This fall is shaping up to be a special one for prep football in Oakland County.
To say that the region sent three teams to Ford Field and two came away with state championships almost undersells the successes of 2025. Rochester Adams and Birmingham Groves also reached the state semifinals, and neither won their respective divisions, a testament to the usual talent and parity produced throughout the area.
While several teams experienced significant turnover, just as many (if not more) powerhouses brought back enough to justify the idea that they may be even better versions of themselves than last fall.
Here’s a look at 10 of the best football teams in Oakland County ahead of the 2026 season.
Detroit Catholic Central
If anyone has the coaching and talent to repeat as both Catholic League Central Division and D1 champs, it’s the Shamrocks. Duke Banta, a senior, is back under center, and plenty of new names will step in for the stars of old. Senior Ryan Jaafar teams up with sophomore JJ Chevalier in the backfield, while the offensive line has brought back just about everyone but Benny Eziuka. If you’re going to have just two guys returning on defense, you can’t ask for much of a better pair than linebacker Jalen Montlouis and defensive back Gideon Gash, but DCC has two-way guys and some underclassmen that should mean the Shamrocks are about as formidable as last time we saw them in action.
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
Brother Rice has had the elite athleticism that its rivals also possess, but the past couple years, it’s been the experience that’s been lacking. The Warriors got more of it in 2025 and showed St. Mary’s they meant business by knocking off the Eaglets in the regular season, even if OLSM showed who was boss for the time being in the playoffs. Senior quarterback Sammy Eyde aside, the Warriors are stocked with guys who will be around this year and beyond, including a gem of a junior class that includes WR/DB Tyler Trusel, RB/LB Deondre Hill and DE/LB Jayden Bell.
Clarkston
Only a 27-21 loss to Harper Woods prevented the Wolves from rolling through the regular season undefeated last year. Keep in mind that that they won all 10 of their games in 2025 by at least 14 points, including the playoff victories over Davison and Grand Blanc. Picked to repeat as OAA Red champs, Clarkston, led by third-year starting QB Alex Waszczenko, has an athletic senior class that also includes Brooks Kosin, Ty Duffy, Wendell Childs Jr. and others that are looking to back that prediction up.
Walled Lake Western
The Warriors return one of the county’s most experienced quarterbacks in David Krall, and Kory Cioroch calls WR/DB Timon Dogan one of the most underrated players in the state. Meanwhile, Michael Walker will step into the coveted starting running back role that Donovan Triplett previously held. Linebacker might be the strongest unit of a defense that brings back seven guys altogether, and it’s led by juniors Austin Barnett and Kam Flowers. Few teams would consider 7-3 a down year, but the Warriors are probably going to be “back up” and hungry to win a fourth LVC title in five years.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Like the Shamrocks and Warriors, the Eaglets look to be as good, if not better than they were as D2 state champs. Quarterback Jabin Gonzales can make plays with his legs, but he maintains determined to show what he can do with his arm. He’ll have no lack of outlets to prove that with between Brandon “BJ” Adams, Chad Willis and Lorenzo Barber, a trio that accounted for over 2,000 total yards in 2025. Take some of those guys playing both ways, throw in a defensive front that includes seniors Joshua Gonzales (Tiffin) and Treighjan Gibson (UConn) and you’ve got a group that’s got a real chance at pulling off a three-peat this November.
Stoney Creek
Are you familiar with the game Cliff Hangers from “The Price Is Right”? Well, don’t expect the Cougars to do any yodeling, but they have been steadily climbing up the mountain the past season, and they’re hoping 2026 is the pay day in the third campaign under head coach Rick Powell. Senior Brosie Telegadas thinks he and quarterback Brandon Gergics will be one of the best 1-2 punches as far as running the ball in the state behind an O-line that returns a majority of starters. Considering they won seven games and took both Harper Woods and Adams to the wire, the Cougars, will all they reload with, have to be favored to win the OAA White.
South Lyon’s Gannon Limotte (84) runs past a SL East defender in a 45-21 playoff victory Friday, Oct. 21, 2025. (MATTHEW B. MOWERY – MediaNews Group, file)
South Lyon
The revamped Lakes Valley Conference is going to be fun to watch this fall, and the defending champions have no plans to hand over the belt. Quarterback Carter McGlinch has an exceptional unit to hand the ball off to, including Tyler Newton, Gannon Limotte and Jacob Stoyanovich. Even if the Lions don’t run the table again in the league, they’re going to be in the mix, and they’ll have a chance to prove themselves right away by facing Clarkston in Ann Arbor in Week 1.
Oxford
With over three-fourths of its offensive yards gained returning, why aren’t the Wildcats being talked about more? It’s not just the seniors back on offense, which includes Chris Pullman, Brody Casper and Liam Samborski, because Oxford’s defense also looks to be coming back strong with returning starters at all phases, including Gavan Munson, Keedan Pociask and Greyson Boyle. In recent years, both Adams and Oxford have been voted outside of the top pair in the OAA Red and gone on to surprise, whether in the division, the postseason or both. It’ll be a surprise if the Wildcats don’t validate their spot on this list.
West Bloomfield
Even though West Bloomfield lost some top-end talent like Travis Robertson, Will Espy, Jamal Shakespear and Kamari Pittman, they should have what it takes to remain competitive in the OAA Red yet again. Senior QB Jaxson Carver (Davenport) has a full season under his belt and will be improved, and the Lakers always have offensive linemen to open up holes. Look for Kam Hall and Solomon Elam to be among Carver’s most dangerous targets. The Lakers could make the claim of having one of the entire league’s best secondaries, one that’s led by Bryce Tillman-Jones (Ferris State) and Brice Chandler.
Birmingham Groves
Don’t let the fact that the Falcons are playing in the OAA Blue Division this season deter you from thinking they need to be taken seriously. The Falcons lost Mattia Andriano (Grand Valley State) from last year’s line, but Henry Roberts and several others return to pave the way for what’s expected to be a huge encore performance by running back Jeremiah Whitley. Defensively, edge rusher Malik Cipullo looks to build on a huge junior campaign and help Groves push league favorite Harper Woods to the brink.