The first football games of the year are just over a week away, and we’re excited to kickoff a new season!

Over the next several days, Bound Wisconsin will be producing Preseason Football Team Rankings, featuring a Top 15 for each division as well as Others to Watch.

Previously Released Rankings:

Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Division 4
Division 5

1. Edgar - Coming off a 2023 state championship, Edgar continued the long run of success with a second consecutive Division 7 state championship in 2024, giving the Wildcats and head coach Jerry Sinz nine WIAA titles, the first coming way back in 1979. The Wildcats opened with a non-conference win over Ladysmith, before dropping a 21-6 decision to old Marawood rival Stratford in Week 2. Edgar wouldn’t taste defeat the rest of the way, winning the Marawood/CWC title behind a typical dominating defense that allowed just 108 points all year. The Wildcats got quite a scare from Boyceville in the state semi-finals, rallying to win 21-20. It wasn’t easy nor pretty necessarily, but Edgar handled Potosi/Cassville 19-0 to capture the Division 7 title. They are elevated to Division 6 this year by the WIAA’s Tournament Performance Factor points.

2. Regis - The Ramblers were the outright champion of the Cloverbelt Conference last season, going a perfect 7-0, including some hard-fought victories over Mondovi and Stanley-Boyd. The Ramblers lived on the edge the first two weeks of the playoffs, beating Fall Creek by one point and Luther by three, before falling 31-8 to Grantsburg in a sectional championship. Veteran head coach Bryant Brenner brings back 40 letterwinners from last year, with four starters back on offense and eight on defense.

3. Cedar Grove-Belgium - Cedar Grove-Belgium was the clear top team in the Big East last season, going a perfect 7-0 in the Big East standings. The Rockets put together a couple playoff wins before going out to eventual Division 6 state champion Lomira in a sectional championship. Quarterback Carter Schmitz had an excellent year, throwing 24 touchdowns, while Ira Hilbelink is back after rushing for more than 1400 yards. Receiver Griffin Knight also hauled in 12 touchdowns last year.

4. Saint Mary’s Springs - The Ledgers say goodbye to a legend, as the state’s all-time winningest coach, Bob Hyland, retired in the off-season, with Zach Wilderman taking over the program. Hyland had 522 wins and 17 state titles (9 WIAA, 8 WISAA) in his illustrious career, which ended with a shocking 21-20 loss to Winnebago Lutheran in the first playoff game, after the Ledgers took down the Vikings 37-7 just a week earlier. Springs was part of a three-way tie atop the Flyway standings last season, falling to eventual D6 champion Lomira but defeating Mayville among the trio that shared the crown. There are 27 returning letterwinners this season, including seven starters back on offense and eight on defense.

5. Bonduel - It was one of the best seasons in school history, as Bonduel won 11 games and advanced all the way to the state semi-final in Division 6. The Bears captured an outright Packerland Conference title along the way. Two-way star Ryan Westrich is a strong Division 1 prospect, while junior Quinn Wesenberg should step into an every larger role this season for Bonduel.

6. Darlington - The Redbirds finished a game off the pace in the SWAL last season, as Darlington was second behind Cuba City. They’d move up to Division 5 in the playoffs due to the WIAA’s Tournament Performance Factor, falling to Milwaukee Academy of Science in Level 2. They’ll drop back down to D6 this season, and enter as the favorites in the SWAL behind five returning starters on offense, including a very strong skill position group. Zeke Zuberbuhler is one of those stars coming back, manning the quarterback spot as a sophomore last season when he accounted for nearly 1500 yards of offense. Leading rusher Calum Crist also returns, while Broke Buschor and Dante Glendenning are versatile and talented options.

7. Mondovi - The Buffaloes finished tied for third in the Cloverbelt last year, but lost a large number of close games. Bode Falkner took over the starting quarterback job as a freshman midway through last season and showed some nice potential. He could be really good this year. Carter Heike will play a bigger role in the running game and is also the team’s defensive leader. Keep an eye on sophomore receiver Beau Spinder as well. The Buffaloes welcome back a total of six starters on offense and six on defense.

8. Abbotsford - The Falcons won six straight to open the 2024 season but ended with three losses in the final five games, going out to Coleman in a narrow 7-6 Level 2 defeat. The team has a talented backfield returning led by Irvin Aguilera and Christian Fuentes, who bring 4,000 yards of offensive production. Overall there are six starters back on both sides of the ball, with 22 letterwinners returning.

9. Cambridge - The Blue Jays were dominant during the regular season, going a perfect 9-0, with just one game decided by less than three scores. However, after receiving a top seed in the WIAA playoffs, the team was shocked by eighth-seeded Belleville, not just beaten but shutout 27-0. The team was an offensive juggernaut most of the year behind a strong passing attack led by Matthew Buckman, who threw for nearly 3000 yards. He is gone, along with top receiver Kiefer Parish. Versatile offensive weapon Owain Nelles does return.

10. Fall Creek - The Crickets saw a coaching change last year, with Marcus Wahleithner taking over. It took a bit to get going, but the Crickets made some noise late in the season. They knocked off Mondovi in Week 9, then narrowly lost to league heavyweight Regis in the first playoff game, 29-28. It was a young group, returning a lot for 2025, as the Crickets are a sleeper team to watch in the conference race. Josh Wright is back after manning much of the quarterback duties. Cullen Kramer ran for more than 1200 yards while Ethan Westrate added 639, and both return. Leading receiver Braylen Prorok is back as well.

11. Manitowoc Lutheran - The Lancers dropped four of their first five games (though one was a replacement game), but the team rebounded to win five straight, including back-to-back 14-7 victories over Reedsville in the final regular season game and first playoff contests. They’d bow out against Lomira, the eventual D6 champ, in Level 2. All five expected offensive linemen started or played significant minutes, and the skill positions have some explosive athletes returning, including quarterback Jayman Ott. There are seven starters returning on offense and eight on defense, with 32 letterwinners coming back.

12. Luther - The Knights finished third in the Coulee Conference last year, going 7-2 during the regular season. Luther knocked off Ladysmith in the postseason before a tough 17-14 loss to Regis the following week. Momentum continues to build for Luther, who has made three consecutive postseason appearances after just one regular playoff appearance in school history prior to 2021.

13. Auburndale - The Eagles suffered just one defeat during the regular season, a loss to eventual Division 7 champion Edgar. They’d win a playoff game for a seventh consecutive year before going out in Level 2 against Bonduel. There are 27 upperclassmen back this year, including six starters on offense and seven on defense. Still, they have to replace a group from last year that earned eight, First Team All-Conference selections.

14. Lomira - Lomira put together the season of a lifetime in 2024, finishing 7-2 in the regular season with close losses to Edgerton and Mayville, but taking down Saint Mary’s Springs to help secure a share of the Flyway Conference title. The Lions had never even been to a state semi-final previously, but after putting a running clock on Belleville, the team qualified for the state finals in Division 6. Facing off against fellow first-time finalist Grantsburg, Lomira trailed early but held a two-score lead in the fourth quarter, holding on for a 26-19 victory. It was a senior-dominated group that will bring back just eight letterwinners this season, including only one starter on offense and two on defense.

15. Chetek-Weyerhaeuser - The Bulldogs finished 5-5 overall last year and 4-3 in conference play, advancing to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. The core skill players are back this year, including quarterback Aiden Becker, who led the team in passing and rushing, along with leading receiver Ethan Brown and Brodrick Olson.