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The high school football season is just weeks away, so which games are Herald-Times readers most looking forward to watching?
That's the subject of our first poll of the 2026-27 school year as practices get under way on Monday, Aug. 3, leading into the season openers on Aug. 21. Readers may vote as often as they like until the poll closes on Thursday, Aug. 6 at noon.
More: Why Matt Britton accepted Bloomington North boys basketball job
Here are the nominees:
Panthers and Cougars played each other in the opener from 1973-80 and will do so again as a non-conference game with North now in the Mid-State Conference and South floating this season as an independent before joining the Hoosier Hills Conference. It will also be the debut of new North coach Andy Harding.
This game has been a doozy the past two seasons, and the Panthers have won this battle on the road just once since 2017. Both teams were sectional champions last year.
Mustangs were one of two WIC teams to beat the Class 1A state champs last year, doing so in a classic overtime game. Rebuilt Eagles will be seeking some revenge.
Western Indiana Conference rivals will get together in their annual spot. In the past five games, Owen Valley won three by routs in 2021-23 and Edgewood answered with lopsided wins the past two seasons.
The Cougars will be at the end of a tough stretch to begin their first year in the Mid-State, starting with Martinsville and Mooresville before facing Tyler Bless (nephew of former North head coach Scott) and his Quakers, whose only losses last year were to Decatur Central, Whiteland and New Palestine.
Mustangs will go on the road to play the newest member of the Western Indiana Conference. It'll be their first ever regular season meeting as the Alice won their only playoff game in 2021.
Cougars slog through the Mid-State continues with a trip to take on last year's league champs who moved up to 6A after winning the 2024 Class 5A state title. The Hawks are 31-8 the past three seasons.
Saturday game due to the five-hour, 280-mile bus ride to play the three-time Ohio State champs (the last in Division V in 2024), who have played in nine other title games. Ironton, a school of just over 400, started playing football in 1895 and has piled up 763 wins.
Annual rivalry game between Greene County squads. Miners are expected to field one of the top teams in 2A again while the T-Birds are looking to build on Shawn Nikirk's second year as head coach.
The Western Indiana Conference champion Knights have won 16 straight over the Mustangs, who are hoping this game will have title hopes on the line.
New, old Patriots head coach Troy Burgess leads his alma mater against a South Putnam program he coached from 2006-13.
Battle of the T-Birds is the annual end to the regular season for these Southwest Conference rivals, who are 8-8 against each other since 2011.
This two-game series ends this year as the Panthers transition into the HHC. The last time South played at CG was in the 2009 sectional. Last year, the 6A Trojans overwhelmed the Panthers in the second half to pull away 33-12 and it'll be another great test for South on the doorstep of the playoffs.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Vote for the 2026 Bloomington area High School Football Game of the Year
Continue reading...
That's the subject of our first poll of the 2026-27 school year as practices get under way on Monday, Aug. 3, leading into the season openers on Aug. 21. Readers may vote as often as they like until the poll closes on Thursday, Aug. 6 at noon.
More: Why Matt Britton accepted Bloomington North boys basketball job
Here are the nominees:
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Week 1: Bloomington South at Bloomington North
Panthers and Cougars played each other in the opener from 1973-80 and will do so again as a non-conference game with North now in the Mid-State Conference and South floating this season as an independent before joining the Hoosier Hills Conference. It will also be the debut of new North coach Andy Harding.
Week 2: Bloomington South at Martinsville
This game has been a doozy the past two seasons, and the Panthers have won this battle on the road just once since 2017. Both teams were sectional champions last year.
Week 3: Edgewood at South Putnam
Mustangs were one of two WIC teams to beat the Class 1A state champs last year, doing so in a classic overtime game. Rebuilt Eagles will be seeking some revenge.
Week 4: Owen Valley at Edgewood
Western Indiana Conference rivals will get together in their annual spot. In the past five games, Owen Valley won three by routs in 2021-23 and Edgewood answered with lopsided wins the past two seasons.
Week 5: Plainfield at Bloomington North
The Cougars will be at the end of a tough stretch to begin their first year in the Mid-State, starting with Martinsville and Mooresville before facing Tyler Bless (nephew of former North head coach Scott) and his Quakers, whose only losses last year were to Decatur Central, Whiteland and New Palestine.
Week 6: Edgewood at Vincennes Lincoln
Mustangs will go on the road to play the newest member of the Western Indiana Conference. It'll be their first ever regular season meeting as the Alice won their only playoff game in 2021.
Week 7: Bloomington North at Decatur Central
Cougars slog through the Mid-State continues with a trip to take on last year's league champs who moved up to 6A after winning the 2024 Class 5A state title. The Hawks are 31-8 the past three seasons.
Week 7: Bloomington South at Ironton, Ohio
Saturday game due to the five-hour, 280-mile bus ride to play the three-time Ohio State champs (the last in Division V in 2024), who have played in nine other title games. Ironton, a school of just over 400, started playing football in 1895 and has piled up 763 wins.
Week 8: Eastern Greene at Linton
Annual rivalry game between Greene County squads. Miners are expected to field one of the top teams in 2A again while the T-Birds are looking to build on Shawn Nikirk's second year as head coach.
Week 8: Northview at Edgewood
The Western Indiana Conference champion Knights have won 16 straight over the Mustangs, who are hoping this game will have title hopes on the line.
Week 8: South Putnam at Owen Valley
New, old Patriots head coach Troy Burgess leads his alma mater against a South Putnam program he coached from 2006-13.
Week 9: North Central at Eastern Greene
Battle of the T-Birds is the annual end to the regular season for these Southwest Conference rivals, who are 8-8 against each other since 2011.
Week 9: Bloomington South at Center Grove
This two-game series ends this year as the Panthers transition into the HHC. The last time South played at CG was in the 2009 sectional. Last year, the 6A Trojans overwhelmed the Panthers in the second half to pull away 33-12 and it'll be another great test for South on the doorstep of the playoffs.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Vote for the 2026 Bloomington area High School Football Game of the Year
Continue reading...
