We continue our MHSAA football predictions and previews for conferences in the metro Detroit with the Detroit Public School League, Catholic League and Macomb Area Conference.
The PSL should have another competitive season in the 2026 Michigan high school football season.
One team reached a state title – Cass Tech – while King, Denby, Southeastern, Pershing, Cody and Central all made the state playoffs.
Here is a preview of what the 2026 PSL will look like.
Detroit Public School League football 2026 predictions
Blue Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Cass Tech; 2. King; 3. Southeastern; 4. East English Village 5. Renaissance; 6. Mumford 7. Henry Ford; 8. Western
Why Cass Tech?: Cass Tech has won four straight Blue Division titles over rival King. The Technicians have the state’s best quarterback, Donald Tabron
II, and a litany of future college talent at all three levels on both sides of the ball. King will challenge for a city title and a state title in Division 3, but Cass Tech still sits at the top of the city competition entering 2026.
Top 10 players to watch
- Donald Tabron II, Cass Tech QB
- Darryl Flemister, King WR/DB
- Antijuan Wilkes, Cass Tech OL
- Don Spillers, King WR/DB
- Collin Sumpter, Cass Tech LB
- Jameer Henry, King OL
- Greg Pope, East English Village WR/DB
- Khalil Hayes, Southeastern RB/LB
- Brandon Andrews, Renaissance OL/DL
- LaMarcus Army, Detroit Cass Tech DB/WR
Top 3 games:
- Cass Tech vs. King, Sept. 25 at 5 p.m.
- Southeastern vs. East English Village, Sept. 18 at 5 p.m.
- Renaissance vs. Mumford, Oct. 2 at 5 p.m.
Gold Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Denby; 2. Central; 3. Communication Media & Arts; 4. Cody; 5. Pershing; 6. Northwestern; 7. Osborn; 8. Douglass
Why Denby? Denby is the defending Gold Division champion. Though they have to replace quarterback Chris Kendrick, the Tars return plenty of talent, led by junior receiver Trey Bush. Denby has multiple returners on the offensive/defensive lines with plenty of game experience, while there is excitement about sophomore Malik Mobley transitioning from receiver to quarterback.
Top 10 players:
- Trey Bush, Denby WR/DB
- Jaden Anderson, Central OL/DL
- Daeyre Neely, Denby OL/DL
- Julius Crooks, Central LB/WR
- Kuronne Prescott, Communication Media & Arts WR/DB
- Anthony Ellis, Cody RB/DB
- Kaleb Barnes, Communication Media & Arts QB
- Kenneth Porter, Pershing RB/QB/WR/DB
- Elijah Jackson, Northwestern QB
- Davonte Toney, Osborn WR/DB
Top 3 games:
- Denby vs. Central, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
- CMA vs Cody, Sept. 24
- Denby vs. CMA, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.
Catholic High School League 2026 conference predictions
The toughest conference in Michigan high school football does not look any easier in 2026.
The CHSL, home of half of the defending MHSAA football state champions, will be another gauntlet from top to bottom. Novi Detroit Catholic Central, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Dearborn Divine Child and Jackson Lumen Christi all took home state trophies last year, while many more members made deep playoff runs.
Here is the full preview for the state’s toughest conference.
Central Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Novi Detroit Catholic Central; 2. Toledo Central Catholic; 3. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s; 4. Birmingham Brother Rice; 5. Warren De La Salle; 6. Toledo St. John’s Jesuit; 7. Toledo St. Francis De Sales
Why DCC? Catholic Central, the defending Division 1 champions, return nearly all of its offense, including one of the state’s best quarterbacks in Duke Banta and four offensive linemen. The Shamrocks have some new pieces on defense but employ the state’s best defensive player, Gideon Gash, who is primed for another massive season. It will be a tight race that likely goes down to the last few weeks, but Catholic Central has reloaded to a degree that is hard to look past.
Top 10 players (Michigan teams only):
- Gideon Gash, Catholic Central DB/WR
- Chad Willis, St. Mary’s WR
- Jayden Bell, Brother Rice DL
- Grayson Thurston, De La Salle QB
- Eric Anderson, Catholic Central OL
- Treighjan Gibson, St. Mary’s DL
- Tyler Trusel, Brother Rice WR
- Duke Banta, Catholic Central QB
- B.J. Adams, St. Mary’s LB
- Jackson Tur, De La Salle WR/TE/K
Top 3 games:
- St. Mary’s vs. Catholic Central, Oct. 9
- Brother Rice vs. De La Salle, Sept. 11
- Catholic Central vs. Brother Rice, Oct. 23 at Ford Field
AA Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Dearborn Divine Child; 2. Jackson Lumen Christi; 3. Birmingham Detroit Country Day; 4. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard; 5. U-D Jesuit
Why Divine Child? The defending Division 4 champions return over two dozen seniors, plenty of whom played key roles in last year’s 13-1 campaign. Quarterback Drew Sheridan will be a three-year starter as a junior and has plenty of talent around him at the skill positions and offensive line. The defense, an anchor of 2025’s run, still features plenty of talented players, especially at the second level.
Top 10 players:
- Anthony Cartwright, Country Day TE/DL
- Drew Sheridan, Divine Child QB
- Cash Cooper, Jackson Lumen Christi DL
- Giancarlo Vitti, Divine Child DB/WR
- Jack Bobin, Divine Child OL
- Benny Gatson, Lumen Christi QB
- Rayshawn Thomas, Divine Child WR
- Ian Everts, Father Gabriel Richard RB/DB
- James Torain, Country Day QB
- Baer Williams, Father Gabriel Richard OL/DL
Top 3 games:
- Divine Child vs. Lumen Christi, Oct. 23 at 4:30 p.m., Ford Field
- Country Day vs. Lumen Christi, Oct. 16
- Divine Child vs. Country Day, Sept. 11
Intersectional 1 Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood; 2. Clarkston Everest Collegiate; 3. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett; 4. Detroit Loyola
Why Cranbrook? Cranbrook was a surprising pick in the preseason poll, but the program is moving upward under second-year coach Marcus Green. Dynamic senior receiver Anthony Warchuck leads the team on both sides, while Brian Watkins and Charlie Fogle will be two other key returners in big roles. Cranbrook’s team will feature players from a dozen countries.
Top 10 players:
- Anthony Warchuck, Cranbrook WR/DB
- Michael Gaglio, Everest Collegiate RB/LB
- Brian Watkins, Cranbrook WR/DB
- Sean Harris, Liggett, WR/DB
- David Dale, Everest Collegiate OL/DL
- Karreon Mobley, Loyola DB/WR
- Charlie Fogle, Cranbrook RB/LB
- Jimmy McGrath, Everest Collegiate WR/LB
- Devon Mills, Loyola OL/DL
- Jason Cato, Liggett DL
Top 3 games:
- Cranbrook vs. Everest Collegiate, Oct. 16
- Liggett vs. Cranbrook, Sept. 18
- Everest Collegiate vs. Liggett, Oct. 9
Intersectional 2 Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Allen Park Cabrini; 2. Royal Oak Shrine; 3. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes; 4. Madison Heights Bishop Foley; 5. Marine City Cardinal Mooney.
Why Cabrini? Cabrini went undefeated in conference before going on one of the most successful postseason runs in school history. They return their quarterback and skill-position players but have questions on the lines of scrimmage. Like any small-school team playing the numbers game, good health will be paramount for a successful season.
Top 10 players:
- Evan Bergdoll, Cabrini QB
- Jaycee Foster, Shrine RB
- Logan Emerick, Cabrini TE/LB
- Riley Jones, Our Lady of the Lakes OL/LB
- Grant Poulton, Shrine OL/DL
- Jack Barber, Our Lady of the Lakes OL/DL
- Noah Roman, Cabrini RB/LB
- Robert Gjonaj, Bishop Foley RB/LB
- Landon Maas, Cardinal Mooney RB/LB
- Ashton Firek, Shrine RB/LB
Top 3 games:
- Cabrini vs. Shrine, Oct. 9.
- Shrine vs. Our Lady of the Lakes, Oct. 23
- Cabrini vs. Our Lady of the Lakes, Oct. 2.
2026 MAC conference predictions
It will be another competitive year in the top divisions of the Macomb Area Conference. Plenty of consistent playoff teams in the state's top divisions will duke it out for division titles and the opportunity to host games early in the playoffs when some of these teams are bound to meet again.
Red Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Romeo; 2. Grosse Pointe South; 3. Macomb Dakota; 4. Utica Eisenhower; 5. Sterling Heights Stevenson; 6. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley.
Why Romeo?: The reigning MAC Red champions return plenty of talent, especially at the skill positions on offense and secondary on defense. Romeo’s top receiver, Troy Smith, and running back, Parker Cohoon, return, which should help ease the transition of whoever wins the starting quarterback battle. At the top, it should be a tight race between the Bulldogs, Grosse Pointe South and Dakota.
Top 10 players:
- Elijah Goins, Dakota DB/WR
- Braden Chaffin, Stevenson OL
- Sam Rouleau, Grosse Pointe South QB
- Tayshawn Proctor, Romeo DE/FB
- Owen Gawel, Eisenhower QB
- Joel Williams, Chippewa Valley WR
- Troy Smith, Romeo WR/DB
- Rashad Wilson, Dakota DB
- Trey Grabowski, Grosse Pointe South WR/DB
- Kamari Davis-Ervin, Stevenson WR/DB
Top 3 games
- Dakota vs. Romeo, Sept. 18
- Grosse Pointe South vs. Stevenson, Sept. 18
- Romeo vs. Grosse Pointe South, Sept 25
White Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Utica; 2. Roseville; 3. Port Huron Northern; 4. St. Clair Shores Lakeview; 5. New Baltimore Anchor Bay; 6. Warren Mott
Why Utica?: On offense, Utica returns its quarterback, top receiver and a dynamic running back expected to have a bigger role. Defensively, Utica has one of the stronger linebacker duos in Michigan between Carter Czapski and Jakob Girardi. Coming off the most successful season in school history, Utica faces a tough schedule but has the pieces in place to contend for the top of a highly competitive division.
Top 10 players:
- Sam McGrath, Roseville OL/DL
- Carter Czapski, Utica LB/RB
- Narrel Jordan, Port Huron Northern DL
- Armani Hegmon, Roseville LB/TE
- Jakob Girardi, Utica LB
- Dallas Harris, Lakeview RB/DB
- Joey Lincoln, Port Huron Northern WR
- Nolan VanAcker, Anchor Bay QB
- Rece Gorney, Anchor Bay LB
- Travis Kelley, Lakeview RB/DB
Top 3 games:
- Roseville vs. Utica, Sept. 18
- Utica vs. Port Huron Northern, Oct. 2
- Lakeview vs. Roseville, Sept. 11
Blue Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Port Huron; 2. Warren Cousino; 3. Utica Ford; 4. Fraser; 5. Macomb L’Anse Creuse North; 6 Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse
Why Port Huron?: Port Huron’s crosstown rivals, Northern, have dominated the division in recent years but have jumped up to the White. Huron has one of the conference’s best players regardless of division, lineman Dylan Volpe, and plenty of returners after graduating 11 seniors. It is a tough schedule, but Port Huron’s consistency will help in a division with lots of new faces.
Top 10 players:
- Dylan Volpe, Port Huron OL/DL
- Amari Eldridge, Cousino LB/RB
- Dominic Binham, Ford RB/DB
- Dennis Kaminski, Cousino QB
- Jax Johnston, Port Huron QB
- Tabari Moore, Cousino OL/DL
- Vincenzo Russo, Ford WR
- Christopher Biggs, Fraser WR/LB
- Justin Jesse, L’anse Creuse North DL
- Dirvante Reid, Port Huron WR
Top 3 games:
- Port Huron vs. Cousino, Oct. 9
- Ford vs Cousino, Oct. 2
- Port Huron vs Ford, Sept. 18
Gold Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Marysville; 2. Warren Fitzgerald; 3. Madison Heights Lamphere; 4. Grosse Pointe North; 5. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore; 6. Sterling Heights
Why Marysville?: Marysville finished in second behind Fitzgerald, which went undefeated in the Gold, in 2025. Led by two-way lineman Drew Kryscynski, the Vikings have plenty of talent returning from a team that averaged over 30 points per game and will be hungry to avenge a two-point loss to the Spartans.
Top 10 players:
- Drew Kryscynski, Marysville OL/DL
- Deangelo Blessit, Fitzgerald WR/DB
- Braylon Cox, Lamphere QB
- Brayden Kozlowski, Grosse Pointe North DB
- Angelo Lipscomb, Fitzgerald RB
- Ty Busen, Marysville RB/DB
- Demarrio Johnson, Fitzgerald LB
- Justyse Strzalkowski-Nash, Lamphere OL
- Brady Wright, Marysville QB
- Ben Savich, Grosse Pointe North K
Top 3 games:
- Marysville vs. Fitzgerald, Sept. 11
- Marysville vs. Lamphere, Sept. 25
- Lamphere vs. Fitzgerald, Oct. 9
Silver Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Marine City; 2. Center Line; 3. Hazel Park; 4. Clinton Township Clintondale; 5. St. Clair; 6. Warren Woods-Tower; 7. St. Clair Shores South Lake
Why Marine City?: Marine City struggled with injuries at key spots in 2025 and still went undefeated to win the division. Now healthier, the Mariners should be in good shape to keep the Silver crown and set themselves up well for the playoffs.
Top 10 players:
- Masai Ali, Center Line RB
- Tucker Volkman, Marine City QB
- Aidan Segiun, Hazel Park QB
- Cortez Wilson, Clintondale WR/DB
- Jaxon Turnbull, St. Clair QB/DE
- Darius Wallace, Center Line WR/DB
- Rex Wright, Hazel Park OL/DL
- Eli Volkman, Marine City WR/DB
- Dharion Liner, Woods-Tower RB
- Jacob Armstead, Marine CityOL/DL
Top 3 games:
- Marine City vs. Hazel Park, Oct. 2
- Hazel Park vs. Clintondale, Oct. 23
- Marine City vs. Center Line, Sept. 18
Bronze Division
Predicted order of finish: 1. Madison Heights Madison; 2. Clawson; 3. Eastpointe; 4. Algonac; 5. Warren Lincoln; 6. New Haven.
Why Madison?: Madison turned heads with a 10-2 record in 2025, including a perfect conference record. Junior quarterback Nehemiah Patman is one of Michigan's most prolific dual-threat options, scoring over 50 touchdowns in his sophomore season. With nearly the entire team returning, Madison is set up to shoot for the stars in 2026, both in the Bronze and statewide in Division 8.
Top 10 players:
- Nehemiah Patman, Madison QB
- Zaheem Cannon, Eastpointe RB
- Graysen Carroll, Clawson TE/LB
- Dario Stefani, Algonac OL
- Gavyn Neal, Madison OL/DL
- Ahmir Evans, Lincoln WR
- Hunter Garrison, Clawson WR/LB
- Arsenio Washington, Madison WR/DB
- Will Bosco, New Haven OL/DL
- Bryce Hicks, Algonac RB
Top 3 games:
- Madison vs. Clawson, Oct. 9
- Madison vs. Eastpointe, Oct. 2
- Clawson vs. Algonac, Sept. 18
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Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for theDetroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit PSL, Catholic, MAC predictions for 2026 MHSAA football
