Last year, Taft spoiled Withrow’s bid for a fourth consecutive Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference Red division title. The year prior, Taft went to the Division IV state Final Four.
But the Senators will be under new leadership this fall after Tyler Williams went to North College Hill.
Does that make Withrow the favorite in the CMAC Red or will another squad threaten the division’s summit? In the CMAC Blue, Cincinnati College Prep Academy hasn’t lost to a divisional foe since 2022. They’ll look to repeat once again.
Here’s an alphabetical breakdown of the nine-team CMAC with the start of the high school football season right around the corner.
CMAC Blue
Cincinnati College Prep Academy
2025: 8-3, lost first round of playoffs
Head coach: Jeff Cargile Sr.
Returning players: QB Kemmarion McCray, OL Ramad Jacobs, OL/DL Sir Michael Miller, OL/DL Charles Howard, RB/DB Marlan Robertson, WR/DB Kendrick Napier, LB Kenny Powe, WR/DB Mario Meatchem, WR/DB Ramik Bell, LB Ryan Drew, RB/DB Jermaine Ramsey
Outlook: The Lions are the favorite to win the CMAC Blue for the fourth consecutive year with several All-Ohio selections coming back. Most notably, Sir Michael Miller was a first-team All-Ohio defensive lineman last season after posting 108 tackles and 20 sacks. Marlan Robertson ran for 1,253 yards and 13 touchdowns while also collecting 75 tackles (13 for a loss). In the secondary, Ramik Bell had six interceptions and caught five touchdowns. Plus, the Lions return Kemmarion McCray for a third straight year. He threw for 2,500-plus yards and 33 touchdowns as an underclassman starter.
Gamble Montessori
2025: 3-7, missed playoffs
Head coach: Will Davis
Returning players: QB/LB Q’Moni Bankhead, QB/P/DE Cortez Reed, RB/DL Massila Diawara, S Jami Jackson, DB Kevonnie Keith, DB Brandon West, RB/DB Juju Dailey, DB Mohammed Mangure
Outlook: Gamble Montessori got off to a 3-2 start but finished the year on a four-game losing streak. The Gators will need to improve on offense after being held to eight points or fewer seven times over the final eight games of 2025. Gamble Montessori returns seven all-league players, including leading tackler (134) Massila Diawara, who also had five sacks, five forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Shroder
2025: 5-5, missed playoffs
Head coach: Darren Sellers
Returning players: RB/LB Carlito Houston, RB/LB Jaden Allen, RB.LB Elijah Nelson, OL/DL Alex Goodloe
Outlook: A 4-1 end to last season wasn’t enough to get Shroder into the postseason for a second straight year. Shroder will have to replace starting quarterback Brian McGrady, who also led the team in rushing in 2025, as well as leading receiver Christian Hutchinson. Linebacker Jaden Allen returns after posting a team-high 66 tackles and the second-most sacks (11.5) in the CMAC last season.
CMAC Red
Aiken
2025: 6-5, lost first round of playoffs
Head coach: Harry McCall
Returning players: LB Deondre Jenkins, RB/DL Jalen Bates, DB Maurice Conyers
Outlook: After back-to-back six-win seasons, Aiken will have to replace the majority of its production from 2025 to get back to the postseason. The Falcons graduated their top five rushing and receiving leaders from last season, as well as their top tacklers. Linebacker Deondre Jenkins posted 34 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and three recoveries as a sophomore last season. He is Aiken’s lone all-league selection returning in 2026.
Hughes
2025: 4-6, missed playoffs
Head coach: Jalen Engleman
Returning players: QB Kyell Alexander, WR/DB Nehemiah Engleman, WR/DB Davon Bishop, DL Jah’Bron Ridley, DB Kannen Adams, DB Cheick Sacko
Outlook: Jalen Engleman, a 2019 Winton Woods graduate, replaced his uncle, Lorenzo Engleman, as the Big Red’s coach this offseason. Hughes is searching for its first winning season since 2022. Nehemiah Engleman is one of the Big Red’s two returning all-league picks, earning first-team honors last season after running for 1,053 yards and 14 touchdowns. Quarterback Kyell Alexander threw for 505 yards and four touchdowns as a junior last season in just four games. He added 236 yards and three scores on the ground.
Taft
2025: 11-1, lost second round of playoffs
Head coach: Rob Rachel
Returning players: OL Kris Scott Jr., RB/DB Amauri Middleton, WR/DB Truth Morgan, DE Je’Veon Cooper
Outlook: Taft’s lone loss last season came in a second-round playoff thriller as the Senators fell to Indian Hill, which would then make a run to the state Final Four. Tyler Williams took the job at North College Hill and brought multiple Senators with him. Taft will have to look for new guys to step up this fall to contend again in the CMAC. Offensive lineman Kris Scott Jr. is a three-star prospect and a top 15 player in Ohio for the Class of 2028.
Western Hills
2025: 3-7, missed playoffs
Head coach: Rico Middlebrooks
Returning players: QB/DB Omariee Beckley, RB/LB Aaron Mitchell, WR/DB Ja’Mauri Beasley, OL/DL Stephan Mitchell, RB/LB Jontvius Waeley, RB/LB Zackariyah Camp
Outlook: Western Hills is looking for its first winning season since 2020 and has turned to Rico Middlebrooks as its new head coach. The Mustangs bring back all-league selection Aaron Mitchell, who had 88 tackles, two forced fumbles and two recoveries last season at linebacker. He also ran for 389 yards and four touchdowns.
Withrow
2025: 9-3, lost second round of playoffs
Head coach: Anthony Berry
Returning players: WR Charles Alexander Jr., LB Terrence Moore, RB Z’yohn Gillespie, QB Sa’Vion Davis, RB Jamion Mincy, DL Gianni Gilliam, DL Chris Barnes, WR Jaiden Greene, DB Mister Achoe, WR Cody Johnson, LB Terrione Kelley, LB Joshua Erkins, OL/DL Littello Johnson
Outlook: Withrow is trying to reclaim the top spot in the CMAC Red and will have a squad that could do it this fall. Anthony Berry’s group returns top wideout Charles Alexander Jr. and got transfer Z’yohn Gillespie from Purcell Marian, who ran for 819 yards and seven touchdowns last season. The Tigers also return some talent in the trenches, like first-team all-league defensive lineman Chris Barnes, who had four sacks last season. In the secondary, junior Mister Achoe had four picks in 2025. Linebacker Joshua Erkins is ranked as a three-star prospect and top 20 player in Ohio in the Class of 2028.
Woodward
2025: 0-10, missed playoffs
Head coach: Tony Bray
Outlook: Woodward is coming off a winless season and the focus of the rebuild must be on offense. The Bulldogs were shut out eight times in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference high school football 2026 preview
Reporting by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
