2026 Arizona Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings

Basha starts No. 1 after winning state championship in 2025.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Thomas Frey
By
Aug 3, 2026, 12:00pm
State champion Basha (Chandler) enters 2026 as the top-ranked team in the MaxPreps preseason top 25 for Arizona.

The Bears defeated Chandler 34-7 to capture the AIA Open Division championship. Five-star defensive end Landen Wade helps lead a defense that sacked the quarterback 54 times last season.

Other players to watch from the Grand Canyon State this season include four-stars in Class of 2027 Will Mencl of Chandler, an Oregon commit and USC wide receiver pledge Roye Oliver III of Hamilton (Chandler). Desert Edge (Goodyear) defensive end Jalanie George and Hamilton cornerback Keaton Fields are five-stars from the Class of 2028.

Reigning Arizona state champions include Casteel (Queen Creek) in Conference 6A, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale) in Conference 5A, Mica Mountain (Tucson) in Conference 4A, Round Valley (Eagar) in Conference 3A, Scottsdale Christian Academy (Phoenix) in Conference 2A and Hayden (Winkelman) in Conference 1A.
Four-star Arizona State commit Jake Hildebrand leads Basha on to the field against Chandler in the 2025 state championship. The Bears start the 2026 season ranked as the No. 1 team in Arizona. (PHOTO: Jack Beasley)
Four-star Arizona State commit Jake Hildebrand leads Basha on to the field against Chandler in the 2025 state championship. The Bears start the 2026 season ranked as the No. 1 team in Arizona. (PHOTO: Jack Beasley)
MaxPreps Preseason Arizona Top 25
1. Basha (Chandler), 12-1 in 2025
2. Hamilton (Chandler), 11-1
3. Chandler, 10-3
4. Liberty (Peoria), 10-2
5. Desert Edge (Goodyear), 11-1
6. Brophy College Prep (Phoenix), 7-5
7. Centennial (Peoria), 9-5
8. Mountain View (Mesa), 7-5
9. ALA-Queen Creek (Queen Creek), 6-7
10. Pinnacle (Phoenix), 7-5
11. Horizon (Scottsdale), 10-3
12. Desert Mountain (Scottsdale), 12-3
13. Red Mountain (Mesa), 9-3
14. Casteel (Queen Creek), 9-5
15. Williams Field (Gilbert), 8-4
16. Higley (Gilbert), 7-5
17. ALA-Gilbert North (Gilbert), 11-2
18. Perry (Gilbert), 6-6
19. Highland (Gilbert), 4-7
20. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson), 7-6
21. Saguaro (Scottsdale), 3-7
22. Queen Creek, 6-5
23. Notre Dame Prep (Scottsdale), 6-6
24. Canyon View (Waddell), 11-3
25. Marana (Tucson), 10-2

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