We Predicted Every 2026 HS Football League Champion
San Diego High School Football 2026 Season Preview: Your Complete Guide
Welcome to your ultimate cheat sheet for the 2026 San Diego high school football season! Whether you’re a die-hard fan, a proud parent, or just curious about which teams might shine this fall, this guide breaks down every league, every team, and what the numbers really mean—all in plain English.
When Does the Season Start?
- Technically Thursday night: Torrey Pines travels to Hawaii to face Honolulu Radford.
- First local games: Friday night under the lights across San Diego County.
Important Point: The season kicks off early with a cross-ocean matchup! Torrey Pines gets extra miles (and jet lag) before the rest of the county suits up.
How to Read This Guide
Each league below shows:
- U-T Prediction Rank – The San Diego Union-Tribune’s best guess at final league standings.
- School Name – The high school team.
- MaxPreps Rating – A computer-generated strength score (higher = stronger).
- League Average – The average MaxPreps rating for all teams in that league (shows overall league strength).
What is MaxPreps?
Think of it like a power ranking for high school teams. It crunches wins, losses, strength of schedule, and margin of victory into one number. Higher is better. A rating of 100 is elite; negative numbers mean a team struggled badly last year.
League-by-League Breakdown
Avocado West League
Strongest league in the county (Avg: 83.95)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mission Hills | 87.22 |
| 2 | Carlsbad | 89.58 |
| 3 | La Costa Canyon | 89.85 |
| 4 | Torrey Pines | 73.70 |
| 5 | San Marcos | 79.44 |
Watch this league! Four teams above 79. This is a gauntlet every week.
Western League
Heavyweight at the top (Avg: 80.32)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cathedral Catholic | 98.47 |
| 2 | Lincoln | 92.56 |
| 3 | Point Loma | 77.04 |
| 4 | Mission Bay | 53.24 |
Cathedral Catholic (98.47) is a juggernaut. That’s one of the highest ratings in the entire state.
Avocado East League
Tight race in the middle (Avg: 68.49)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside | 71.53 |
| 2 | Rancho Bernardo | 72.55 |
| 3 | Del Norte | 63.88 |
| 4 | Poway | 72.03 |
| 5 | El Camino | 63.27 |
Poway and Rancho Bernardo are nearly tied. This could come down to a head-to-head showdown.
Grossmont Hills League
Top-heavy with a surprise at #5 (Avg: 64.81)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Granite Hills | 85.68 |
| 2 | Helix | 69.10 |
| 3 | Steele Canyon | 60.27 |
| 4 | El Capitan | 35.68 |
| 5 | Mount Miguel | 73.36 |
Mount Miguel (73.36) ranked 5th? The U-T thinks they’ll underperform their rating. Keep an eye on them!
Eastern League
Balanced but no powerhouse (Avg: 58.40)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | 55.67 |
| 2 | La Jolla | 62.44 |
| 3 | Scripps Ranch | 62.85 |
| 4 | St. Augustine | 66.05 |
| 5 | Christian | 52.81 |
| 6 | University City | 51.14 |
St. Augustine has the highest rating but is picked 4th. The U-T sees a competitive logjam.
Coastal League
Small league, Santa Fe Christian leads (Avg: 51.88)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe Christian | 62.13 |
| 2 | La Jolla Country Day | 42.97 |
| 3 | Bishop’s | 51.47 |
| 4 | Army-Navy | 50.96 |
Imperial Valley League
Central Union on top (Avg: 44.92)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Union | 54.25 |
| 2 | Holtville | 53.64 |
| 3 | Imperial | 52.72 |
| 4 | Brawley | 40.64 |
| 5 | Calexico | 23.37 |
Metro Mesa League
Mater Dei Catholic stands alone (Avg: 44.37)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mater Dei Catholic | 62.21 |
| 2 | Montgomery | 40.74 |
| 3 | Eastlake | 40.20 |
| 4 | Olympian | 38.97 |
| 5 | Otay Ranch | 33.73 |
Palomar League
Tight at the top (Avg: 41.31)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Pasqual | 49.55 |
| 2 | Ramona | 50.61 |
| 3 | Valley Center | 42.03 |
| 4 | Mt. Carmel | 37.41 |
| 5 | Escondido | 26.99 |
Ramona has a higher rating but is picked 2nd. San Pasqual gets the nod—maybe due to returning players or schedule.
City League
Madison clearly ahead (Avg: 37.44)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison | 58.79 |
| 2 | Patrick Henry | 43.17 |
| 3 | Mira Mesa | 33.13 |
| 4 | Hoover | 28.55 |
| 5 | Crawford | 23.56 |
Mesa Pacific League
Four teams, very close (Avg: 30.64)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilltop | 34.34 |
| 2 | Chula Vista | 31.43 |
| 3 | Sweetwater | 32.44 |
| 4 | Bonita Vista | 24.35 |
Pacific League
Small private/charter league (Avg: 30.15)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maranatha Christian | 37.71 |
| 2 | Coastal Academy | 37.05 |
| 3 | Classical Academy | 25.43 |
| 4 | Escondido Charter | 20.56 |
Grossmont Valley League
Grossmont has high rating but picked 2nd (Avg: 28.82)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valhalla | 20.71 |
| 2 | Grossmont | 47.29 |
| 3 | Santana | 29.61 |
| 4 | West Hills | 28.42 |
| 5 | Monte Vista | 27.87 |
| 6 | El Cajon Valley | 6.98 |
Grossmont (47.29) is WAY higher rated than Valhalla (20.71) but picked 2nd. Big storyline: Can Valhalla defy the numbers?
Central League
Coronado has best rating but Morse picked 1st (Avg: 28.04)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morse | 34.83 |
| 2 | Coronado | 36.39 |
| 3 | Kearny | 29.97 |
| 4 | Canyon Hills | 29.38 |
| 5 | Clairemont | 9.67 |
Valley League
Westview has best rating but Rancho Buena Vista picked 1st (Avg: 27.14)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rancho Buena Vista | 29.33 |
| 2 | Westview | 38.74 |
| 3 | Fallbrook | 27.53 |
| 4 | Vista | 12.97 |
Desert League
Palo Verde leads (Avg: 17.15)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Verde | 33.09 |
| 2 | Vincent Memorial | 27.09 |
| 3 | Mountain Empire | 13.54 |
| 4 | Calipatria | 12.84 |
| 5 | Southwest-El Centro | 7.03 |
Metro Pacific League
Lowest ratings in the county (Avg: 12.60)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest-San Diego | 18.43 |
| 2 | San Ysidro | 15.56 |
| 3 | Mar Vista | 16.36 |
| 4 | Castle Park | 0.06 |
Sunset League
Only league with negative average (Avg: -5.08)
| Rank | School | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | O’Farrell Charter | 2.35 |
| 2 | Victory Christian Academy | -0.66 |
| 3 | Foothills Christian | -6.42 |
| 4 | Orange Glen | -4.48 |
| 5 | Tri-City Christian | -16.21 |
Negative ratings = teams that struggled significantly last season. But every year is a fresh start!
Summary: What You Need to Know
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Season Opener | Thu: Torrey Pines @ Honolulu Radford (Hawaii) |
| Local Kickoff | Friday night across San Diego |
| Strongest League | Avocado West (Avg: 83.95) |
| Top-Rated Team | Cathedral Catholic (98.47) |
| Biggest Rating vs. Rank Mismatch | Grossmont (47.29 rating, picked 2nd) |
| Most Competitive Leagues | Avocado West, Western, Avocado East |
| Author | John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune |
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. What does "MaxPreps rating" actually mean?
It’s a math formula that looks at wins, losses, who you played, and by how much you won/lost. Higher = better. It’s like a credit score for football teams.
2. Why does the U-T prediction sometimes disagree with MaxPreps?
MaxPreps looks at past data. The U-T writers know current info: returning starters, coaching changes, injuries, transfers. They blend stats with insider knowledge.
3. Which games should I absolutely not miss?
- Cathedral Catholic vs. Lincoln (Western League showdown)
- Mission Hills vs. Carlsbad vs. La Costa Canyon (Avocado West round-robin)
- Grossmont vs. Valhalla (Rating vs. Prediction drama)
- Torrey Pines in Hawaii (Season opener adventure!)
4. Can a team with a low/negative rating win their league?
Absolutely! Ratings reflect last year. New coaches, senior leadership, transfers, or scheme changes can flip a program fast. That’s why they play the games!
5. Where can I find schedules and scores?
Check MaxPreps.com, the San Diego Union-Tribune sports section, or your school’s athletic website. Most games are Friday nights at 7 PM.
Final Thought
The 2026 season is shaping up to be wildly entertaining. From Cathedral Catholic’s quest for dominance to Grossmont Valley’s rating-vs-reality puzzle, every league has a storyline. Grab a hoodie, find a bleacher, and enjoy Friday Night Lights in America’s Finest City!
Data sourced from John Maffei / San Diego Union-Tribune & MaxPreps.com