For the first time since 1978, no Northern Kentucky football team played in the state championships in 2025.
Multiple teams have their sights set on Kroger Field while several others can replicate the success they saw last season. In Indiana, East Central returns to Class 4A while Lawrenceburg could be in for a historic season.
Let's take a look at the top 10 teams in Northern Kentucky and Indiana before the season kicks off on Aug. 21.
1. Highlands Bluebirds
The Bluebirds have an exciting young quarterback in Bryce Armstrong and a do-it-all senior in Tayden Lorenzen. They also return five of their top six receivers, as well as Cooper and Griffin Benke, who are both Division I commits. Highlands pulled out exciting wins over Frederick Douglass and Covington Catholic
last year but will look to make statements every Friday night.
2. Beechwood Tigers
Perennially at the top of Class 2A, the expectations don't change for the Tigers, especially with Noel Rash back at the helm. This senior class is certainly ready for revenge after a 41-40 loss in last year's state semifinal. Look for the Tigers to fly around the field, with Wake Forest commit Emmett Queen slinging it to Kentucky commit Tyler Fryman, Caleb Arrasmith, Nate Pabst and Kolten Craycraft.
3. East Central Trojans
After two years in Class 5A, the Trojans move back down to 4A in search of their third state title in the last five years. Head coach Jake Meiners has continued to schedule aggressively, loading up with trips to New Palestine and Elder, and a season finale against Roncalli. East Central will once again be a run-heavy team with running backs Ryan Minges and Colton Bellman. Leading tacklers Chase McCracken and Troy Sebastian are also back for their junior season.
4. Covington Catholic Colonels
First and foremost, CovCath will look to avoid an 0-2 start for the third straight season. While there are many new faces on the field, head coach Eddie Eviston added a lot of experience to his coaching staff with former Ryle athletic director Mike Woolf and former Campbell County coach Brian Weinrich. Kiyan Miller is only a sophomore, but could be the most electric running back in Northern Kentucky. Cash Myers and Jonny Lind, who is also committed to Army as an offensive lineman, will anchor the defense.
5. Lloyd Memorial Juggernauts
Depending on Lloyd's quarterback situation, it should be another memorable season in Erlanger. If it's freshman Dominance Scott under center, he'll have plenty of upperclassmen ready to help him learn the ropes. While the Juggernauts open the season against Newport Central Catholic and Newport, they will face several larger schools and will travel to Aiken (Ohio).
6. Lawrenceburg Tigers
The Indianapolis Star recently picked the Tigers, behind Crue Gilmour, to win the Indiana High School Athletic Association Class 3A title this season, and it would be a long time coming. Lawrenceburg's two previous state championships came in 1975 and 1978. This year's junior and senior classes were in junior high school when the Tigers went to the 2022 state championship game.
7. Ryle Raiders
After seven postseason wins in the last two seasons, the Raiders enter 2026 with a lot of new faces. But that only gives the returners and first-year varsity players a chance to prove themselves. They'll get plenty of opportunities as Ryle faces Covington Catholic, Conner, Cooper, Christian Academy-Louisville and Highlands in the first half of the schedule.
8. Simon Kenton Pioneers
The Pioneers won their first postseason game since 2019 before running into Trinity. Expect marked improvements in year two under Joe Wynn as quarterback Grant Webb, receivers Forest Hughes and Michael Newborn, linebacker Jason Rabe and defensive back Peyton Testerman all return.
9. Holy Cross Indians
The Indians return nearly all their high-level contributors from the program's first undefeated season. Expectations are just as high this season, but they won't let the pressure break them. Holy Cross's toughest regular-season game last year was a 6-3 win over Bishop Brossart; the Mustangs figure to be the biggest obstacle on the schedule this fall.
10. Newport Wildcats
Jaden Conley and Demarco Jackson return to lead the offense, and tackle and sack leader Sean Hurry enters his senior season. With the same schedule as last year, the Wildcats seem destined for a fourth straight eight-win season and could earn their first win over Newport Central Catholic since 1999.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 10 football teams in NKY, Indiana as 2026 season begins
