior has tossed four touchdown passes six times in his last 16 starts. NEXT UP: 9/4 – at Monroe (1-1)
DROPPED OUT: #24 Hamitlon & #25 Indian Hill
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Goshen, Holy Cross, Lawrenceburg, Little Miami, Lloyd Memorial, North College Hill & Talawanda
