Predicting every 2024 Indiana high school football state champion as IHSAA season begins

My boss (thanks a lot, Matt Glenesk) asked me to make some predictions going into the season on which teams will reach the high school football state finals in the six classes. I’m adding the caveat that I can revisit these predictions at midseason and change them completely based on new information.

Here are all the predicted sectional, regional, semistate and state championship winners in the six classes:

Indiana high school football rankings: See who made top 10 in each class in preseason poll

IHSAA football schedule Week 1: Every Indianapolis-area game

Class 6A

Sectional champions

∎ NORTH: Crown Point, FW Carroll, Westfield, Hamilton Southeastern

∎ SOUTH: Ben Davis, Lawrence North, Warren Central, Center Grove.

In the north, I think it will be a semistate rematch with Crown Point meeting Westfield. This time, the Shamrocks get through to the state finals. In the south, give me defending champion Ben Davis over Lawrence North and Warren Central in a classic over Center Grove. Then the Giants in a tight one over Warren Central in the semistate.

▶ Championship game: Ben Davis over Westfield.

Class 5A

Sectional champions

∎ NORTH: Merrillville, Valparaiso, Warsaw, Lafayette Jeff

∎ SOUTH: Decatur Central, East Central, Bloomington North, Castle

Give me Merrillville over Valpo and Warsaw over Lafayette Jeff in the north regional and Decatur Central over East Central and Bloomington North over Castle in the south. In the semistate games, Warsaw clips Merrillville and Decatur Central knocks off Bloomington North.

▶ Championship game: Decatur Central over Warsaw.

Class 4A

Sectional champions

∎ NORTH: New Prairie, Mishawaka, Leo, Lebanon

∎ SOUTH: New Palestine, Bishop Chatard, Martinsville, Evansville Reitz

In the regional round, I will take Mishawaka over New Prairie and Leo over Lebanon. In a loaded south, give me New Palestine over Chatard in a regional showdown and Evansville Reitz over Martinsville in the other regional. In the north semistate, Mishawaka over Leo. In the south, New Palestine over Evansville Reitz.

▶ Championship game: New Palestine over Mishawaka.

Class 3A

Sectional champions

∎ NORTH: Knox, Tippecanoe Valley, West Lafayette, FW Bishop Luers

∎ SOUTH: Tri-West, Batesville, Indian Creek, Heritage Hills

Give me Knox over Tippecanoe Valley and West Lafayette over Luers for north regional titles. In the south, I will go with Batesville over Tri-West and Heritage Hills over Indian Creek in the regional championship games. In the north semistate, I have Knox over West Lafayette and Heritage Hills over Batesville.

▶ Championship game: Heritage Hills over Knox.

Class 2A

Sectional champions

∎ NORTH: Andrean, Lafayette Central Catholic, Adams Central, Alexandria

∎ SOUTH: Lutheran, Eastern Hancock, North Posey, Brownstown Central

I will take Lafayette Central Catholic and Adams Central to advance in the north regional games. Give me Lutheran over Eastern Hancock and North Posey over Brownstown Central in the south regional matchups. The semistate winners: Lafayette Central Catholic and Lutheran.

▶ Championship game: Lutheran over LCC.

Class A

Sectional champions

∎ NORTH: North Judson, No. 6 Carroll (Flora), Triton, Madison-Grant

∎ SOUTH: South Putnam, Sheridan, North Decatur and Providence

I will take North Judson and Triton to advance as north regional champions. In the south, I will take Sheridan and North Decatur.

▶ Championship game: Sheridan over North Judson.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Predicting every 2024 Indiana high school football state champion as IHSAA season begins