The 2026 high school football season is here, and there is no shortage of intriguing headlines going into the season. We have seen more than a few teams in the SFV shift gears and look to new leadership. We have emerging impact players looking to establish themselves amongst the best the city has to offer. We also have questions about the usual contenders as they try to hold off their rivals looking to make their mark. Here are some of the biggest questions to be answered as we kick things off officially Thursday night.

Can Birmingham reestablish themselves as the Kings of the City in 2026?

We all know how dominant the Patriots have been in the West Valley in recent years. That’s why this conversation is less about whether they will win the West Valley League and more about whether they can take the Open title. Last season, they narrowly lost to Crenshaw in the Open semis, and they will be looking to right the ship and reclaim their position. They have a retooled offense that looks more balanced than it was last season. Will they be more equipped to deal with loaded squads like Carson and San Pedro? Time will tell when we get to November.

Can Kennedy and North Hollywood defend their league titles?

The Kennedy Cougars can still repeat because they are still loaded in the Valley Mission League. Despite losing talent like superstar quarterback Diego Montez to graduation, they still have plenty left in the tank with experienced players who know exactly how to get the job done. The question facing Kennedy is whether teams like Van Nuys, Sylmar, and San Fernando, who all gave them a run for their money in 2025, are ready to challenge them here in 2026. The North Hollywood Huskies have a lot more questions to answer in the East Valley League. Between the talent that graduated and the loss of their head coach, it feels like the door has opened for other teams in that league to step up and take the mantle. Verdugo Hills and Monroe have veteran leadership and long-tenured coaches who understand what it takes to win. Both Poly and Arroyo have new leadership, and energy has been infused into those programs, leading them to believe they have a shot to compete this year as well. In short, Kennedy feels like a safer bet to retain their league title than North Hollywood does going into the season.

Which of the new coaches will have the most success in year one of their programs?

There are a couple of situations that seem tailor-made for some of these new coaches to have success right out of the gate. Canoga Park is always a bit of a sleeping giant in the Valley Mission. Sometimes it is hard to retain their talent with some of the bigger programs they are sandwiched between in the area, but the Hunters have young players who got a chance to cut their teeth on the varsity level very early on. Combined with Randy Luna’s coaching ability and pedigree, the Hunters could be ready to take a huge leap forward this season. Does that necessarily mean they will win the league title? No. But don’t be surprised if they win more than one game in the Valley Mission this season. Boo Williams is taking over a program at Poly that had some success last year, even though they finished mid-table in the East Valley. With some of the talent that has moved into the program for this season, they could be a team that goes straight to the top in a wide-open league in year one of his tenure. Ryan Ledford might be in year one leading this North Hollywood program, but he definitely still has some experienced players who have contributed to back-to-back East Valley crowns, including his senior quarterback, Logan Grant. It would not be a shock to anyone if the experienced players in that program could keep North Hollywood at the top of that league.

Is this the year the Van Nuys Wolves lift hardware?

The Van Nuys Wolves program has been on a steady ascent over the last three seasons. 2 years ago, they came very close to winning a city championship. Last season, they made it to the second round of the Division I playoffs, where they lost to the eventual Division I runner-up, Marquez. The nature of high school football is, of course, that a lot of those players who were involved in that success will graduate and move on. But what Ken Osorio has built in Van Nuys is a program that now has the expectation to be in the mix for championships. They play an exciting, up-tempo style that gives teams fits, and we expect more of the same this season. Even if there are some hiccups or stumbles this season because their schedule isn’t the easiest, there is so much talent on this team that if, for some reason, they ended up in Division II come postseason, they would immediately be one of the favorites to walk away with the title. I’m a big believer in this program, and I think that championship glory is on the horizon.

Who can pull off the 2026 version of what San Fernando did in 2025?

The Tigers flew under the radar in the Valley Mission last season and ultimately became the lone Valley team to hoist a city championship. There are a couple of contenders coming into this season that kind of fit that mold. Firstly, it starts with where a team could potentially find themselves come November. For instance, Chatsworth had a tough year in the West Valley and then turned into a tough out in Division II. Two years ago, Van Nuys had more questions than answers after dropping their final two regular-season matchups to Sylmar and Kennedy, and then rattled off three playoff wins and came within a couple of possessions of winning a city title. To me, Granada Hills kind of fits the description this season. Not that anyone would ever look at any West Valley team as an “underdog,” but the Highlanders have a brutal schedule that could leave them sitting a little lower in the rankings than they are accustomed to. With that may come a favorable postseason position if all breaks their way. This team might be one you don’t want to see lined up across from you in a win-or-go-home scenario.