Preseason Top 10 football rankings
Preseason Top 10 football rankings
1. Palma: A tailback with Division I offers. Two offensive linemen with Division I interest. Can the Chieftains put together a passing game that will take them to the next level in December?
2. Salinas: What the Cowboys have lacked over the last two years is depth beyond their starters. That won’t be the case this year as they chase an 18th straight playoff appearance.
3. Soquel: The Knights just didn’t fall off a cliff. The program is 32-7 over the last three years with a league title and a state title on their resume.
4. Carmel: What will keep the Padres competitive in the Gabilan Division is their size. Slow starts are nothing for a program that does not get together until July.
5. King City: A lot of droughts ended last year for the Mustangs. That hunger to leave an even bigger impact on the program for those returning is fueling this season.
6. North Salinas: Having overachieved last fall in their return to the Gabilan Division, the Vikings ignored the outside noise to make their third straight playoff appearance.
7. Alisal: The Trojans rode the legs of Jayden Duarte to another postseason birth. It will have to be a committee approach this fall for the program to take another step forward.
8. Hollister: For just the second time in 17 years, the Balers were home for the postseason, which should serve as a fueling point coming into this fall.
9. Monterey: Having no true quarterback on the roster after Week 4 sunk the Toreadores, who dropped six of their last seven games after a 3-0 start.
10. Stevenson: Having improved in the win column in each of the last three years — even with a step up into the Mission Division, a lot of offensive firepower departed through graduation.
On the bubble: Scotts Valley, Soledad, Aptos, San Lorenzo Valley. Alvarez.
*Note: It’s June. Don’t lose your mind over this. Here’s betting it changes in August. Or better yet, in November when it matters.
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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 8:58 AM.