USA TODAY Sports' preseason high school football rankings for Midwest region

[ASFN Admin]

As July hits its midway point and schools are getting ready to start in just a few short weeks, that means one thing is for certain: the high school football season is quickly approaching.

Given the talent in states like California, Florida, Georgia and Texas, it can sometime be forgotten just how great the talent in the Midwest is from both a player personnel standpoint to the overall teams.

Every year, a number of teams from the Midwest tend to end the year ranked alongside other national powers. This year is setting up to be no different.

More: Top high school football rivalries in the Midwest

With just a few weeks remaining before the 2026 high school football season kicks off, USA TODAY Sports is taking a look at every region and trying to find the top high school programs in each.

The Midwest region includes programs and athletes from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

1. Mount Carmel (Chicago, IL)​

2025 Record: 14-0

Key Players: LB Roman Igwebuike, Sr.; CB Tavares Harrington, Sr.; WR Quentin Burrell, Sr.

2. Anderson (Cincinnati, OH)​

2025 Record: 14-0

Key Players: QB Owen Scalf, Sr.; CB Ace Alston, Sr.; WR Tysin Weaver, Sr.

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3. Brownsburg (IN)​

2025 Record: 14-0

Key Players: QB Oscar Frye, Sr.; WR Branden Sharpe, Sr.; DL Dami Sowunmi, Sr.

4. Millard South (Omaha, NE)​

2025 Record: 12-1

Key Players: QB Trae Taylor, Sr.; S Tory Pittman III, Sr.; WR Antayvious Ellis, Sr.

5. East St. Louis (IL)​

2025 Record: 9-4

Key Players: RB Myson Johnson-Cook, Sr.; S Raheem Floyd, Sr.; QB Reece Shanklin, Sr.

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6. Bishop Watterson (OH)​

2025 Record: 14-0

Key Players: WR Carter Bellisari, Sr; IOL Davis Seaman, Sr.; EDGE Jack Schuler, Sr.

7. Massillon Washington (OH)​

2025 Record: 9-4

Key Players: ATH Brayton Feister, Sr.; ATH Brydon Feiser, Jr; TE Da'Shun Williams

8. St. Edward (Lakewood, OH)​

2025 Record: 11-3

Key Players: TE Joe Moore, Sr.; LB Bradyn Paulozzi, Sr.; OL Mason Wilhelm, Sr.

9. Big Walnut (Sunbury, OH)​

2025 Record: 12-2

Key Players: WR Jamier Brown, Sr.; QB Eli Stumpf, Sr.; RB Nolan Buirley, Sr.

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10. Detroit Catholic Central (MI)​

2025 Record: 14-0

Key Players: QB Duke Banta, Sr.; ATH Gideon Gash, Sr.; OT Matthew Brady, Sr.

11. St. Xavier (Cincinnati, OH)​

2025 Record: 11-3

Key Players: TE Ethan Cole, Sr.; DL Josh Fasbender, Buffalo; QB Thomas George, Sr.

12. Trinity (Louisville, KY)​

2025 Record: 13-2

Key Players: CB Allen Evans, Sr.; DL Sebastian Blue, Sr.; S Elijah Burns-Crump, Sr.

13. Olentangy Orange (Lewis Center, OH)​

2025 Record: 15-0

Key Players: WR Jake Luling, Sr.; LB Brennan Kesler, Sr.; OL Jake Hendon, Jr.

14. Avon (OH)​

2025 Record: 14-1

Key Players: OL Derek Weitzel, Jr.; WR Jackson Palmer, Sr.; RB Michael Colburn, Sr.

15. Cass Tech (Detroit, MI)​

2025 Record: 13-1

Key Players: QB Donald Tabron II, Jr.; WR Mylan Griggs, Jr.; OT Antijuan Wilkes, Jr.

Watch List:​

• Brother Rice (Chicago, IL)
• Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, OH)
• Elder (Cincinnati, OH)
• Westfield (IN)
• Warren Central (Indianapolis, IN)

USA TODAY Sports' Super 25 national rankings​

Wanting to see how the Midwest region's top teams stack up against the rest of the country? Stay tuned for USA TODAY Sports' preseason Super 25 national rankings, which will be unveiled on Tuesday, July 21.

Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: [email protected]. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA TODAY Sports' preseason high school football rankings for Midwest region

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