The tough sledding for Greater Cincinnati programs in the Southwestern Buckeye League continued in 2025.
All five of the league’s area teams suffered losing seasons, combining to go 14-36, and were all left out of the playoffs. In the Southwestern Division, Monroe and Edgewood are under new leadership this fall and Ross is just 10-21 overall since joining the league in 2023. In the Buckeye Division, Middletown Madison hasn’t had a winning season since 2018, and Waynesville went 4-6 a season ago after going to the regional semifinals in 2024 and the regional finals in 2023.
Talawanda will join the SWBL in 2027. Before that happens, which area clubs can bounce back? Here’s an alphabetical preview for those five area programs looking to gain ground in a conference that Valley View (Buckeye) and Franklin (Southwestern) won last year.
Edgewood
2025: 4-6, missed playoffs
Head coach: Matt Root
Returning players: OL/DL Carter Cannan, QB Carter Breedlove, RB Brody O’Banion, LB J.J. Vogel, K Bryce Davidson, DB Max Stover
Outlook: Edgewood started 0-3 last season and a pair of one-possession losses in October landed them one spot away from a playoff berth. The Cougars moved on from head coach Trace Reynolds and tapped Matt Root as the new head coach. Edgewood graduated seven all-league selections, but first-teamer Brody O’Banion is back after running for 896 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
Middletown Madison
2025: 1-9, missed playoffs
Head coach: Evan Crim
Returning players: OL Bobby Rice, RB/DB Adam Kelly, TE/DB Noah McCracken, DB Payten Green, DE James Harris, QB/DB Eli Adams
Outlook: Crim, a 2019 Madison graduate, was the offensive coordinator in 2024 and took over as head coach before last season when Steve Poff stepped down. Crim was a senior when the Mohawks won a regional championship in 2018. Madison went just 1-9 last season and was 0-6 against league opponents. All-league selection Noah McCracken, along with two-way lineman Bobby Rice, was a second-team all-district selection.
Monroe
2025: 2-8, missed playoffs
Head coach: Brad Hunt
Returning players: RB/LB Luke Levering, OL Cam Potts, RB Prince Mabasa, QB Mason Reynolds, DB Keegan O’Hara, LB Evan Denney
Outlook: Monroe went 2-8 and was winless (0-4) in league action under Mark Mueller last season. Brad Hunt takes over with the Hornets trying for their first winning season since 2022. Monroe has a pair of second-team all-league selections returning in Luke Levering and Cam Potts. Levering led the Hornets with six rushing touchdowns last season and ranked fourth on the team in tackles.
Ross
2025: 3-7, missed playoffs
Head coach: Kenyon Commins
Returning players: LB Alex Galante, LB Connor Grant, QB Carter Gipson, RB/DB Parker Jackson, LB Cash Alvis, RB/DB Charlie Armstrong, TE/LB Levi Smith
Outlook: Ross finished 3-7 but the Rams suffered four losses by one possession last season. They were led by a defense that returns plenty of production this fall, including four all-league linebackers. First-team selection Alex Galante had 116 tackles last season. Connor Grant and Cash Avlis were both honorable mention and second-team defensive back Parker Jackson had four interceptions.
Waynesville
2025: 4-6, missed playoffs
Head coach: Ben Johnson
Returning players: WR/DB Tyce Rutledge, QB Gregory Marlow, RB/LB Hudson Back, OL/LB Hayden Harrison, DL Daltan Taylor, WR/DB John Baker, RB/LB Mac Sullivan, LB Luke Wiley
Outlook: Waynesville graduated 10 all-league performers in 2025 and several other starters and contributors from a team that went on back-to-back regional runs. It led to a young group that went 4-6 last season. The Spartans are young again but have a year of experience under their belt. Waynesville will return the QB-WR duo of Gregory Marlow and Tyce Rutledge, a tandem that connected for five touchdowns last season (Marlow also ran for eight scores). Waynesville also returns three all-league selections on defense in corner Mac Sullivan, leading tackler Hudson Back and defensive lineman Noah Lanier.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 2026 Southwestern Buckeye League high school football preview
Reporting by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
