High school football in Wisconsin is back, and the state preseason landscape is largely defined by how close last year’s Division I championship game was. Here’s what you need to know heading into 2026.
Arrowhead Starts as the No. 1 Seed
Arrowhead begins the season as the top-ranked team in the state after defeating Bay Port 18-15 in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division I championship game last November, the program’s seventh state title. The Warhawks boast a strong core of experienced offensive starters, which largely explains why they are favored to repeat as champions, and they already proved it in the lead-up to 2026 with a 35-7 victory over Neenah.
Bay Port and Waunakee Close Behind
Bay Port isn’t far behind after coming within a two-point conversion of forcing overtime in that championship game. Coach Steve Jorgensen opted to go for the win instead of playing for a tie, and the Pirates came within a whisker of victory. Bay Port’s offense was one of the best in the state last season, averaging 43.4 points per game, and they have enough returning starters to be a contender in 2026. Waunakee also came close to a title run, falling to Arrowhead by a narrow 19-17 score; the Warriors were just one defensive stop away from reaching the final.
A Blazing Start to the Season
The first week of the season in Wisconsin has already produced some surprising results: Muskego, the No. 1 pick in an early poll, routed Oak Creek 63-23, while Franklin fell to Waunakee 34-7. Stratford and Edgar, two of the state’s top small-school programs, resume their annual matchup in the second week, a rivalry that always delivers one of the best games in Wisconsin’s lower-level basketball.
Where to Find the Schedules
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) 2026 football schedule lists the first games as beginning on August 20, the playoffs on October 15, and the state championship game on November 14 at Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School. Complete schedules for teams in all 49 conferences and 361 WIAA member schools are available on the WIAA website and in the Wisconsin football section of MaxPreps.
Following the Season
In Wisconsin, nearly 200 games are typically played statewide on a single Friday in the fall during the high season, many of them against seeded teams. We will be closely following the results throughout 2026.
Check our Scores page for weekly Wisconsin results, and our Rankings page for how the state’s Top 25 develops.
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