CHESTERTON TROJANS (5-5, 4-3 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Mark Peterson (vs. Hobart)
Key losses: running back Andrew Goveia and defensive back Logan Chestovich.
Top returning players: senior linebacker Zane Westerland and junior quarterback Hunter Bo
CROWN POINT BULLDOGS (10-1, 7-0 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Craig Buzea (vs. Lowell)
Key losses: two-way lineman Nolan Cicero and tight end-linebacker Trevor Gibss.
Top returning players: senior quarterback Tyce Custy and junior linebacker Garrett Ortiz.
LAKE CENTRAL INDIANS (3-7, 2-5 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Pete Koulianos (vs. Munster)
Key losses: quarterback Cam Reddick and linebacker Brian Rzyski.
Top returning players: senior running back Jacob Turley and senior linebacker Brody Ramierez.
LAPORTE SLICERS (4-7, 2-5 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Austin Epple (at New Prairie)
Key losses: two-way lineman Lucas Del Rio and defensive back Dawson Shreve.
Top returning players: senior running back Reed Raymond and senior linebacker Ethan Bair.
MERRILLVILLE PIRATES (11-3, 6-1 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Brad Seiss (vs. Andrean)
Key losses: running back JQ Johnson and defensive back Keith Edwards.
Top returning players: senior quarterback Michael Hill Jr. and senior running back Cameron Jordan.
MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES (8-4, 5-2 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Charles Salary (at Hanover Central)
Key losses: quarterback Trinaston Hart and wide receiver Zaire McKinney.
Top returning players: senior two-way lineman Jeremiah Jones and senior wide receiver Meekal Laurent.
PORTAGE INDIANS (0-10, 0-7 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Cody French (vs. Hammond Morton)
Key losses: quarterback Kodie Young and linebacker Daniel Warmick.
Top returning players: senior tight end-defensive lineman Shane Hill and offensive lineman-linebacker Ozzie Fuentes.
VALPARAISO VIKINGS (2-8, 2-5 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Bill Marshall (at Penn)
Key losses: linebacker Ben Fedorchak and quarterback Kellan Hosek.
Top returning players: senior wide receiver Jimmy Parisi and senior defensive lineman Ryan Cheek.
2026 NORTHWEST INDIANA PREVIEW
ANDREAN 59ERS (13-1, 6-0 NORTHWEST CROSSROADS)
Head coach and opener: Chris Skinner (at Merrillville)
Key losses: quarterback Brady Elish and two-way lineman Ben Novak.
Top returning players: senior running back-linebacker Ethan Reyna and junior quarterback Dylan Gore.
BOONE GROVE WOLVES (4-5, 2-1 GREATER SOUTH SHORE CONFERENCE)
Head coach and opener: Dan Kukulski (vs. Glenn)
Key losses: two-way linemen Aidan Torbeson and Brock Szakacs.
Top returning players: senior linebackers Gavin Daniels and Bradley Aguayo.
HOBART BRICKIES (10-3, 4-2 NORTHWEST CROSSROADS)
Head coach and opener: Eric Schreiber (at Chesterton)
Key losses: running back Max Pickett and two-way lineman Preston Perez.
Top returning players: senior quarterback Aleks Tatum and senior wide receiver Bryce Tolliver.
KANKAKEE VALLEY KOUGARS (2-9, 1-5 NORTHWEST CROSSROADS)
Head coach and opener: Jonathan Ewing (vs. Rensselaer Central)
Key losses: running back-linebacker Jaidyn Anderson and tight end-linebacker Isaac Deardorff.
Top returning players: senior defensive lineman Lucas Parker and junior quarterback Parker Harrington.
LOWELL RED DEVILS (9-3, 5-1 NORTHWEST CROSSROADS)
Head coach and opener: Casey McKim (at Crown Point)
Key losses: quarterback Brody Kalwinski and linebacker Lincoln Schneider.
Top returning players: junior running back Tymothy James and junior linebacker John Judd.
WHEELER BEARCATS (8-2, 3-1 GREATER SOUTH SHORE CONFERENCE)
Head coach and opener: Josh Wissing (vs. South Central)
Key losses: wide receiver-defensive back Tyne Vettickal and linebacker CJ Chaffer.
Top returning players: senior quarterback Logan Fox and junior running back Levi Murray.
