MaxPreps, a website designed to specialize in coverage of high school sports, has put out their preseason football polls for each class in the state of Kentucky.
Northern Kentucky showed out in the polls with eight teams ranked in the top 10 of their respective class. The highest ranking was at No. 2 in 5A where Cooper landed. The Jaguars are the 5A runner-up from the 2023 season and return a majority of their nucleus for the upcoming season. Highlands is right behind them at No. 3 in 5A, the Bluebirds coming off a state semifinal appearance, losing to Cooper in the semifinal round. Dixie Heights is No. 10 in 5A, the Colonels earned a playoff victory against Woodford County before losing to Highlands in the second round in 2023.
Beechwood represents the next legitimate threat to bring a title back home to NKY, coming in at No. 3 in Class 2A. The Tigers also return a wealth of production and experience from the 2023 team that went 12-2 and lost in the semifinals to Mayfield.
Moving to another state runner-up, Covington Catholic starts out at No. 7 in Class 4A. The Colonels went 14-1 in 2023, losing to Boyle County in the state championship game.
Newport Central Catholic is ranked No. 8 preseason in Class A. The Thoroughbreds are looking to break through this year, having made five straight state quarterfinal appearances with just one of those postseason runs getting into the semifinal round in 2022.
In 6A, Ryle and Simon Kenton are back-to-back at No. 8 and No. 9. The Raiders are the reigning district champions and advanced to the quarterfinals last season with a lot of pieces returning. The Pioneers bowed out in the first round last season, a flurry of close losses to end out their 2023 season.
Others just outside the top 10 include Newport at No. 11 and Ludlow at No. 12 in 1A and Lloyd Memorial at No. 14 in 3A.
The Kentucky High School football regular season begins on Aug. 23.
All six polls can be found here: https://www.maxpreps.com/ky/football/rankings/1/
