The Southeast-8 football conference is gearing up for the 2026 season, and the storylines already taking shape promise a competitive race. Oakfield arrives as the defending champion after capturing the 2025 title and advancing to the state semifinals, where they fell to Gilman. The team will be anchored by quarterback Austin Harmsen, who earned Player of the Year honors in the league after throwing for 1,662 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Joining him will be rising star Xavier Mielke, adding depth to an offense that looks poised to repeat its success. Abundant Life/St. Ambrose, having transitioned from an independent 8‑player schedule to a full conference slate, finished 3‑6 in 2025 but bring back explosive receivers Mo Aeschlimann and Jeremiah Ethen, who combined for multiple touchdowns last year and are expected to push for a second‑place finish.
Palmyra‑Eagle, switching from 11‑player to 8‑player football, made the playoffs in 2025 but stumbled, losing six of their final seven games. Still, the adjustment could yield a tighter contest this year. Princeton/Green Lake returns more than half of its starters, having rallied from an 0‑3 start that included a forfeit, winning three games to secure a playoff berth. Their experience could make them a dark horse.
Predicted Order of Finish
Analysts predict the order of finish for 2026 to be Oakfield, Abundant Life/St. Ambrose, Palmyra‑Eagle, Princeton/Green Lake, Williams Bay, Wayland Academy, St. John’s Northwestern Academies, and Montello, setting the stage for a season that could reshape the conference landscape.
Williams Bay qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2014, finishing 3‑5 in the regular season, and rallied in their final game against St. John’s Northwestern Academies, despite losing six of seven overall. Wayland Academy’s running game will rely on Kayn Kim, who ranked second on the team in rushing yards in 2025, while Montello, despite a 1‑7 record, returns leading rusher Ole Sterregaard and Ethan Skramstad, hoping to turn the tide.