Sideline Sports Show Episode 30 graphic for the 2026 Week 1 high school football preview, showing players in maroon Eagles uniforms running onto the field through an inflatable eagle tunnel as cheerleaders line the sideline

Week 1 of High School Football Preview! Plus, Austin Hough Joins the Show

Leverage Photography

On the latest edition of the Sideline Sports Show, Brice and DC dive into the preseason high school football landscape, starting with the Indiana coaches poll and asking the big question: Who is ranked too high, and who is being overlooked?

The guys then run through the best matchups on the Week 1 schedule, including several intriguing northeast Indiana showdowns such as Adams Central at Bishop Luers, South Adams at Eastside, Shenandoah at Bluffton, Garrett at DeKalb, NorthWood at Columbia City, Wayne at Leo, North at East Noble, Snider at Warsaw, and Westfield at Homestead.

South Bend Tribune Sports Editor Austin Hough joins the show to provide a statewide perspective on the upcoming season. Austin breaks down the top teams across Indiana, which programs in the northern half of the state could challenge northeast Indiana teams in the regional and semi-state rounds, and whether West Noble has a legitimate chance to compete for a sectional championship.

Brice and DC also take a closer look at the local teams with the best paths to making a deep postseason run.

With the season opener just around the corner, the guys close by asking the big question: Can any northeast Indiana team make it all the way to Indianapolis?

Listen to “Week 1 of High School Football Preview! Plus, Austin Hough Joins the Show” on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Catch the Sideline Sports Show live every Sunday morning at 11 a.m. on their YouTube channel and stay connected to the show by following them on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

The useful details, answered clearly and without the digging.

01

What are the best Week 1 high school football games in northeast Indiana?

Brice and DC single out Adams Central at Bishop Luers, South Adams at Eastside, Shenandoah at Bluffton, Garrett at DeKalb, NorthWood at Columbia City, Wayne at Leo, North at East Noble, Snider at Warsaw, and Westfield at Homestead. They walk through each matchup on the show and explain what makes it worth watching in the opening week.

02

Who is Austin Hough?

Austin Hough is the sports editor at the South Bend Tribune. He joins this episode to give a statewide view of the 2026 high school football season, including the top teams across Indiana and which northern-half programs could stand in the way of northeast Indiana teams in the regional and semi-state rounds.

03

Does West Noble have a chance at a sectional championship?

That question goes straight to Austin Hough on this episode. He weighs in on whether West Noble has a legitimate chance to compete for a sectional title in 2026 as part of his broader look at the northern half of the state.

04

Which northeast Indiana teams have the best shot at a deep postseason run?

Brice and DC take a closer look at the local teams with the clearest paths to a long tournament run. They close the show by asking whether any northeast Indiana team can make it all the way to Indianapolis for the state finals.

05

What does the Indiana coaches poll say heading into the season?

The episode opens on the preseason coaches poll. Brice and DC use it to argue over which teams are ranked too high and which ones are being overlooked before a single game has been played.

06

Where can I listen to this Sideline Sports Show episode?

“Week 1 of High School Football Preview! Plus, Austin Hough Joins the Show” is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Links to all three are in the article above.

07

When does the Sideline Sports Show air?

The show goes live every Sunday morning at 11 a.m. on the Brice and DC YouTube channel. You can also follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and X between episodes.
Brice Vance

Brice Vance

Brice Vance is a Fort Wayne-based sports media professional and co-host of the Sideline Sports Show. With nearly a decade of experience covering Indiana high school and college sports, he brings deep local knowledge and a passion for Hoosier athletics to every broadcast.

View all posts →

Keep Exploring Indiana

View all articles

Stay IN the Know

Join 25k+ who know where to go, what's happening, and what's worth their time. Free every Thursday, from all 92 counties, positive news only.

120k+72k+123k+25k+ Hoosiers already read itOne email a weekUnsubscribe anytime