The latest preseason Top 25 released by MaxPreps has placed two Tennessee powerhouses, Baylor and Brentwood Academy, inside the top fifteen, signaling a competitive start to the 2026 season.
A Rivalry Renewed
Their last meeting came in the BlueCross Bowl championship last December, where Baylor edged Brentwood Academy 28‑24 in a tightly contested game that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
At the center of Baylor’s hype is senior standout David Gabriel Georges, the state’s top recruit and the No. 10 prospect nationally, who already holds offers from Ohio State, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Alabama.
This offseason, Baylor bolstered its roster with four‑star quarterback Keegan Croucher, a commit from Ole Miss, while also adding four‑star tight end Braxton Reign and three‑star edge rusher Hans Emery Julien.
Brentwood Academy, meanwhile, continues to attract elite talent, highlighted by Tennessee commit Kesean Bowman, the second‑ranked recruit in the state, and newcomers Kenneth Simon, Crews Jenkins and Li'Marcus Jones.
Coaches and analysts say the renewed rivalry could reshape the power dynamics in high school football across the Southeast, with both programs poised to contend for the next state title.