All offseason, teams could talk about what might be different.
Who improved? Who reloaded? Who could contend? Who might surprise?
Now, the talking is almost over.
Week 0 has arrived, and San Joaquin County’s 26 high school football teams are about to start providing the answers on the field.
Before the first kickoffs Aug. 28, there’s one question left to answer: Where does everyone stand?
Here are The Record’s preseason San Joaquin County high school football power rankings.
1. St. Mary's (TCAL)
More than 1,000 teams. Fifteen NorCal state finalists. Ten champions. And only one from San Joaquin County. St. Mary's made history by bringing Stockton its first state football title, and despite losing plenty from that roster, the expectation hasn't changed.
Reload and do it again.
2. Manteca (VOL)
An undefeated regular season and No. 33 finish in California showed just how close Manteca was. The county's top running back and cornerback are back. The Buffaloes are the clear VOL favorite, and only St. Mary's stands above them among county teams in the state's top 60. Section title No. 10 is firmly in play.
3. Edison (TCAL)
Something feels different at Edison under coach Eric Crocker. The culture has changed, the talent remains, and advancing beyond the first round for just the fourth time in more than 20 years suddenly feels possible. Now comes the part that matters — proving it on Friday nights.
4. Oakdale (VOL)
Nearly 5,000 rushing yards and 74 touchdowns walked out the door. At most programs, that would be a cause for concern. At Oakdale, the Wing-T simply keeps moving, with the Mustangs still joining St. Mary's and Manteca as San Joaquin County's only top-100 teams in California, according to MaxPreps.
5. Chavez (SJAA)
First league title. First undefeated regular season. What's next for Chavez under Derek Graves? Somehow, a quarterback with 4,745 career passing yards and 66 touchdowns is only now an upperclassman, and with an Oregon State-committed receiver beside him, that elusive first playoff win feels within reach.
6. East Union (VOL)
Nine wins. A first-ever top-150 state ranking. A first section championship appearance since 1989. Coach Jason Stock's first season was the best in East Union history. Doing it again, though, will require a new group after many of last year's key pieces graduated.
7. Tracy (TCAL)
Tracy isn't starting over. Five of its top six tacklers, its quarterback, its only two players with sacks, and three 6-foot offensive linemen are all back. After a third-place TCAL finish, all that experience raises the expectations.
8. Lincoln (TCAL)
Talent on talent. Lincoln has a 33-touchdown quarterback, a Cal Poly-committed receiver, an 11-sack defensive lineman, and its leading tackler back. Throw in two 6-foot-1, three-year varsity starters at corner, and another junior with Division I interest, and 5-6 and fourth place shouldn't be the ceiling.
9. Ripon Christian (TVL)
Coach Phil Grams called last year's 10-3 section runner-up "probably the best Ripon Christian football team ever." Following that might be his biggest challenge yet. All 23 receiving touchdowns, 33 of 34 rushing scores, 1,804 passing yards, and more than 621 tackles walked out the door.
10. Escalon (TVL)
Four straight section championships from 2019 to 2023 set quite the standard. A 6-6 season followed. Then 5-6. But coach Andrew Beam said before last season that Escalon was "a year away." No more waiting. This is the year he was talking about.
11. Linden (MLL)
Linden went from watching a potential second straight MLL title slip away to making history. The No. 7-seeded Lions pulled off two upsets on their way to their first section final since 2004. Even with some pieces gone, coach Adrian Ramos says "talent won't be an issue."
12. Lathrop (WAC)
Before 2024, Lathrop had never experienced a league championship. Two years later, the Spartans have two. Justin Muschott takes over with 3,204 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns gone, but just like Oakdale, the Wing-T has a way of carrying on.
13. Stagg (SJAA)
One first-time head coach changed Stagg's trajectory. Can another keep it going? Sopeter Mao takes over with plenty to replace, but a 1,657-yard running back, an 80-tackle defensive lineman, a Sacramento State commit, and the SJAA Defensive Back of the Year give him plenty to work with.
14. Tokay (SJAA)
Tokay was three points away from a second-place SJAA finish and still walked away with just its second eight-win season in more than two decades. The offense must replace several key pieces, but a defense led by three returning all-league selections gives the Tigers reason to believe another run is coming.
15. Ripon (TVL)
16. Sierra (VOL)
17. Mountain House (VOL)
18. Kimball (TCAL)
19. Lodi (TCAL)
20. Bear Creek (SJAA)
21. McNair (SJAA)
22. Merrill West (SJAA)
23. River Island (MLL)
24. Franklin (SJAA)
25. Weston Ranch (SJAA)
26. Millennium (MLL)
This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin County high school football 2026 preseason power rankings
