The top eight spots of the Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com remain the same from a week ago. Below that there was a lot of movement in the poll including Talawanda making its 2026 debut in the rankings.
There are six Week 4 matchups pitting Blitz 5 Top 25 teams versus each other including the GCL South opener with #2 Elder hosting #12 La Salle, #6 Anderson at #16 Lebanon, #8 Lakota East welcomes in #21 Mason, #15 Oak Hills is at #9 Middletown, #18 Colerain hosts #19 Fairfield and #12 Withrow travels to #23 Harrison.
Here’s a look at the 2026 Blitz 5 Top 25 rankings for Week 4:
1. Princeton (3-0, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #16 COLERAIN (1-2, 1-1), 49-6. The Vikings have been penalized 24 times for 237 yards over the past two games but have won those contests by 21 and 43 points. NEXT UP: 9/11 – SYCAMORE (0-3, 0-2)
2. Elder (3-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #12 EAST CENTRAL (2-0), 42-7. The Panthers now have three wins versus teams ranked in the top 15 of this poll. All of those victories have been by 32 points or more. NEXT UP: 9/11 – #13 LA SALLE (2-1)
3. Lakota West (3-0, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at #21 Mason (1-2, 1-1), 35-10. Senior Kenyon Norman has run for 474 yards and seven touchdowns in two GMC games. NEXT UP: 9/11 – HAMILTON (1-2, 1-1)
4. Moeller (1-2) – LAST WEEK: lost at Louisville Trinity (KY)(3-0). The Crusaders have allowed 31 points in each of their two losses. NEXT UP: 9/11 – CHRIST PRESBETYRIAN ACADEMY (TN) (0-3)
5. St. Xavier (1-2) – LAST WEEK: lost INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (IN)(1-2), 30-21. The Bombers have turned the ball over five times in their two losses, all on interceptions. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at Westerville North (2-0)
6. Anderson (2-1, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: beat LITTLE MIAMI (2-0, 1-0), 51-14. The Raptors gave up 59 points in the opener but still have a 14.0 point average margin of victory. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at #16 Lebanon (3-0, 2-0).
7. Winton Woods (2-1, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Milford (1-2, 1-1), 50-28. Senior Christian Coston leads the Warriors with three interceptions and has five in his last six starts. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at Turpin (1-2, 1-1)
8. Lakota East (2-1, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: won at then #13 Oak Hills (2-0, 1-0) , 31-28. The Thunderhawks defense is allowing 30.0 points per game. NEXT UP: 9/11 – #21 MASON (1-2, 1-1)
9. Middletown (1-2, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: won at then #18 Fairfield (1-1, 0-2), 27-20. The Middies ground game is averaging just 1.9 yards per carry and 48.3 yards rushing per contest . NEXT UP: 9/11 – #15 OAK HILLS (2-1, 1-1).
10. Highlands (2-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Campbell County (2-1), 55-14. Fourteen different Bluebirds have receptions this season. NEXT UP: 9/11 – BOYLE COUNTY (3-0)
11. Covington Catholic (2-1) – LAST WEEK: beat SIMON KENTON (2-1), 42-7. Sophomore Kiyan Miller (six rush, two rec) has scored eight of the Colonels 14 offensive touchdowns. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at Dixie Heights (0-3)
12. Withrow (2-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to SPRINGBORO (2-1), 23-13. The offensive line allowed 8.0 tackles for losses in the loss to the Panthers. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at #23 Harrison (3-0)
13. La Salle (2-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at Fairmont (1-2), 24-21. The Lancers defense is giving up 192.3 yards per game rushing. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at #2 Elder (3-0)
14. East Central (2-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at #2 Elder (3-0), 42-7. The Trojans gave up 40 points for just the third time in 96 games under head coach Jake Meiners. NEXT UP: 9/11 – FRANKLIN COUNTY (3-0)
15. Oak Hills (2-1, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to #8 LAKOTA EAST (2-1, 1-1), 31-28. Junior Cordell Ball has had at least 100 yards receiving eight times in his last 13 games. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at #9 Middletown (1-2, 1-1)
16. Lebanon (3-0, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at West Clermont (1-2, 0-2), 34-20. The Warriors are averaging 415.0 yards of total offense per game, 287.0 of those yards are on the ground. NEXT UP: 9/11 – #6 ANDERSON (2-1, 2-0)
17. Badin (3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Edgewood (1-2), 31-7. The Rams defense is allowing just 9.0 points per game. The offense has scored 31 points or more in all three victories. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at Bishop Hartley (1-2)
18. Colerain (1-2, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at #1 Princeton (3-0, 2-0), 49-6. The Cardinals offense is averaging 392.7 yards per game. NEXT UP: 9/11 – #19 FAIRFIELD (1-2, 0-2)
19. Fairfield (1-2, 0-2) – LAST WEEK: lost to then #10 MIDDLETOWN (1-2, 1-1), 27-20. The Indians have 11 takeaways but just one win. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at #18 Colerain (1-2, 1-1)
20. Kings (2-1, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Loveland (0-3, 0-2), 41-14. Only three Knights have scored touchdowns – Oliver Young (six rush), Nathan Tucker (three rec) and Jaden Hornbeck (two rush). NEXT UP: 9/11 – WEST CLERMONT (1-2, 0-2)
21. Mason (1-2, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to #3 LAKOTA WEST (3-0, 2-0), 35-10. The Comets defense is giving up 320.7 yards per game. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at #8 Lakota East (2-1, 1-1)
22. Beechwood (2-0) – LAST WEEK: beat DIXIE HEIGHTS (0-2), 41-3. The Tigers have scored 40 points or more in 11 consecutive contests. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at Simon Kenton (2-1)
23. Harrison (3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Beavercreek (2-1), 33-28. Quarterback Brady Lawhon has completed 73.8% of his passes for 824 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. NEXT UP: 9/11 – #12 WITHROW (2-1)
24. Wyoming (3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Monroe (1-2), 42-21. The Cowboys have created nine takeaways and have +7 turnover ratio. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at Indian Hill (2-1).
25. Talawanda (3-0) – LAST WEEK: beat EATON (2-1), 38-6. The Brave have given up just 12 points and have a 36.0 point average margin of victory through three weeks. NEXT UP: 9/11 – at Franklin (0-3)
DROPPED OUT: #24 Ryle
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Goshen, Holy Cross, Indian Hill, Lawrenceburg, Lloyd Memorial, North College Hill & Northwest
