Football Teams In This Article
- All Saints (Winter Haven)
- Babcock (Babcock Ranch)
- Bishop McLaughlin (Spring Hill)
- Bozeman (Panama City)
- Canterbury (Fort Myers)
- Central (Milton)
- Central Florida Christian (Orlando)
- Evangelical Christian (Fort Myers)
- Foundation Academy (Winter Garden)
- Geneva (Casselberry)
- Graceville
- Halifax Academy (Daytona Beach)
- Hamilton County (Jasper)
- Hilliard
- Holy Trinity (Melbourne)
- Inlet Grove (Riviera Beach)
- Jay
- Lake Highland Prep (Orlando)
- Marathon
- Marco Island Academy
- Mount Dora Christian
- Oak Hall (Gainesville)
- Orangewood Christian (Maitland)
- P. K. Yonge (Gainesville)
- Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale)
- Providence (Jacksonville)
- Santa Fe Catholic (Lakeland)
- Southwest Florida Christian (Fort Myers)
- St. John Paul II (Boca Raton)
- The Masters Academy (Oviedo)
- Trinity Prep (Winter Park)
- Wewahitchka
- Windermere Prep
The FHSAA Independent League begins in 2026 with a postseason structure separate from the traditional classification system.
Division B includes participating schools with student populations of 899 or fewer. The division is separated into North and South regions, with eight teams from each region advancing to a 16-team playoff field.
There are no districts and no automatic qualifying berths. The final MaxPreps rankings will determine the eight qualifiers and seeds in each region at the conclusion of the regular season. Higher-seeded teams will host each playoff round, although the FHSAA retains discretion to adjust pairings when significant travel concerns exist.
The North and South regional champions will meet for the Division B championship on Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, at The Villages Charter High School. The game time remains to be determined.
The Florida Power Rankings Index provides an independent preseason estimate of how those regional races could develop. Each team receives a standardized 10-game record projection, playoff probability and Division B championship probability.
The projected records are not game-by-game schedule predictions. They represent the level at which each program is expected to perform across a standard 10-game regular season based on its preseason FPRI rating and recent results.
Playoff probability measures each team’s chance of finishing among the eight qualifiers in its region. Division B championship probability measures each team’s chance of advancing through its regional bracket and defeating the opposite regional champion in the championship game.
These projections are not official MaxPreps rankings, playoff selections or seeds. MaxPreps will determine the official postseason field, and the order can change substantially once regular-season results replace preseason expectations.
The probabilities are intended to show separation, not certainty. A high playoff probability represents a strong preseason position, while teams closer to the projected cutoff have less room for error.
North Region outlook
Mount Dora Christian enters the Independent League as the clear North Region favorite after producing the strongest 2025 season among the Division B programs.
The Bulldogs finished 12-2 and reached the SSAA 11-Man state championship game, completing a substantial rise from an 8-3 finish in 2024. Mount Dora Christian has posted winning records in each of the past five seasons and begins with the North’s highest rating and Division B championship probability.
The Masters Academy follows despite entering 2026 after a significant reversal. The Eagles went 11-1 in 2024 before falling to 5-7 last season. Their broader record, which includes a 9-2 finish in 2023, keeps them near the top of the preseason model.
Jay, Providence and Oak Hall form the next group. Jay followed a 9-2 season in 2024 with a 6-5 finish and reached the Rural regional semifinals last fall. Providence declined from 8-4 to 4-7, while Oak Hall rebounded from a 4-6 season to finish 9-4 and win its SSAA consolation bracket.
Bozeman occupies the sixth projected position. The Bucks finished 6-5 last season after going 5-5 in 2024, but their recent history also includes a 12-1 campaign in 2023.
Hamilton County and Hilliard hold the final two projected positions. Hamilton County improved from 2-8 to 5-5, while Hilliard climbed from 1-9 to 3-7 after winning 16 games across the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Geneva, Halifax Academy and Trinity Prep begin closest to the cutoff. Geneva fell from 7-5 to 2-10, and Halifax Academy dropped from 5-4 to 1-10. Trinity Prep moved in the opposite direction, improving from 1-9 to 5-6.
South Region outlook
The South presents a deeper race with several programs carrying strong recent postseason credentials.
Lake Highland Prep begins with the region’s highest championship probability after finishing 7-3 and reaching an SSAA 11-Man regional final in 2025. The Highlanders have posted winning records in each of the past five seasons, including consecutive unbeaten seasons in 2021 and 2022.
Foundation Academy follows after improving from 5-5 to 10-3 and advancing to the SSAA 11-Man state semifinals. The Lions have recorded a winning season in four of the past five years and carry the South’s second-highest championship probability.
Southwest Florida Christian also enters with significant momentum. The King’s improved from 6-4 to 9-2 after posting losing records in 2022 and 2023. Their 2025 season ended in the Class 1A regional quarterfinals.
Holy Trinity completed a second consecutive improvement, rising from 5-5 to 7-3 after a 7-4 finish in 2023. The Tigers also reached the SSAA 11-Man regional semifinals last season.
Santa Fe Catholic rounds out a group of five teams with 99.0% playoff probabilities. The Hawks improved from 6-5 to 9-3 and reached a regional final in their SSAA consolation bracket.
Central Florida Christian owns the next-strongest playoff position after producing one of the largest turnarounds in the field. The Eagles went from 3-6 in 2024 to 9-1 last season and advanced to the SSAA 11-Man regional semifinals.
All Saints and St. John Paul II hold the final two projected positions. All Saints rebounded from 2-6 to 9-2 and won its SSAA 8-Man consolation bracket. St. John Paul II slipped from 5-5 to 3-6 but reached the Class 1A regional quarterfinals.
Pine Crest and Orangewood Christian are the first two teams outside the projected field. Pine Crest improved from 3-6 to 5-4, while Orangewood Christian finished 6-5 for the second consecutive season and reached a regional final in its SSAA consolation bracket.
Division B championship picture
Mount Dora Christian owns the strongest Division B championship probability at 16.2%, supported by its 12-win season and appearance in the 2025 SSAA 11-Man state championship game.
Lake Highland Prep follows at 12.3%, giving the South a leading contender with five consecutive winning seasons and recent regional-final experience.
Foundation Academy, The Masters Academy, Southwest Florida Christian and Jay form the next tier. Foundation Academy and Southwest Florida Christian enter with strong upward momentum, while The Masters Academy and Jay are attempting to regain the form they displayed during stronger 2024 seasons.
The South carries more depth among the leading contenders, but Mount Dora Christian gives the North the clearest individual favorite. That creates a championship race built around a proven North frontrunner and a South bracket with several teams capable of reaching The Villages.
The complete team-by-team projections, playoff probabilities, projected seeds and regional brackets are available below for Season Ticket members.
![Mount Dora Christian finished the 2025 season as the SSAA 11-Man State Runner-up and is now transitioning back to the FHSAA with the new Independent League. [Mount Dora Christian Athletics/Instagram]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Countdown-To-Kickoff-No.-94-Mount-Dora-Christian-Featured.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![The Lincoln Trojans are looking to build upon a 6-5 record from the 2025 season with a new district that spans from Panama City to Tallahasse in District 4A-2. [Lincoln Trojan Football/Instagram]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Countdown-To-Kickoff-No.-95-Lincoln-Featured.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![Palm Beach Central will look to bounce back from an early playoff exit from 2025 during the 2026 season that also encompasses a much larger district schedule. [@PBCbroncosFBALL/X]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Countdown-To-Kickoff-No.-96-Palm-Beach-Central-Featured-1.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
