High school football in Nevada is practically dominated by a single program, and that program just pulled off one of the biggest wins of the fledgling national season. Here’s how the state’s top teams stand heading into the first weeks of 2026.
No. 1: Bishop Gorman Gaels
Bishop Gorman began the season as the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s No. 1 team and the overwhelming favorite to win its sixth consecutive state title, and the Gaels wasted no time proving it. In one of the most exciting games of the entire national season, Gorman defeated the preseason No. 1-ranked St. John Bosco 38-28 in Las Vegas. This result propelled the Gaels to the top of the High School Football America 300 national rankings and marked their third straight win in high-stakes matchups against the powerhouse California team. Senior defensive end Hayden Stepp, a five-star player committed to Oregon, leads Gorman’s roster as they seek what would be a symbolic fifth national championship for the program.
Arbor View Aggies
Arbor View enters the season as one of Gorman’s strongest rivals in the state, having challenged the Gaels in the NIAA Open Division state championship game last year. The Aggies possess enough talent to be considered the second-best team in the state by several ranking systems, and a rematch against Gorman would be one of the highlights of Nevada’s 2026 schedule.
Liberty Patriots
Liberty rounds out the state’s elite, opening the season with a resounding 42-0 victory over Tafuna (American Samoa) and hosting Utah’s Skyridge in one of their upcoming crucial games. Running back Ezra Sanelivi provides Liberty with a dynamic offense capable of challenging the best defenses in the state.
Faith Lutheran Crusaders
Faith Lutheran has established itself as one of the private school programs capable of competing with Gorman and the other elite public and charter schools in the state, regularly appearing among the top teams in Nevada’s state rankings in recent seasons.
Centennial Bulldogs
Centennial opened the 2026 season with a dominant 74-41 victory over Burbank, California, indicating that the Bulldogs’ offense will pose a problem for opposing defenses throughout Southern Nevada all season long.
Other Programs to Watch
Sloan Canyon, Palo Verde, Coronado, Foothill, and Green Valley round out the group of programs vying for the remaining elite spots in Nevada, while Mater Academy East and Churchill County have entered the conversation for a top-10 statewide finish early in the season after strong performances against ranked opponents, demonstrating that Nevada’s depth extends far beyond the Gorman-Arbor View rivalry at the top.
Note on Nevada’s New Playoff Format
A major structural change for 2026: Most Clark County School District programs opted to play a separate schedule this year instead of competing for the NIAA state championship, while the remaining private and charter schools, including Gorman, will play each other to fill the gaps in the schedule. This represents a significant shift in the state postseason setup this year.
Check our Rankings page for how Nevada’s Top 10 continues to shift, and our Scores page for results from around the state.
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