Perennial national high school football powerhouse
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) released its 2026 schedule Tuesday evening. The Monarchs look to have a full 10-game regular season slate for the first time in three seasons.
Mater Dei was the preseason No. 1 heading into 2025 but finished with an 8-3 record and No. 9 finish, a down year for a program with sky-high expectations. The Monarchs have been crowned national champions by MaxPreps three times since 2017.
Head coach Raul Lara's team opens at home against
American Fork (Utah) on Aug. 21. That's followed by a trip to the Beehive State, playing at
Orem (Utah) on Aug. 29.
Mater Dei captains take the field for last season's showdown with Trinity League rival St. John Bosco. The national powers will renew acquaintances Oct. 30. (PHOTO: Rene Morales)
The Monarchs then have a trio of home games that begins Sept. 4 against eight-time Colorado state champion
Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) and continues with showdowns against
Centennial (Corona, Calif.) and
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) on subsequent weeks.
Centennial ended Mater Dei's season and finished No. 8 in the final MaxPreps Top 25 while Bishop Gorman was No. 3.
Trinity League play starts Oct. 2 on the road against reigning Open Division champion
Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) followed by away contests with
JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) and
Servite (Anaheim).
Mater Dei returns home for an Oct. 23 battle with
Orange Lutheran (Orange) and then the annual showdown with
St. John Bosco (Bellflower) at the Santa Ana Bowl on Oct. 30.
In each of the past two seasons, Mater Dei has only had nine regular season games. In 2024, Lara took over in spring and was unable to find a game. Last year, Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) forfeited a scheduled contest a recruiting scandal combined with fight-related suspensions.
