Ohio High School Football Rankings Released
The Associated Press issued its second high school football poll featuring several undefeated teams.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Football
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The second Associated Press high school football poll of the season has been released following votes from sportswriters across Ohio. Several schools with perfect records received top placements across multiple divisions.
Why it matters
These rankings provide a snapshot of the competitive landscape for Ohio high school programs as they maintain unbeaten streaks deep into the season. The poll highlights the consistency of top-tier teams as they vie for divisional positioning.
Celina climbed to No. 2 in Division III, while Lima Central Catholic sits at No. 3 in Division VI. Additionally, Ottawa-Glandorf holds the No. 7 spot in Division IV and Leipsic moved to No. 5 in Division VII, with all maintaining 5-0 records.
The players
Associated Press
This is a global news agency that organizes and publishes statewide high school football rankings based on expert voting.
Celina High School
This Ohio secondary school football program currently maintains a 5-0 record and a No. 2 ranking in Division III.
The details
The rankings are determined by votes cast by sportswriters from throughout the state of Ohio. Among the programs securing top spots, Marion Local and Minster remain in the top two positions for Division VII.
Timeline
The second Associated Press football poll was released on September 22, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The emergence of several 5-0 teams in these rankings sets the stage for critical late-season matchups that will determine final playoff seeding. As teams solidify their positions, the competitive balance in divisions like VII becomes increasingly clear for post-season prospects.
For postseason planning, the rise of Celina to No. 2 signals a shift in Division III power that will influence future bracket pairings. Undefeated status for programs like Marion Local and Minster confirms their standing as frontrunners as the season reaches its midway point.
The takeaway
Maintaining an undefeated record at this stage of the season is a critical indicator of a team's potential for a deep playoff run. Fans should monitor these weekly rankings to track which programs are trending upward as regional competition intensifies.
Further reading
Find more updates on the state's top high school programs in Ohio Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Lima News.
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