Indianapolis is buzzing with excitement as high school football kicks off in Indiana. In the inaugural USA TODAY Network Indiana football poll, Ben Davis has secured its spot as the preseason No. 1 team in Class 6A. The defending champions dominated the ballot, receiving 12 out of 13 first-place votes. Last year’s runner-up, Crown Point, took the remaining vote, placing them in second in the rankings.
The list of top teams does not end there. In Class 5A, Decatur Central leads the way with 11 first-place votes while Merrillville follows closely behind. The Class 4A leaderboard is at the top with New Palestine, who received 10 first-place votes, and is trailed by Bishop Chatard.
In Class 3A, Heritage Hills is in the lead with a total of 10 first-place votes, and Lutheran takes the top spot in Class 2A. Meanwhile, in Class A, South Putnam emerges as the front-runner with 8 first-place votes. The competition across all classes appears to be fierce and promising for the upcoming season.
The voting panel for this poll included various media members from across the state and aims to keep fans updated on the high school football scene. They will reassess and publish new rankings weekly, providing insights into the teams’ performances as the season progresses.
Here’s a glance at the top five teams in each class:
- Class 6A: 1. Ben Davis (12) 129 points, 2. Crown Point (1) 104 points, 3. Center Grove 97 points.
- Class 5A: 1. Decatur Central (11) 126 points, 2. Merrillville (1) 105 points.
- Class 4A: 1. New Palestine (10) 125 points, 2. Bishop Chatard (1) 110 points.
- Class 3A: 1. Heritage Hills (10) 123 points, 2. Knox (1) 95 points.
- Class 2A: 1. Lutheran (11) 127 points, 2. Lafayette Central Catholic (1) 88 points.
- Class A: 1. South Putnam (8) 105 points, 2. North Judson (1) 88 points.
The anticipation for this year’s high school football season in Indiana is palpable. Fans are looking forward to exciting matchups and unexpected twists as teams strive for glory on the field.
