Ohio high school football 2026 | Greater Akron rankings heading into Week 1

The Greater Akron high school football preseason power rankings are here.

Let the debate begin on what 2026 will look like in November.

And away we go ...

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• 2025 record: 11-2, lost 38-7 to Avon in a Division II state semifinal
• 2026 region: Division II, Region 5
• 2026 season opener: at Highland (12-1 last season)

David Ternosky is back and has a great line anchored by Owen Pelkowski in front of him. Cambell Lann will take over for Milan Parris at wideout and Dario Jeras is an absolute beast.

• 2025 record: 11-1, lost 42-21 to Avon in a Division II, Region 6 semifinal
• 2026 region: Division II, Region 5
• 2026 season opener: at Cleveland Heights (5-6 last season)

Two-way star Anderson Tetzel is back from injury and so is Luke Kinser at linebacker. Future Division I quarterback Brysen Hall has an absolute burner in Jay’len King. Wadsworth will figure out how to replace All-Ohio running backs Cooper Gray and Gavin Madigan.

• 2025 record: 10-2, lost 35-7 to Walsh Jesuit in a Division II, Region 5 final
• 2026 region: Division II, Region 5
• 2026 season opener: at West Orange, Fla. (10-2 last season)

Yes, the loss of the Feister brothers will hurt, but Hoban will be a bear defensively once again, especially up front. The Major Cribbs era has begun at Hoban so expect more of dual-threat offense from the Knights.

• 2025 record: 8-4, lost 49-18 to Walsh Jesuit in a Division II, Region 5 quarterfinal
• 2026 region: Division II, Region 5
• 2026 season opener: at St. Vincent-St. Mary (0-9 last season)

The Scott Barwidi era starts for the Knights this season with coach Jeff Fox back at Willoughby South. Nordonia has two absolute beasts on both sides of the ball with quarterback Steven Fakult and edge Karsen Fisher ready to ball out.

• 2025 record: 10-3, lost 35-3 to Hoban in a Division II, Region 5 semifinal
• 2026 region: Division I, Region 1
• 2026 season opener: at Austintown Fitch (9-2 last season)

The Explorers moved up to Division I, Region 1 and out of the gauntlet known as Division II, Region 5. Quarterback Hayden Lipinski and running back Reno Ferri could be a problem for Suburban League National Conference foes this season.

• 2025 record: 12-1, lost 36-19 to Avon in the Division II, Region 6 final
• 2026 region: Division II, Region 5
• 2026 season opener: Walsh Jesuit (11-2 last season)

Yes, we know Beacon Journal Offensive Player of the Year Casey Myser is playing baseball at Ohio University now. The JV team went 8-2 last season and should mesh well with returning letterwinners as Highland moves up to the Suburban League National Conference.

• 2025 record: 12-1, lost 21-20 to Toledo Central Catholic in a Division III state semifinal
• 2026 region: Division III, Region 9
• 2026 opener: at Brecksville (7-5 last season)

Charley Levak graduated and Joey Kopec is playing football for Rutgers. That said, Tommy Kopec is back in the fold and should step right in to help a team that reached the state final four last season for the first time in school history.

• 2025 record: 6-5, lost 27-24 to Nordonia in the opening round of the Division II, Region 5 playoffs.
• 2026 region: Division II, Region 5
• 2026 opener: Kent Roosevelt (5-5 last season)

Twinsburg won four in a row but then lost five of its last seven last season. The growing pains are done for these Tigers as quarterback Dylan Fantone leads the team into what could be a very promising season.

Also considered: Norton (10-2), Green (6-6), Manchester (8-4)

Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio high school football 2026 | Greater Akron rankings heading into Week 1

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