There are no changes amongst the top 11 teams in the Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com from a week ago. Making big jumps up in the poll are Harrison up eight spots to #15 and Badin up three spots to #14. Withrow falls four spots and Lebanon is down three slots.
Highlighting the marquee this week are a pair of big time matchups with #1 Princeton hosting #3 Lakota West and #4 Moeller traveling to #5 St. Xavier. There are five more battles between Blitz 5 Top 25 teams with #13 La Salle at #14 Badin, #6 Anderson welcoming in #20 Kings, #9 Middletown at #18 Colerain, #11 Covington Catholic hosting #22 Beechwood and #17 Oak Hills is at #21 Mason.
Here’s a look at the 2026 Blitz 5 Top 25 rankings for Week 5:
1. Princeton (4-0, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: beat SYCAMORE (0-4, 0-7), 56-7. Senior Jordan Hall has 11 touchdowns on just 43 offensive touches. NEXT UP: 9/18 – #3 LAKOTA WEST (4-0, 3-0)
2. Elder (4-0, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat #13 LA SALLE (2-2, 0-1), 35-0. The Panthers have allowed just 30 points to four teams ranked in the top 15 of this poll. NEXT UP: 9/18 – LOUISVILLE ST. XAVIER (KY)(2-1)
3. Lakota West (4-0, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: – beat HAMILTON (1-3, 1-2), 42-7. The Firebirds are holding foes to 10.5 points per contest. They haven’t given up more than 18 points in a game. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at #1 Princeton (4-0, 3-0)
4. Moeller (2-2) – LAST WEEK: beat CHRIST PRESBETYRIAN ACADEMY (TN) (0-4), 42-14. Sophomore Juice Glover-Brown has 330 yards and four rushing touchdowns over the past two games. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at #5 St. Xavier (2-2)
5. St. Xavier (2-2) – LAST WEEK: won at Westerville North (2-2), 31-0. Bombers quarterback Aidan Newdigate is averaging 111.5 yards rushing and 102.5 yards passing per game. NEXT UP: 9/18 – #4 MOELLER (2-2)
6. Anderson (3-1, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at then #16 Lebanon (3-1, 2-1), 52-13. Receiver Tysin Weaver is averaging 26.2 yards on 20 receptions (for 523 yards) with touchdowns. NEXT UP: 9/18 – #20 KINGS (3-1,2-1)
7. Winton Woods (3-1, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Turpin (1-3, 1-2), 45-7. The Warriors are averaginng 43.3 points in ECC play. NEXT UP: 9/18 – WALNUT HILLS (0-4, 0-3)
8. Lakota East (3-1, 2-1) – LAST WEEK: beat #21 MASON (1-3, 1-2), 24-20. The Thunderhawks have won back-to-back GMC games by three and four points. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at Hamilton (1-3, 1-2)
9. Middletown (2-2, 2-1) – LAST WEEK: beat then #15 OAK HILLS (2-2, 1-2), 21-14. The Middies are averaging 83.2 yards per game in penalties. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at #18 Colerain (2-2, 2-1)
10. Highlands (3-1) – LAST WEEK: beat BOYLE COUNTY (3-1), 41-21. The Bluebirds are averaginng 47.0 points during their current three game winning streak.NEXT UP: 9/25 – HARRISON COUNTY (0-4)
11. Covington Catholic (3-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Dixie Heights (0-4), 56-7. As a team, the Colonels are averaging 24.1 yards on 40 receptions with eight touchdowns. NEXT UP: 9/18 – #22 BEECHWOOD (3-0)
12. East Central (3-1) – LAST WEEK: beat FRANKLIN COUNTY (3-1), 63-7. The Trojans are averaging 245.2 yards on the ground and just 60.7 yards through the air. NEXT UP: 9/18 – BATESVILLE (4-0)
13. La Salle (2-2, 0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at #2 Elder (4-0, 1-0), 35-0. The Lancers will be playing their second game in a stretch of six straight battles versus teams ranked in the top 20 of this poll. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at #14 Badin (4-0)
14. Badin (4-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Bishop Hartley (1-3), 46-13. Senior LT Kings has 240 yards and three touchdowns on 11 offensive touches. NEXT UP: 9/18 – #13 LA SALLE (2-2)
15. Harrison (4-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #12 WITHROW (2-2), 22-13. The Wildcats defense is allowing just 10.2 points per game and has 11 takeaways. The offense has only turned the ball over once. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at Ross (1-3)
16. Withrow (2-2) – LAST WEEK: lost at then #23 Harrison (4-0), 22-13. Senior Mark Madden has 1,045 yards on kickoff and punt returns since the beginning of the 2025 season. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at McNicholas (2-2)
17. Oak Hills (2-2, 1-2) – LAST WEEK: lost at #9 Middletown (2-2, 2-1), 21-14. The Highlanders are averaging just 74.0 yards per game rushing. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at #21 Mason (1-3, 1-2)
18. Colerain (2-2, 2-1) – LAST WEEK: beat then #19 FAIRFIELD (1-3, 0-3), 34-28, OT. The Cardinals have five receivers with at least 11 receptions and 150 receiving yards. NEXT UP: 9/18 – #9 MIDDLETOWN (2-2, 2-1)
19. Lebanon (3-1, 2-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to #6 ANDERSON (3-1, 3-0), 52-13. Junior Wyatt Lassen has 614 all-purpose yards. NEXT UP: 9/18 – LITTLE MIAMI (3-1, 2-1)
20. Kings (3-1, 2-1) – LAST WEEK: beat WEST CLERMONT (1-3, 0-3), 45-14. Oliver Young and Jaden Hornbeck have combined to run for 706 yards and 12 touchdowns. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at #6 Anderson (3-1, 3-0)
21. Mason (1-3, 1-2) – LAST WEEK: lost at #8 Lakota East (2-1, 1-1), 35-10. The Comets are averaging just 48.2 yards passing per game with zero passing touchdowns and three interceptions. NEXT UP: 9/18 – #17 OAK HILLS (2-2, 1-2)
22. Fairfield (1-3, 0-3) – LAST WEEK: lost at #18 Colerain (2-2, 2-1), 334-28, OT. The Indians are averaging 316.0 yards of total offense per game. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at Sycamore (0-4, 0-3)
23. Beechwood (3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Simon Kenton (2-1), 41-0. The Tigers have outscored their opponents 122-3. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at #11 Covington Catholic (3-1)
24. Wyoming (4-0, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Indian Hill (2-2, 0-1), 48-47, 3 OT. The Cowboys have scored at least 42 points in three straight games. NEXT UP: 9/18 – at Taylor (1-3, 0-1)
25. Talawanda (4-0) – LAST WEEK: at Franklin (0-4), 35-0. The Brave have outscored their opponents 155-12. NEXT UP: 9/18 – CARROLL (2-2)
DROPPED OUT:
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Batesville, Deer Park, Goshen, Holy Cross, Hughes, Lawrenceburg, Lloyd Memorial, North College Hill & Northwest
