The 2026 girls flag football season gets underway in some states as early as Aug. 14, and the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 gets you ready to roll for the fall.
JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) finished a 28-0 season as the CIF Southern Section Division I champions and as the top overall team in the final MaxPreps fall rankings a year ago. The Lions start where they finished as they return a combination of experience and youth, including a pair of Team USA members in Kate Meier and Tessa Russell.

Several new states voted to officially sanction girls flag football as a varsity sport ahead of the 2026 fall season, including Kansas, Maryland and North Carolina. 

The MaxPreps Top 25 flag football rankings are for teams playing during the fall season only.

JSerra Catholic of California finished 2025 unbeaten and as the top overall team in the final MaxPreps fall rankings and begins 2026 as the No. 1 team in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25. (FILE PHOTO: Marc Gewertz)

Flag football Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

1. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Head coach: Brian Ong
2025 record: 28-0 | Final ranking: No. 1

2. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
Head coach: Mitchell Holt
2025 record: 20-0 | Final ranking: No. 2

3. Maine South (Park Ridge, Ill.)
Head coach: Carlos Panizo
2025 record: 26-3 | Final ranking: No. 3

4. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Head coach: Matt Stone
2025 record: 21-0 | Final ranking: No. 5

5. Huntington Beach (Calif.)
Head coach: Zack Pannell
2025 record: 25-2 | Final ranking: No. 9

6. North Oconee (Bogart, Ga.)
Head coach: Nicole O’Mara
2025 record: 22-3 | Final ranking: No. 4

7. Wakefield (Raleigh, N.C.)
Head coach: Kyle Bayer
2025 record: 27-0 | Final ranking: No. 11

8. Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Head coach: Dana Srdoc
2025 record: 19-0 | Final ranking: No. 6

9. Greenbrier (Evans, Ga.)
Head coach: James Smith
2025 record: 22-3 | Final ranking: No. 8

Head coach: Michaeltore Smith

2025 record: NA | Final ranking: NR 

Head coach: Kevin Fraser
2025 record: 20-3 | Final ranking: No. 10

12. Moody (Ala.)
Head coach: Alexis Moore
2025 record: 22-3 | Final ranking: No. 18

13. Willowbrook (Villa Park, Ill.)
Head coach: Rachel Karos
2025 record: 23-1 | Final ranking: No. 13

14. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Head coach: Dennis Hester
2025 record: 24-3 | Final ranking: No. 7

15. McClatchy (Sacramento, Calif.)
Head coach: John Avery
2025 record: 24-5 | Final ranking: No. 20

16. Merced (Calif.)
Head coach: Victor Nazario
2025 record: 25-4 | Final ranking: NR

17. Southeast Bulloch (Brooklet, Ga.)
Head coach: Marci Cochran
2025 record: 18-2 | Final ranking: No. 23

Head coach: Tino Retamoza

2025 record: 24-0 | Final ranking: No. 24

19. San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.)
Head coach: Chad Cochran
2025 record: 18-6 | Final ranking: NR

20. Menlo School (Atherton, Calif.)
Head coach: Noah Lubarsky
2025 record: 16-2 | Final ranking: No. 12

21. Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.)
Head coach: Brandon Harwell
2025 record: 19-5 | Final ranking: No. 14

22. The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Head coach: Carly Hoff
2025 record: 16-3 | Final ranking: NR

23. Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.)
Head coach: Val Spann
2025 record: 22-5 | Final ranking: NR

24. Glenbrook South (Glenview, Ill.)
Head coach: Tom Godbout
2025 record: 17-3 | Final ranking: No. 17

25. Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.)
Head coach: Jason Guyser
2025 record: 23-3 | Final ranking: No. 19

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