Indianapolis kicks off the high school football season with excitement as the defending champion Ben Davis takes the number one spot in the inaugural USA TODAY Network Indiana poll for Class 6A. This ranking comes from a vote among statewide media members, and Ben Davis impressively secured the top position on 12 out of 13 ballots. The only other first-place vote went to last year’s runner-up, Crown Point, who came in second overall.
As we look closer at the rankings, the top teams in other classes have also been established. For Class 5A, Decatur Central leads the way, while New Palestine holds the number one spot in Class 4A. Heritage Hills takes the top ranking in Class 3A, Lutheran stands as the best in Class 2A, and South Putnam finishes at the top of Class A.
The rankings reflect the effort of media members deeply engaged with Indiana high school football. The ballots were cast by a pool that includes various sports reporters and editors from different publications, ensuring a well-rounded perspective on the teams across the state.
The complete rankings for Class 6A showcase Ben Davis with a total of 129 points, followed by Crown Point with 104 points. Center Grove is in third with 97 points, while Westfield and Warren Central tie for fourth at 76 points each. Other notable teams include Hamilton Southeastern in sixth, Brownsburg at seventh, Carmel in eighth, Carroll (Fort Wayne) ninth, and Cathedral rounding out the top ten.
The anticipation for the season ahead is palpable as teams prepare to battle it out on the field. With each class showcasing its top programs, fans can look forward to an exciting slate of games this year.
