IMG Academy opened its 2026 season just as most of the country expected: with absolute dominance. The Bradenton-based national powerhouse traveled to Utah and returned with a 59-3 victory that was never in doubt; this win was part of the season opener, in which the Ascenders once again proved they are one of the nation’s best teams, regardless of the opponent.
IMG Academy 59, Lone Peak 3
In front of a large crowd and a local television audience in Highland, Utah, IMG capitalized on four turnovers and a muffed punt to decisively defeat Lone Peak (59-3) on Friday, August 21. Lone Peak coach Bart Brockbank—whose team managed just 79 total yards—called IMG the best team he had ever faced, comparing the talent gap to playing against the NBA.
It took IMG less than 30 seconds of game time to pull ahead, and Lone Peak’s night went downhill from there; the Knights barely managed to avoid being shut out (scoring no points) for the first time since 2007. For a program built from top recruits across the country—rather than being limited to a local geographic area—results like this are less of a surprise and more of a formality.
What’s next for IMG?
IMG Academy is scheduled to host St. Louis (Missouri) on September 5 in a game already expected to be highly lopsided; computer ranking systems gave the Ascenders a 98% chance of winning at the start of the season. That type of national schedule—seeking out renowned opponents from across the country rather than sticking to a regional schedule—is precisely what sets IMG apart from a typical high school program, and it is one of the main reasons the Ascenders began the year ranked No. 1 in Florida. Check our results page for updates as the IMG season progresses, and our rankings page to see the Ascenders’ national standing.
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