We Predicted Every 2026 HS Football League Winner—See The List
San Diego High School Football 2026 Season Preview: A Simple Guide for Everyone
Welcome to the 2026 season! High school football in San Diego officially kicks off Thursday night when Torrey Pines travels to Hawaii to play Honolulu Radford. The first local games right here in San Diego start Friday night. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just curious about your local teams, this guide breaks down everything you need to know—in plain English.
What Do All These Numbers Mean?
Before we dive into the leagues, let’s decode the two main numbers you’ll see for every team:
| Term | Simple Explanation |
|---|---|
| U-T Prediction | The San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper’s best guess at how teams will finish in their league (1st place, 2nd place, etc.). Think of it as the "local expert opinion." |
| MaxPreps Rating | A computer-generated score from the website MaxPreps.com. Higher numbers = stronger teams. It considers wins, losses, strength of schedule, and more. A rating of 90+ is elite; 50-70 is average; below 20 means the team has a tough road ahead. |
Key Insight: The MaxPreps League Average tells you how strong the entire league is top-to-bottom. Higher average = tougher competition every week.
League-by-League Breakdown
Below are all 16 leagues in the San Diego Section, organized from strongest to weakest based on their MaxPreps League Average. Each league shows the predicted finish (U-T) and each team’s computer rating.
1. Avocado West League
League Average: 83.95 (Strongest league in San Diego!)
| Predicted Finish | Team | 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: Three teams rated near 90! La Costa Canyon actually has the highest rating (89.85) but is predicted 3rd. This league is a gauntlet.
2. Western League
League Average: 80.32
| Predicted Finish | Team | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cathedral Catholic | 98.47 |
| 2 | Lincoln | 92.56 |
| 3 | Point Loma | 77.04 |
| 4 | Mission Bay | 53.24 |
Superstar Alert: Cathedral Catholic (98.47) has the highest rating in the entire section. They’re a powerhouse. Lincoln (92.56) is no slouch either.
3. Avocado East League
League Average: 68.49
| Predicted Finish | Team | 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 |
Tight Race: The top four teams are separated by less than 10 points. Poway (72.03) is rated higher than predicted 1st-place Oceanside (71.53). Expect surprises!
4. Grossmont Hills League
League Average: 64.81
| Predicted Finish | Team | 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 |
Interesting Twist: Mount Miguel (73.36) has the 2nd-highest rating but is predicted 5th. El Capitan (35.68) has a big gap to close.
5. Eastern League
League Average: 58.40
| Predicted Finish | Team | 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 |
Rating vs. Prediction Mismatch: St. Augustine has the best rating (66.05) but is predicted 4th. San Diego (55.67) is predicted 1st despite the lowest rating among top-4 teams. The U-T sees something the computer doesn’t!
6. Coastal League
League Average: 51.88
| Predicted Finish | Team | 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 |
Private School League: All four schools are private/parochial. Santa Fe Christian is the clear favorite.
7. Imperial Valley League
League Average: 44.92
| Predicted Finish | Team | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Union | 54.25 |
| 2 | Holtville | 53.64 |
| 3 | Imperial | 52.72 |
| 4 | Brawley | 40.64 |
| 5 | Calexico | 23.37 |
Road Trips: These schools are in the Imperial Valley (east of San Diego). Central Union, Holtville, and Imperial are tightly packed at the top.
8. Metro Mesa League
League Average: 44.37
| Predicted Finish | Team | 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 |
Clear Favorite: Mater Dei Catholic (62.21) towers over the rest of the league by 20+ points.
9. Palomar League
League Average: 41.31
| Predicted Finish | Team | 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 > San Pasqual? Ramona (50.61) has a slightly better rating but is predicted 2nd. Another close race!
10. City League
League Average: 37.44
| Predicted Finish | Team | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison | 58.79 |
| 2 | Patrick Henry | 43.17 |
| 3 | Mira Mesa | 33.13 |
| 4 | Hoover | 28.55 |
| 5 | Crawford | 23.56 |
Madison Dominates: Madison (58.79) is 15+ points ahead of 2nd-place Patrick Henry. They’re the heavy favorite.
11. Mesa Pacific League
League Average: 30.64
| Predicted Finish | Team | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilltop | 34.34 |
| 2 | Chula Vista | 31.43 |
| 3 | Sweetwater | 32.44 |
| 4 | Bonita Vista | 24.35 |
Three-Team Race: Hilltop, Sweetwater, and Chula Vista are separated by less than 3 points. Any of them could win.
12. Pacific League
League Average: 30.15
| Predicted Finish | Team | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maranatha Christian | 37.71 |
| 2 | Coastal Academy | 37.05 |
| 3 | Classical Academy | 25.43 |
| 4 | Escondido Charter | 20.56 |
Charter/Private League: Maranatha and Coastal Academy are virtually tied at the top.
13. Grossmont Valley League
League Average: 28.82
| Predicted Finish | Team | 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 |
Biggest Mismatch: Grossmont (47.29) has the highest rating by far but is predicted 2nd! Valhalla (20.71) is predicted 1st despite a much lower rating. El Cajon Valley (6.98) faces an uphill battle.
14. Central League
League Average: 28.04
| Predicted Finish | Team | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morse | 34.83 |
| 2 | Coronado | 36.39 |
| 3 | Kearny | 29.97 |
| 4 | Canyon Hills | 29.38 |
| 5 | Clairemont | 9.67 |
Coronado vs. Morse: Coronado (36.39) has a better rating but Morse is predicted 1st. Clairemont (9.67) will struggle.
15. Valley League
League Average: 27.14
| Predicted Finish | Team | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rancho Buena Vista | 29.33 |
| 2 | Westview | 38.74 |
| 3 | Fallbrook | 27.53 |
| 4 | Vista | 12.97 |
Westview Underrated? Westview (38.74) has the best rating by 9 points but is predicted 2nd. Rancho Buena Vista (29.33) gets the U-T nod.
16. Desert League
League Average: 17.15
| Predicted Finish | Team | 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 |
Remote Schools: These teams are in the desert region. Palo Verde is the clear class of the league.
17. Metro Pacific League
League Average: 12.60
| Predicted Finish | Team | MaxPreps Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest-San Diego | 18.43 |
| 2 | San Ysidro | 15.56 |
| 3 | Mar Vista | 16.36 |
| 4 | Castle Park | 0.06 |
South Bay Schools: All ratings are low. Castle Park (0.06) is essentially at zero.
18. Sunset League
League Average: -5.08 (Only league with a negative average!)
| Predicted Finish | Team | 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 |
Developmental League: Negative ratings mean these programs are rebuilding or very young. O’Farrell Charter (2.35) is the only team above zero.
Top 5 Storylines to Follow This Season
- Cathedral Catholic’s Quest for Perfection – With a 98.47 rating, they’re the section’s juggernaut.
- Avocado West Gauntlet – Three 89+ teams. Someone good will lose league games.
- Rating vs. Prediction Battles – Grossmont, St. Augustine, Westview, Mount Miguel: teams the computer loves but experts doubt.
- Mesa Pacific Three-Way Tie – Hilltop, Sweetwater, Chula Vista separated by 2.9 points.
- Thursday Night Kickoff – Torrey Pines vs. Honolulu Radford in Hawaii starts it all!
Quick Reference: Strongest Leagues (Top to Bottom)
| Rank | League | Average Rating | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avocado West | 83.95 | Elite – Multiple title contenders |
| 2 | Western | 80.32 | Powerhouse – Cathedral Catholic leads |
| 3 | Avocado East | 68.49 | Competitive – Balanced top-to-bottom |
| 4 | Grossmont Hills | 64.81 | Top-Heavy – Granite Hills stands out |
| 5 | Eastern | 58.40 | Unpredictable – Ratings ≠ Predictions |
| … | … | … | … |
| 18 | Sunset | -5.08 | Rebuilding – Programs finding footing |
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: When does the season actually start for most San Diego teams?
A: Friday night! Thursday’s game (Torrey Pines at Honolulu Radford) is the only Week 0 game. Everyone else starts Friday.
Q: What’s the difference between "U-T Prediction" and "MaxPreps Rating"?
A: U-T Prediction = human experts guessing final standings. MaxPreps Rating = computer math based on past results, schedule strength, and stats. They often disagree!
Q: Why does the Sunset League have negative ratings?
A: MaxPreps ratings can go negative for teams with very limited varsity history, many blowout losses, or new programs. It doesn’t mean "bad kids"—it means "rebuilding program."
Q: Which team has the highest rating in the whole section?
A: Cathedral Catholic (98.47) – they’re in a league of their own (literally and figuratively).
Q: Can a team with a low rating still win their league?
A: Absolutely! Ratings are based on past data. New coaches, transfers, player development, and schedule quirks change everything. That’s why they play the games!
Summary
The 2026 San Diego high school football season launches this week with 18 leagues and 100+ teams. The Avocado West and Western leagues are the heavyweight divisions, led by La Costa Canyon/Carlsbad/Mission Hills and the dominant Cathedral Catholic. Several leagues feature fascinating clashes between computer ratings and expert predictions—especially Grossmont Hills, Eastern, Grossmont Valley, and Valley leagues. Whether your team is a powerhouse (Cathedral Catholic) or rebuilding (Sunset League), every Friday night brings community, tradition, and the chance to make memories.
Grab a hot dog, find your alumni section, and enjoy the best time of year in San Diego sports!
Data sourced from San Diego Union-Tribune predictions and MaxPreps.com ratings. Article written by John Maffei.