EC, L'Burg, Milan Ranked in IFCA Preseason Poll

Week 1 begins August 21

INDIANAPOLIS - Four southeastern Indiana teams are ranked to start the 2026 high school football season. 

On Monday, the Indiana Football Coaches Association released their 2026 Pre-Season Coaches Poll. 

After two seasons playing at Class 5A based on success factor, East Central returns to Class 4A where they are the top-ranked team entering the upcoming season. Roncalli and Fort Wayne Dwenger took the second and third spots, respectively. 

In Class 3A, Lawrenceburg ranks third behind Andrean and Gibson Southern. 

Milan, fresh off a final four appearance in 2025, begins the season ranked fourth in Class A. Riverton Parke, Pioneer and South Adams grabbed the top three spots. North Decatur ranks 9th. 

Full rankings below.

2026 Indiana Football Coaches Association Coaches Poll (Pre-Season)
 '
6A
1 Brownsburg (10) 0-0 100
2 Carmel 0-0 77
Westfield 0-0 77
4 Center Grove 0-0 63
Warren Central 0-0 63
6 Lawrence North 0-0 56
7 Crown Point 0-0 24
8 Carroll (Allen 0-0 23
Hamilton Southeastern 0-0 23
10 Penn 0-0 20

Others receiving votes: Franklin Central 0-0 (9), Fishers 0-0 (5), Ben Davis 0-0 (4), Elkhart 0-0 (3), Decatur Central 0-0 (2), Avon 0-0 (1)

5A
1 New Palestine (9) 0-0 99
2 Ind. Cathedral (1) 0-0 90
3 Bloomington South 0-0 72
4 Lafayette Jeff 0-0 62
5 Concord 0-0 48
6 Snider 0-0 42
7 Plainfield 0-0 40
8 Castle 0-0 23
9 Floyd Central 0-0 20
10 Warsaw 0-0 15

Others receiving votes: Pendleton Heights 0-0 (12), Michigan City 0-0 (8), Terre Haute South 0-0 (6), Bloomington North 0-0 (5), Evan. North North 0-0 (4), Mt. Vernon (Fortville). 0-0 (2), Chesterton 0-0 (1), Greenfield-Central 0-0 (1)

4A
1 East Central (4). 0-0 82
2 Ind. Roncalli (1) 0-0 77
3 FW Dwenger (4) 0-0 76
Ind. Chatard (1) 0-0 76
5 East Noble 0-0 50
6 Mishawaka 0-0 46
7 Yorktown 0-0 29
8 Hobart 0-0 24
SB St. Joseph 0-0 24
10 FW Luers 0-0 19
Heritage Hills 0-0 19

Others receiving votes: Evan. Reitz 0-0 (6), Jasper 0-0 (5), Martinsville 0-0 (5), FW North Side 0-0 (3), Leo 0-0 (3), Columbia City 0-0 (2), Lebanon 0-0 (2), Northview 0-0 (2)

3A
1 Andrean (3) 0-0 77
2 Gibson Southern (2) 0-0 74
3 Lawrenceburg (1) 0-0 71
4 Evan. Memorial (4) 0-0 69
5 Adams Central 0-0 44
6 Tri-West Hendricks 0-0 41
7 Evan. Mater Dei 0-0 39
8 Twin Lakes 0-0 33
9 Mississenewa. 0-0 22
10 Maconaquah 0-0 15

Others receiving votes: Eastbrook 0-0 (13), Indian Creek 0-0 (13), Garrett 0-0 (7), Heritage Christian 0-0 (7), Mish. Marian 0-0 (6), Southridge 0-0 (5), Sullivan 0-0 (4), Angola 0-0 (2) Bluffton 0-0 (2), Griffith 0-0 (2), West Lafayette 0-0 (2), West Noble 0-0 (2)

2A
1 Brownstown Central (3) 0-0 78
2 Ind. Lutheran (1) 0-0 74
Lapel 0-0 74
4 Cascade (3) 0-0 71
5 South Putnam (3) 0-0 65
6 Linton Stockton 0-0 27
7 Eastern (Greentown) 0-0 25
8 Providence 0-0 21
9 Knox 0-0 18
10 Eastside 0-0 16
Rochester 0-0 16

Others receiving votes: Rensselaer Central 0-0 (13), Southmont 0-0. (12), Triton Central 0-0 (12), Triton Central 0-0 (12) North Posey 0-0 (11), Eastern Hancock 0-0 (8), Alexandria 0-0 (5), Lewis Cass 0-0 (2), Bremen 0-0 (1), Monrovia 0-0 (1)

1A
1 Riverton Parke (3) 0-0 87
2 Pioneer (6) 0-0 86
3 South Adams (1) 0-0 59
4 Milan 0-0 48
5 North Judson 0-0 45
6 Springs Valley 0-0 38
7 Frontier 0-0 34
8 Sheridan 0-0 31
9 North Decatur 0-0 28
10 Laf. Central Catholic 0-0 22

Others receiving votes: Carroll (Flora) 0-0 (20), North Daviess 0-0 (15), North Miami 0-0 (11), Tri 0-0 (7), West Washington 0-0 (5), Churubusco 0-0 (4), West Central 0-0 (4)