615 Preps Medium Class 2026 Overview: Strong teams look to bring back gold again
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The fifth installment of our 2026 preview series continues our look at the “weight classes” in our coverage area, with today being the Medium Class schools. We classify them as the teams in Division II-Class AA and Class 4A and 5A, since that splits our 14-county area into somewhat equal thirds. Those classes consist of 24 programs playing TSSAA football this year.
Previous preview content:
Aug. 17: Small Class Overview
Aug. 14: Who are some of the area’s notable transfers on defense this offseason?
Aug. 13: Who are some of the area’s notable transfers on offense this offseason?
Aug. 12: 615 Preps’ week-by-week guide of games to attend in 2026
How they finished 2025
In Division II-Class AA, BGA avenged its lone loss with a first-half rampage en route to a 61-27 win over FRA. Since Division II split into three classes in 2017, Nashville-area teams have won seven of the nine AA titles contested and each of the last six. Page brought back the area’s first 5A crown since 2020, as the Patriots finally broke through for their first state title after four consecutive runner-up finishes. Pearl-Cohn gave Alcoa some trouble in the 4A title game before ultimately falling 47-27 in the Firebirds’ third BlueCross Bowl appearance in four years.
Springfield was a quarterfinalist in 4A and the only other area team to win a playoff game in that class. Centennial reached its first semifinal in 5A after a spirited playoff run, while Beech made the quarterfinals before falling at Page.
Grace Christian reached the Division II-AA quarterfinals in its first year after moving up a class, as the only other area team not named FRA or BGA to escape round one.
Five questions that will shape 2026
Is it BGA’s world again in Division II-AA or can FRA flip the script in 2026?
Let’s begin with this – it will take a large effort for anyone to unseat these two at the Chattanooga table in December. They’re arguably the two best teams in this class and there’s no doubt a bad taste in the Panthers’ mouths after what happened in last year’s title game. The Wildcats, meanwhile, will have a new signal-caller tossing the ball around as Bo Bryan has waited his turn to become the starting quarterback following Kaedyn Marable’s graduation. He’s got two of the most talented receivers to target in junior Maximus Curry and sophomore Maddox Porter. FRA, meanwhile, will lean on Omarii Sanders and a line anchored by Keilan Neal in order to make another run. The rest of the field will need to find something special to raise their game.
Could Page and Sevier County run it back in the 5A title game again, or will another team break through?
It’s certainly possible, though a few teams will want to be the squad that ends Page’s run in the western half of the bracket. Start with Beech, who played the Patriots tighter than any team before the championship game. Nolensville might be the biggest region threat to the Patriots, but keep an eye out for Station Camp.
Is this the year somebody denies Alcoa another title?
An honest assessment – if you’re pitting the Tornadoes vs. the field, you’re probably taking Alcoa without a second thought and you’d have a pretty good reason to do so. So the real question is if you’re pulling from the field, who’s the challenger? Pearl-Cohn has a great case to go back to Chattanooga and might be even better than last year, which gives them a strong profile entering the season. Springfield arguably has the area’s best player in Jermaine Cobbins and the Yellow Jackets will get their shot at the Firebirds soon enough.
Any sleeper teams in these classes?
We’ve already mentioned Station Camp in Class 5A and if you’re looking for one in 4A, consider Macon County, who just dodged a significant bullet last week when their stadium was deemed available for use this season. They’re on Alcoa’s side of the bracket, so winning a region title would keep them away from the Tornadoes for at least a couple of rounds. It’s hard to pinpoint one in the area in Division II-AA, but let’s see how Goodpasture fares coming off a 7-4 campaign.
Who are some contenders for Mr. Football in these classes?
We’ve already mentioned several – Bryan, Curry and Porter at BGA and Cobbins at Springfield. Definitely need to look at LJ Funk and Landen Left at Pearl-Cohn, and Cobbins’ quarterback, Kason Woodson, could garner consideration as well. Station Camp’s Colton Overbey is a potential sleeper in 5A if he has a big year.
Notable numbers
3 – The number of victories Beech head coach Anthony Crabtree is away from 200 career wins, which he has amassed all on the Buccaneers’ sideline since 2005.
11 – Speaking of 200, Tony Brunetti is sitting at 189 wins entering the year and is 11 away from 200 himself. He’s also been a one-stop head coach, heading the Firebird program since 2006.
14 – Page’s current winning streak entering 2026, the third-longest such run in the area after their unbeaten season in 2025 (one game was canceled due to weather).
100 – JPII head coach Roc Batten will reach 100 wins with the Knights’ first win of the season, as Batten sits on 99 entering the year. Macon County’s Kyle Shoulders has 88 wins in his career, so a 12-win Tiger campaign would get him to 100 this year.
New head coaches this year
A couple of long-time coaches departed in the offseason – Michael Shaw takes over for Steve Trapp at DeKalb County, while Aaron Pitts replaces the outgoing John Elmore at Greenbrier. Jamaal Stewart returns to the Metro head coaching ranks at Hillsboro, while Tennessee fans will be interested in Monterio Hardesty’s first season at Lawson. Bryan Dupree now heads the Portland program, while Chad Broadrick is Centennial’s new head coach.
