The latest Super 15 West regional rankings have turned the spotlight on a handful of California powerhouses, with seven teams making the cut and stirring early chatter about the upcoming 2026 season.
St. John Bosco of Bellflower enters the new campaign with a 9‑2 record from the previous year, only to see its championship hopes dashed by a one‑point loss to Orange Lutheran in the postseason final.
Coach Jason Negro will guide the team on the road when they open against Bishop Gorman from Nevada, a matchup that promises to test the squad’s depth early on.
Mater Dei, still reeling from a 36‑31 defeat to Bosco in the regular‑season finale, remains a fixture in the conversation, while Santa Margarita looks to defend its title after a dominant 47‑13 victory over De La Salle in last year’s state championship, a win powered by former USC star Carson Palmer.
What’s Next for the Region’s Elite
Centennial, the sole California public school represented in the top tier, is slated to face both Bosco and Santa Margarita in non‑league contests, underscoring the breadth of competition across the state.
De La Salle, the only Northern California entrant, brings a different style of play to the mix, adding another layer of intrigue to the regional landscape.
Orange Lutheran and Mater Dei also appear among the ranked teams, suggesting that the West region may produce several nationally ranked squads by season’s end.
As schedules firm up, coaches are already tweaking schemes and recruiting efforts, aware that a single slip could reshape the entire hierarchy.
Fans across the state are marking calendars, eager to see whether the traditional rivalries will translate into new storylines when the first games kick off in August.