The 2026 Indiana high school football season begins on Aug. 21. Six schools (Brownsburg, New Palestine, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Cascade, Andrean and South Putnam) are looking for a second consecutive state championship on Thanksgiving weekend.
IndyStar has no shortage of preseason coverage. Kyle Neddenriep reveals the best players statewide and in Central Indiana, and teams that shouldn’t be dismissed. Also, if you’re looking for a game to attend in Week 1, Neddenriep offers a lot of possibilities.
Who will be Indiana Mr. Football in 2026?
A lot of Big Ten recruits, coveted quarterback prospects and tremendous skill position players on the list of players of watch for the No. 1 jersey. A few of them meet in Week 1 matchup. Check out the favorites.
Indiana high school football history: Best players from 25 years
We counted down the top 25 high school football recruits of the first quarter century of the 2000s from Indiana. There were the four- and five-star prospects that came out of high school with a lot of promise, pressure and expectations.
Here’s the countdown: Nos. 6-10 | Nos. 11-15 | Nos. 16-20 | Nos. 21-25
Central Indiana high school football: Sleeper teams for 2026
We take a look at 10 potential sleeper teams for the 2026 season from Central Indiana. To keep things consistent, we considered only teams that finished last season with a .500 record or below. Here are teams poised for an uptick this season.
Best Central Indiana high school football players in 2026
New names are certain to emerge during the 2026 high school football season. But teams with starting experience at key skill positions will certainly have a leg up going into Week 1. Meet the best: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Receivers
Central Indiana high school football: Best Week 1 matchups
If you like football, well, we have good news for you: Week 1 of the high school football season is on Aug. 21. Here are the best season-opening matchups.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school football preview: What you need to know for 2026 season
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep and Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Neddenriep and Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
