The 2026 Prep football season officially kicks off in the San Fernando Valley this week, and it promises to be a season to remember. The familiar names you would expect sit atop the preseason rankings, but there is plenty of potential for teams to make their mark in a season that promises to be as wide open as we have seen in recent years. Here are the Valley Sports Telegram’s top ten squads in the SFV heading into the 2026 season:

1. Birmingham Patriots
   The defending West Valley champions have owned the top spot in the power rankings for as long as VST has maintained these lists. We expect more of the same dominance as the Patriots are loaded on both sides of the ball.
2. Kennedy Cougars
   Troy Cassidy has built a consistent program that has cemented their place on top of the Valley Mission League. After a strong season that saw the Cougars earn a place in the Open Division playoffs, they’ll look to maintain their status as one of the top teams in the city.
3. El Camino Real Royals
   Despite the turmoil that has surrounded the El Camino program the last few seasons, the Royals always show up when it counts. The group is infused with young players looking to make their mark this season in the West Valley League.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
   The Cavaliers are looking to hit the ground running this season with a healthy Dominic Fuentes leading the way. The Cavs have a tough early-season schedule, but their veteran leadership should keep the ship steady.
5. Granada Hills Highlanders
   The Highlanders are ready to roll into 2026, and we will find out just how good this group is with two city heavyweights on their schedule following their season opener on the road at North Hollywood.
6. Van Nuys Wolves
   The Van Nuys Wolves are a program on the rise and look ready to challenge Kennedy for the top spot in the Valley Mission. Ken Osorio’s squad has a manageable early schedule, which should put them in a good position to have the type of season everyone in that building believes they can have.
7. San Fernando Tigers
   The Tigers are a bit of a sleeper in the Valley Mission, with much of the attention on Van Nuys and Kennedy. This program tends to come up big when you least expect it, so don’t be surprised if they topple one of the top dogs in the city this year.
8. Taft Toreadors
   It’s year three under coach Thomas Randolph, and the Toreadors have positive energy, suggesting they may be ready to leap forward in the tough West Valley. They have an intriguing test versus Poly to open the season.
9. Sylmar Spartans
   The Spartans are a team that, just like San Fernando, benefits from teams like Kennedy and Van Nuys drawing attention and pressure away from them. That does not mean that Evander Williams does not expect his Spartans to be a challenger for the Valley Mission crown in 2026.
10. Arleta Mustangs
    The Mustangs were a couple of bounces away from being the defending East Valley champions in their own right, and this team feels they have as good a shot as any to claim the league in 2026.