The 2026 football season brings a fresh start for several Hamilton County programs, none more anticipated than Carmel High School, which is set to rejoin the Metropolitan Conference after a four‑year absence.
Carmel’s schedule, released this week, pits the team against familiar foes such as North Central, Ben Davis and Lawrence Central in weeks six through nine, while earlier non‑conference games see the Eagles host Center Grove in week three and travel to Pike in week four before a road test at Lawrence North in week five.
Meanwhile, Hamilton Heights is reshaping its own slate, dropping longtime rivals Triton Central, Tippecanoe Valley and Danville and adding new challenges including a matchup with London (Ohio), Benton Central and Lafayette Central Catholic. The schedule also features a shift that moves Logansport to week three and slides Twin Lakes back to week eight.
Other programs in the county are making minor tweaks; Guerin Catholic will replace Pike with Andrean in week seven and swap Culver Academies for Mt. Vernon in week eight, while Noblesville swaps Mt. Vernon for Arsenal Tech in week one. Teams such as Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern, Sheridan and Westfield remain unchanged.
A New Chapter for Local Football
The upcoming season promises renewed rivalries and fresh storylines as coaches and players alike look to capitalize on the revised schedules, with the Blackhawks slated to meet Tri‑Central in week three — a game that was canceled last year.