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East Bay Times Unveils 2026 Top-5 High-School Football Rankings Before the Season Starts

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, December 16th 2025 at 15:07 GMT by East Bay Times

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East Bay Times Revisits High‑School Football Rankings: Too Early, Too Exciting?
By East Bay Times Staff – December 16, 2025

When the East Bay Times released its season‑ending high‑school football rankings on Saturday, the community buzzed far beyond the usual late‑December chatter. For the first time in a decade, the paper announced a 2026 Top‑5 list—before the last bowl games had even been played. In the editorial that accompanied the list, the paper’s senior writer, Jamie Ortega, asked a single, pointed question: “Is it too early to declare a champion for next year?” The article, which quickly became a topic of conversation across local high‑school football forums, dives into the methodology, the reactions of coaches and fans, and the broader implications of setting the tone for the next season before the season itself has even begun.

A Quick Recap: What the Rankings Showed

Ortega’s piece opened with the headline that instantly captured headlines: “2026 East Bay Top‑5 Football Rankings – Released Before the Season Even Starts.” The five schools that made the cut were:

1. Contra Costa High – 7‑0 record, 1,200 offensive yards, and a 90‑point margin of victory in the last six games.
2. Walnut Creek Academy – 6‑1 record, a dominant 60‑point defensive average, and a strong finish to the season’s final three matchups.
3. San Pablo High – 6‑1 record, boasting the state‑ranking tight end in the state playoffs.
4. Pleasant Hill Central – 5‑2 record, yet a top‑10 offense with a record 1,500 yards per game.
5. Fair Oaks Tech – 5‑2 record, known for its balanced attack and an 18‑game home‑field winning streak.

The article provided a brief statistical snapshot for each program, highlighting key contributors and noting the teams’ historical performance. Ortega also referenced the East Bay Football Power Rankings spreadsheet that the paper has published annually since 2015. The spreadsheet, which is updated weekly, combines raw win‑loss data, strength of schedule, individual player statistics, and expert analyst input. According to Ortega, the Power Rankings team “strove to keep the process transparent by sharing the weightings on its website (link) so readers could see exactly how each team was evaluated.”

The “Too Early” Debate

A central theme of the article was the contention that announcing final rankings before the season ends might influence coaching decisions, fan expectations, and even scholarship offers. Ortega quoted several coaches who expressed discomfort. “It feels like the paper is making a decision for us before we’ve had the chance to finish,” said Coach Mark Johnson of Contra Costa High, who, in his 25‑year tenure, has won two state titles. “It can pressure a team into taking risks that might not pay off.”

Conversely, the article featured supportive voices. Coach Lisa Rodriguez of Walnut Creek Academy explained that early rankings “help us plan next season’s recruiting.” Rodriguez noted that many of her top prospects use the rankings as a benchmark, and early exposure could give her a competitive edge in attracting talent.

The paper also touched on the broader implications for college scouts. According to a link to the California High School Football Association profile for each school, many collegiate coaches rely on year‑end rankings to identify early‑rising talent. Ortega suggested that early rankings could inadvertently benefit programs that historically dominate the media, potentially creating a cycle where the “top five” remain top five due to pre‑season hype rather than merit.

A Deep Dive Into the Top Five

Contra Costa High – The “Dominant” Program

The article noted that Contra Costa High’s coach, Jim Martinez, led the team to a flawless 7‑0 record, finishing the season with an average of 140 points per game. Ortega highlighted that the team’s star quarterback, Ethan Park, rushed for 1,200 yards and threw for 950 yards, making him the first player in the district to lead both passing and rushing stats in the same season. The paper linked to Park’s East Bay Athlete profile, showcasing his senior year performance and potential scholarship offers from the University of California, Berkeley.

Walnut Creek Academy – Defensive Powerhouse

Walnut Creek Academy’s ranking was driven by its 1,200‑yard defensive average. Ortega emphasized the “hard‑hit” nature of the defense, which allowed just 20 points per game and recorded 22 sacks. The article provided a link to the team’s defensive statistics page on the WCA Athletics website. It also referenced a former player who had recently been signed by the San Francisco 49ers.

San Pablo High – The “Play‑maker”

San Pablo High’s rise to the third spot was attributed to its star wide receiver, Troy Ramirez. Ortega included a link to Ramirez’s High School Football Network profile, noting his 30 touchdown receptions last season and his upcoming participation in the West‑Coast All‑Star Game. Ramirez’s performance had also earned him the District 1 Offensive Player of the Year award.

Pleasant Hill Central – Balanced Offense

Pleasant Hill Central, while ranked fourth, surprised many with its “balanced” approach. Ortega highlighted that the team’s offense averaged 1,500 yards per game, a record in the district. The article linked to the team’s play‑by‑play archive, illustrating the versatility of the offense’s playbook and the strategic changes made mid‑season that led to a 6‑1 finish.

Fair Oaks Tech – The “Streak” Story

Fair Oaks Tech’s fifth ranking was largely due to its home‑field winning streak of 18 games. Ortega linked to the school’s historical records page, which detailed the team’s previous playoff runs. The article also referenced the school’s head coach, Diane Kim, who has been credited with cultivating a culture of resilience, especially after a mid‑season injury to their starting running back.

The Road Ahead: What This Means for 2026

Ortega concluded that while early rankings can generate excitement, they may also “set unrealistic expectations.” The article urged the local high‑school football community to view the rankings as a guide rather than a verdict. The editorial also called for a potential revision to the East Bay Times’ methodology: incorporating a “season‑end” adjustment that takes into account playoff performance, injuries, and any changes in team roster composition.

The paper closed by asking readers to weigh in on the early release of the rankings. A comment thread, highlighted in the article, saw a mix of support and criticism, with many suggesting a compromise—an “early‑preview” list that would be “soft‑final” until the bowl games concluded.

Additional Resources

For readers interested in deeper statistical analysis, Ortega provided links to:

• The East Bay Football Power Rankings spreadsheet (publicly available on the paper’s website)
• Individual team profiles on the California High School Football Association portal
• East Bay Athlete profiles of key players (Park, Ramirez, etc.)
• The West Contra Costa League official page, detailing conference standings and game summaries

These resources allow readers to trace the data behind the rankings and evaluate the validity of the claims made in the editorial.

Final Thought

In a sport where momentum and narrative can make as much of an impact as the scoreboard, the East Bay Times’ decision to unveil its 2026 top‑5 rankings before the season even began sparked a necessary conversation. Whether early or late, the rankings will influence the next generation of players, coaches, and fans—making it crucial that the methodology remains transparent, fair, and reflective of the on‑field realities that shape each high‑school football season.