SAC 2026

[23andCounting]

If you haven't seen the Sideline Sports Show, check it out. They have great content showcasing NE Indiana. Watching their show inspired me to make a prediction on how the SAC will finish up this season. I think Carroll is the easy pick at #1. After that, it's a crapshoot. I think there are six or seven  teams that are capable of being VERY good. So finishing 8th in the SAC doesn't necessarily mean you won't be a threat in the playoffs. 

1.  Carroll - No doubt about this pick. Lot's of returning starters. Major threat in 6A North. 

2.  Homestead - The Spartans are due for a breakout season. I think they return enough guys to make this season an improvement over last year, which was a pretty good team. 

3.  North Side - This team is stocked with talent, with six guys already receiving D1 offers.  I like them to finish somewhere between second and fourth in the SAC. 

4.  Snider - Don't underestimate this coaching staff. If the offensive line comes together, look out. No D1 offers to my knowledge, just a bunch of well coached kids who know how to play.

5.  Dwenger - Looking forward to seeing how they match up against Roncalli in Week 1. If they win that game, they jump up to #2. But for now, they have a lot of holes to fill from last season. If there's one thing we know about the Saints, they're a tough bunch of kids who are capable of reloading. Kind of a wait and see for me. 

6.  Northrop - Another wait and see team. The talent is there, just behind Carroll and North Side. But they also have a first year coach. They could go higher, they could go lower. 

7.  Luers - Like Dwenger, they also lost a lot of starters from last year's state finalist team. But their coaching staff is as good as any in NE Indiana. I like the Knights to finish between sixth and eighth. Not bad for the smallest school in the SAC. 

8.  South Side - Maybe the team I'm looking forward to seeing the most. I could see them finishing as high as sixth. They've improved every year under Andre Goodwell.........and almost beat East Noble in the playoffs last year. No shame in being ranked 8th in the SAC this season. Good luck to the Archers. Great guy leading the way. 

9.  Wayne - Another up and coming good coach in my opinion, but it's a work in progress. This conference is a grind. 

10. Concordia - Last year in the SAC. Good move for them. I'm basing this prediction on recent past performance. I really don't know much about what they return. I just know it's been a struggle with the larger schools. 

[Komets2727]

39 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

If you haven't seen the Sideline Sports Show, check it out. They have great content showcasing NE Indiana. Watching their show inspired me to make a prediction on how the SAC will finish up this season. I think Carroll is the easy pick at #1. After that, it's a crapshoot. I think there are six or seven  teams that are capable of being VERY good. So finishing 8th in the SAC doesn't necessarily mean you won't be a threat in the playoffs. 

1.  Carroll - No doubt about this pick. Lot's of returning starters. Major threat in 6A North. 

2.  Homestead - The Spartans are due for a breakout season. I think they return enough guys to make this season an improvement over last year, which was a pretty good team. 

3.  North Side - This team is stocked with talent, with six guys already receiving D1 offers.  I like them to finish somewhere between second and fourth in the SAC. 

4.  Snider - Don't underestimate this coaching staff. If the offensive line comes together, look out. No D1 offers to my knowledge, just a bunch of well coached kids who know how to play.

5.  Dwenger - Looking forward to seeing how they match up against Roncalli in Week 1. If they win that game, they jump up to #2. But for now, they have a lot of holes to fill from last season. If there's one thing we know about the Saints, they're a tough bunch of kids who are capable of reloading. Kind of a wait and see for me. 

6.  Northrop - Another wait and see team. The talent is there, just behind Carroll and North Side. But they also have a first year coach. They could go higher, they could go lower. 

7.  Luers - Like Dwenger, they also lost a lot of starters from last year's state finalist team. But their coaching staff is as good as any in NE Indiana. I like the Knights to finish between sixth and eighth. Not bad for the smallest school in the SAC. 

8.  South Side - Maybe the team I'm looking forward to seeing the most. I could see them finishing as high as sixth. They've improved every year under Andre Goodwell.........and almost beat East Noble in the playoffs last year. No shame in being ranked 8th in the SAC this season. Good luck to the Archers. Great guy leading the way. 

9.  Wayne - Another up and coming good coach in my opinion, but it's a work in progress. This conference is a grind. 

10. Concordia - Last year in the SAC. Good move for them. I'm basing this prediction on recent past performance. I really don't know much about what they return. I just know it's been a struggle with the larger schools. 

Sparty is too high, I don’t trust this team at all. Every year they flame out. North Side is a paper tiger, I am from the show me state with them. Coaching is bad, no discipline, won’t make it out of a very tough sectional. Carroll is the class of the SAC right now until someone knocks them off. Dwenger is Dwenger, solid team. Northrop is a one year wonder with their best team in school history last year and they got very lucky to beat arguably the worst Snider team in school history in sectionals. Luers lost some key players from last year’s team and that jump to 4A is brutal. Wayne will be bad. South Side has potential I guess, but it will be another long year for them. Concordia won’t win a game in the SAC in their final year in the conference.

1. Carroll 

2. Dwenger

3. Snider

4. Homestead

5. North Side

6. Luers

7. Northrop

8. South Side

9. Wayne

10. Concordia 

 

 

[23andCounting]

@Komets2727

Good stuff. I think #2 through #7 is a crapshoot. I think the only guarantee is that North Side finishes in the Top 5..........way too much talent not to.

Making a case for Homestead. Last season they beat Noblesville, beat Northrop, waxed Snider and North Side. Lost big to Westfield and was utterly hammered by Carroll. Looked solid in losses to Dwenger and HSE late in the season. They return enough guys at key positions to presume they'll be at least as good as they were last season. They are my bold pick at #2. But as I said, #2 through #7 could go a number of different ways...........all pretty good football teams. And don't sleep on #8. 

[Komets2727]

1 hour ago, 23andCounting said:

@Komets2727

Good stuff. I think #2 through #7 is a crapshoot. I think the only guarantee is that North Side finishes in the Top 5..........way too much talent not to.

Making a case for Homestead. Last season they beat Noblesville, beat Northrop, waxed Snider and North Side. Lost big to Westfield and was utterly hammered by Carroll. Looked solid in losses to Dwenger and HSE late in the season. They return enough guys at key positions to presume they'll be at least as good as they were last season. They are my bold pick at #2. But as I said, #2 through #7 could go a number of different ways...........all pretty good football teams. And don't sleep on #8. 

My issue with Sparty is always the same, they lack toughness year in, year out. Punch them in the mouth, they fold. It’s a culture thing there, nothing else. I have some friends with players at South Side, definitely talented, but football is won and lost on the offensive and defensive line. Period. Tell me when they have ever had a good offensive line. No holes for the skill players means nowhere to run. Too many behemoths in the SAC for South Side. When the SAC as we know it disbands, and it will soon, South Side needs to find a conference without the behemoths. Maybe the NECC…