It’s been a busy offseason so far, including several of the state’s top programs changing coaches and big-name players transferring to new schools. There are a lot of things to keep an eye on as we get closer to the start of the 2026 Georgia high school football season, so we thought we’d take a look at some of the more intriguing questions to consider.
1. Will Joey King finally win his first state championship as the head coach at Carrollton?
Carrollton head football coach Joey King is one of the most successful coaches in the state. There is no denying that.
He was recently recognized by MaxPreps as one of the nation’s top 100 high school football coaches for the 2025-2026 school year.
In five seasons at Carrollton, he has led the Trojans to the state final three of those seasons.
But he’s 0-3 in those three state finals.
So, will this be the year that King finally breaks through and wins that elusive state championship?
2. Which new head coach will make the biggest impact at his new school?
There were several coaching changes this offseason, including a handful of the most recognizable names landing at some of the biggest programs in the state. Who will have the best chance to succeed?
Tucker Pruitt landed at Camden County and has surrounded himself with an outstanding coaching staff. That includes defensive coordinator Alan Rodemaker, who knows defenses better than anyone. Pruitt himself is one of the top offensive minds in high school football. This should make for a winning combination in Kingsland.
Santavious Bryant takes over a Gainesville team rich with talent, including quarterback Kharim Hughley and new running back Nigel Newkirk, both four-star recruits. He may be just the coach the Red Elephants need to finally win that elusive state championship.
3. Who is the team to beat in a loaded Class 6A this season?
Thomas County Central has won two of the past three state titles in the classification, but this season will see a group of programs who could all make a run at a championship in 2026.
Milton appears to have a roster capable of competing for a state championship once again, while Lee County, Houston County, Gainesville, and Roswell have all shown they’ve got what it takes to compete for a state title.
4. Can a South Georgia team finally win a state title in the state’s largest classification this year?
It’s been 10 years since a South Georgia team won a state championship in Georgia’s largest classification. The Colquitt County Packers did it in 2014 and 2015 and actually made it back to the state finals in 2017 and 2018, only to come up short.
Region 1-7A will be loaded with teams that have the talent and the depth to win it all. Lowndes, Colquitt County, Valdosta, and Camden County have all come pretty close over the past few years. Watch out for Richmond Hill too. Those Wildcats are building quite the program under head coach Matt LeZotte.
For any of those teams to get past the likes of Buford, Carrollton, and Grayson, they’re going to need a lucky break or two in the postseason.
5. Which team will rise up and surprise us in 2026?
Last year, teams that surprised us included Pepperell, Jasper County, Cairo, West Laurens, Jackson County, and Greater Atlanta Christian.
Who will surprise us this year?
Head coach Matt LeZotte’s Richmond Hill team will return 18-of-22 starters, including all of the defensive front, the entire offensive line, quarterback Gunner Mobley, and All-Region standout Eli Grant.
These Wildcats keep coming closer and closer to a region championship. I would not be surprised if this is the year they finally break through.
6. Will the new postseason rankings formula be a hit with teams, coaches, and fans?
The GHSA will introduce the new PSR for the 2026 Georgia high school football season to determine and seed playoff teams. It replaces the old system of the top four teams in each region as the playoff qualifier.
This year just one team from a region could qualify for the postseason, or every team from a region could make the playoffs.
I predict that fans and coaches are going to like it.
7. Which player will prove to be the most valuable to their team’s success in 2026?
I think Derrick Baker of Milton will be the single most valuable player for any one team.
8. Which team will have the biggest turnaround from last season in terms of wins?
I’ll take Commerce. Head coach Lenny Gregory went through a tough year in his first season with the Tigers, but they’ll have everyone returning this year. He’s a championship-caliber coach who will have Commerce back in the hunt in 2026.
9. Will Buford win another state, and maybe national, championship?
I’m trying to think of a good reason why they won’t do either one, and I’ve got nothing.
10. Can Bowdon win a fifth straight state championship?
Winning five straight state championships is extremely hard. It becomes almost impossible when you lose a program-defining player like Kaiden Prothro and perhaps the program’s most valuable asset: head coach Rich Fendley.
