Who will win Florida high school football Class 5A? Our top contenders

The 2026 Florida high school football season will have a different feel than any prior.

Not only are there fewer classes (six down from eight), which means new rivalries, but the Florida High School Athletic Association has added an Open Division.

The round-robin tournament will take the top eight ranked teams, regardless of classification, and have them play in their own playoff bracket this fall.

As the 2026 season approaches, the USA TODAY Florida Network is looking at each of the six classes to see which teams have the best chance of a getting into the Open Division, which teams are top contenders to lift the championship trophy in December and what playoff brackets could prove the most difficult.

Class 5A arguably is the deepest in Florida. The headliners are defending national champion St. Thomas Aquinas and back-to-back state champion West Boca. Lakeland was the Class 5A state runner-up in 2025, while Armwood, Buchholz, Ponte Vedra and Riverdale were state semifinalists in their respective classes last year.

Open Division contenders

St. Thomas Aquinas: The Raiders should be on the top of the list for Open Division contenders, and it's more just the unprecedented seven consecutive state titles. The offense is led by elite tackle Mark Matthews (Texas A&M commit) and four-star wide receiver Julius Jones (Notre Dame).

West Boca: The Bulls won back-to-back state championships and will once again are built the same way — elite defense and a potent offense. The secondary, led by safeties Loia Valade (Texas A&M) and Damari Jerry (Liberty) should be one of the best in Florida.

Armwood: The Hawks would have been in the Open Division had it existed in 2025. Armwood went 13-1 last season and outscored opponents, 590-72. Their only loss was a heartbreaker to eventual Class 6A champion West Boca in the state semifinal.

Lakeland: The Dreadnaughts have won the state title or been the runner-up each of the past four seasons. Lakeland went 13-3 in 2025 and reached the Class 5A state title game. The defense, led by edge/tackle Santana Harvey (Clemson) and edge Drew Sapp (Colorado) should be very good.

Buchholz: The Bobcats have won five consecutive regional championships but still are looking for a breakthrough in the state semifinals. Junior quarterback Andrew Whittemore had a breakout season in 2025, with more than 2,500 total yards and 27 touchdowns.

State title contenders

Mandarin: Any conversation about Mandarin should start with five-star junior wide receiver Brysen Wright, but the Mustangs once again have a talented roster. Junior quarterback Knox Annis (Miami) and defensive tackle Kindrid Outlaw (USF) will be counted on to help lead the Mustangs.

Niceville: After winning 12 games and coming painfully close to reaching the Class 5A state title game in 2024, the Eagles took a step back with six wins last season. Niceville has some key players returning, including linebacker Noah Renes (Georgia Tech) and star sophomore running back Jakobe Gilyard.

Evans: The Trojans took a big step forward in 2025, winning eight games — including beating perennial powers Jones and Lake Mary. The addition of senior quarterback William Jackson (Maryland commit) and athlete Brian Dillard (USF commit) should really open up the offense.

Manatee: The Hurricanes had an mixed season in 2025. They went 5-7 but reached the regional final for the second consecutive season. Expect a bounce back season from a team that returns its top two rushers, top two pass catchers and a strong group of linebackers.

Palmetto: Eric Sanders has guided the Tigers to 19 wins in his first two years as coach, including a 10-win season and a regional semifinal appearance in 2025. This is a talented team, led by defensive lineman Maleek Lee (Georgia Tech) and cornerback Nazir Pitchford (North Carolina).

Toughest district

District 1: Bartram Trail, Beachside, Fletcher, Mandarin, Nease, Ponte Vedra

Top to bottom, this district has a lot of talented teams coming off successful seasons. Ponte Vedra was a Class 5A state semifinalist in 2025, while Mandarin was a finalist in Region 1-6A — the toughest region in the state last year. Bartram Trail, Nease and Beachside all were regional semifinalists. Fletcher is the only team in District 1 that didn't make the playoff last season, but the Senators are coming off a six-win campaign.

Toughest region

Region 4

This region is really top heavy, but whoever gets out will definitely have earned it. St. Thomas Aquinas (District 15) and West Boca (District 14), both are defending champions. They are the headliners. Archbishop McCarthy (District 15) took a big step forward in 2025, winning a district that included eventual Class 4A state champion American Heritage. Miami Southridge was a state semifinalist in 2024; Monarch (District 13) was a state semifinalist three years ago. Mater Academy (District 16) and Coconut Creek (District 14) both should make noise this season, too.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Who will win Florida high school football Class 5A? Our top contenders