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

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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.

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.
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.

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