After a 10-2 season in 2025, the Badin Rams aren't rebuilding. They're reloading.
Badin is in the midst of a changing of the guard leading into the 2026 season. The reigning co-champion of the Greater Catholic League-Coed
graduated its top passer, rusher, receiver, and seven of its top eight tacklers. As if filling that many holes wasn't a tall enough task, the Rams are moving up to Division II for postseason play.But the mantra on the west side of Hamilton remains the same as always.
"Just win," senior receiver L.T. King said.
While the winning culture is still strong at Badin, there's no discounting the volume of talent that needs replacing. Badin had GCL-Coed Players of the Year on both offense (Lem Grayson) and defense (Alex Pate) alongside
seven other graduating all-conference first-teamers. But the Rams haven't maintained an eight-year streak atop the conference without stacking talent year after year.
It will be another defensive-minded squad at Badin this year. Head coach Nick Yordy, the GCL-Coed's reigning coach of the year for six years running, said he feels his defensive staff has done a nice job replacing last year's linebacker corps.
"The defense looks good; they're getting after it," Yordy said.
Key returners hoping to make life miserable for opposing offenses include junior defensive back Cooper Clay and senior edge rusher Logan Karswich. Clay snagged four interceptions last season, while Karswich hounded quarterbacks for seven sacks.
Offensively, a pair of similarly named backs are primed to lead the rushing attack. Chase Even, a junior who racked up 562 yards and 10 touchdowns as the second option last season, will be the featured back. Though spelled differently, junior Chace Blanton will also play a key role after averaging 5.9 yards a carry last year.
Junior quarterback Davis Martin seems to have secured the job after a quarterback competition in the summer. He'll have a pair of senior receivers to rely on in King and Hudson Heid. King missed much of last season with injury, but came back for a 100-yard game and a touchdown against Alter in the regular season. Heid had his breakout game against the same team two weeks later, helping Badin to a 35-28 playoff win with 78 yards and two touchdowns.
"I think a lot of our guys probably could have played last year," Yordy said. "They just had some upperclassmen ahead of them. Now, it's these guys stepping up and making those plays."
Crosstown rival Hamilton is on the schedule for Week 1 and the matchup has an added layer this year. The Aug. 21 opener will mark the first time Hamilton has traveled to play at Badin's Matandy SportsPlex, which opened last season. The Rams and Big Blue have split their last two meetings, with Badin winning 38-20 last season. With all offseason to prepare, Badin is chomping at the bit to take it to their rivals.
"There's a lot of bragging rights on the line, for the players, coaches, and city," Yordy said. "Everybody's excited to get to Friday night and play the game."
Badin is no stranger to postseason success, having won at least one game in the playoffs each of the last nine years. Making it 10 straight will require Badin to move up into Division II against some of the top teams in the state.
Yordy, though, said that step up in competition won't change much for the Rams.
"Our standard here is pretty high. It doesn't matter what division we are ... we're going to play the game. If we do the right things, the wins will come."
Yordy will be glad to know his players have bought into his messaging. Senior offensive lineman Evan Price, a captain for the Rams, said the team is focused on putting in the work even as they move into "probably the toughest (division) in Ohio."
"The goal is just to win every week," Price said. "We prepare the same, the mindset is the same, the expectations are the same. We're just trying to go 1-0 every week."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 'Just win.' Badin football will rely on fresh talent, defense in 2026
