The start of the 2026 Ohio high school football season is days away, and over the next three months, games will provide the answers to all the big questions.
But The Dispatch is making its best effort now, before the games begin.
Having already posed and answered 10 questions on Aug. 12, Dispatch high school reporters Dave Purpura and Frank DiRenna ask and answer 10 more:
Which first-year central Ohio coach will field the best team?
Sixteen central Ohio teams have new coaches this fall, and those programs are at a variety of stages. Some, like Bloom-Carroll, Northland and Walnut Ridge, are trying to stay at or near the top of their leagues and figure out how to get a few rounds deeper in the playoffs. Others, like Newark Catholic, are champing at the bit to regain perennial contender status. The Green Wave
hired a proven winner in onetime Pickerington North coach Tom Phillips to do just that.
Newark Catholic always has talent, but it hasn’t made the playoffs or won more than three games since 2022. That is an eternity for a program with 39 postseason appearances. Seniors Malone Hutchison (QB) and Jaxon Holman (RB/DB), among others, will do their best to change the course for their team.
Which team benefits the most from divisional and regional changes?
It would be easy, if not snarky, to say anyone in Division III, Region 11 after two-time reigning state champion Watterson moved to Division II, Region 7. That might end up being the case unless another juggernaut emerges in that region, but Grove City moving to Division I, Region 2 should be in the conversation.
Grove City, Central Crossing and perennial regional contender Upper Arlington moved to Region 2 under initial realignments posted in April, but UA was sent back to Region 3 in June after eight teams statewide moved up to Division I.
As for Region 2, the top four teams from last year were either moved to different regions (Middletown and Springboro) or changed to Division II (Findlay and Troy). Huber Heights Wayne should be in the running for the regional title with Ohio State-bound five-star receiver Jamier Brown back in the fold, but who is to say Grove City couldn’t be? Running back Blaike Jackson is primed for a big season, and junior twins Cory and Zachary Nicodemus are promising linchpins on the offensive line.
Is a rebound season on tap for Harvest Prep?
If so, it will have been earned. The Warriors overcame several injuries, having an opponent forfeit a game – it was recorded as a win – and a rigorous independent schedule to finish 4-5 and place 16th in Division V, Region 19, four spots out of the postseason. This is a relatively young team – Bowling Green quarterback commit Collin Boff is one of eight seniors – but coach Milan Smith is enthused about a class of 24 freshmen, several of whom are expected to start. Harvest Prep, now in Division VI, Region 23, has 56 players, a far larger turnout than recent seasons.
Back-to-back games out of the gate against Midwest Athletic Conference juggernauts Versailles and Maria Stein Marion Local provide immediate litmus tests. Later games follow against Sandusky Perkins, Watterson and Ironton, and a Week 9 home game against Division I Westerville South contains a bevy of computer points.
Can North Union build on historic season?
Talk of Division V in central Ohio over the past few years has usually centered on Columbus Academy and Harvest Prep, but North Union went the furthest of any area team in the classification, finishing as a regional runner-up to cap its deepest postseason advancement.
The Wildcats might have been overlooked because they are outside of metro Columbus, play in a league centered west of the area and were in a different Division V region (20) than most other local teams (19). They are in Region 18 this year, which includes a Findlay Liberty-Benton team led by former Grandview Heights coach Jason Peters and a Genoa Area team that returns several key pieces from last year’s regional runner-up squad. Regional champion Liberty Center, including Ohio State offensive lineman commit Kellen Wymer, is now in Division VI.
All of that is to say last year’s experience should come in handy for North Union, despite the graduations of three all-state players. Another all-state honoree, senior quarterback and defensive back Nickolas Hajjar, will be among several leaders tasked with upholding the standard along with classmates Xavier Gruber (lineman, 7 sacks, 7½ tackles for loss) and Trenor Kyte (LB, 74 tackles).
Who could be this fall’s Mr. Football candidates from central Ohio?
It is an especially tricky question to pose this far in advance, but a few names can be thrown out for the one or possibly two finalists who will hail from central Ohio. More often than not, offensive players get the nod, so early candidates could include DeSales quarterback RJ Day, one of the Big Walnut duo of running back Nolan Buirley and quarterback Eli Stumpf or two-way stud lineman Reinaldo Perez from Columbus Academy. All are committed to Big Ten programs, although that's more of an anecdote than a prerequisite.
Central Ohio has not had a Mr. Football since Upper Arlington’s Jeff Backes in 2000.
Local Mr. Football candidates are determined by the same media panel that decides all-Central District football teams in early November. The winner is determined through a vote of Ohio Prep Sports Media Association members. (Full disclosure: Both authors of this article are in that group.)
Which central Ohio community has the best rivalry?
Well, right now, it is clearly Pickerington.
Central and North have developed one of the most competitive rivalries in the area since first meeting in 2008. Central holds a 16-8 advantage, but North has won the last four matchups.
The teams play Sept. 4 at Central in what could again be the first of two meetings this season – both should be Division I, Region 3 title contenders. They have met six times in the postseason, with Central holding a 4-2 edge.
Are any other communities ready to supplant Pickerington? Maybe Olentangy Local Schools, which features the past two Division I state champions in Liberty and Orange. The OCC-Central rivals face off in the regular-season finale Oct. 23 at Orange.
Can Westland earn first postseason win?
Coming off back-to-back postseason appearances, a program first, the Cougars are still seeking their first playoff victory.
Westland, which lost first-round playoff games in 2006 and each of the past two seasons, features several key returnees and an influx of new players. Perhaps this is the year the Cougars break through.
Germere Sanchez (WR/DB) has eight Division I offers, while Wittenberg commit Mike Daniels has transferred from Ready and will guide the offense at quarterback. Both are seniors.
Can Hilliard Darby bounce back from subpar 2025?
Second-year coach Brad Burchfield is confident his team will improve on last season’s 3-7 record thanks to a year of experience in his system and having a strong returning group.
The Panthers lost just six players to graduation and return 10 starters on defense and nine on offense.
“We’re excited,” Burchfield said. “We are a lot better.”
Key returnees include Ohio University commit Logan Krooner (DE/TE) and Cedric Holman Jr. (WR/DB). Both are seniors.
The Panthers open with road games against Lancaster and Hilliard Bradley before playing four consecutive home contests. A good start would go a long way toward having a bounce-back season.
Can London get to Canton?
The Red Raiders hope a move from Division III, Region 12 to Division IV, Region 16 helps in their pursuit of the program’s first state title.
London has enjoyed nine consecutive winning seasons but has yet to advance to a state final. The Raiders lost in state semifinals in 1994 (28-24 to Steubenville) and 2024 (56-21 to Watterson).
The drop in division, along with a strong returning nucleus, should aid London’s cause.
Junior Bryston Toronto is back after rushing for 1,127 yards and 19 touchdowns, and junior Colt Hughes is expected to succeed 2026 graduate Blake Reay at quarterback. Behind Reay, London went 12-1 last season, losing in a regional final.
Can Ready succeed behind new quarterback?
Coming off a 5-5 season, the Silver Knights have experience thanks to 17 seniors and 13 returning starters – seven on defense and six on offense – but they have big shoes to fill at quarterback with Daniels now at Westland.
Daniels passed for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 399 yards and two scores last fall. His backup, junior Ethan Mutnich, is the new starter.
Another key returnee, senior Markel Small (RB/DL), rushed for 341 yards and scored for six touchdowns last year. He also had 42 tackles, including seven for loss, and seven sacks.
High school sports reporters Frank DiRenna and Dave Purpura can be reached at sports@dispatch.com and at @DispatchPreps on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 more burning questions for 2026 central Ohio high school football
