July 13, 2026 - 2:45 pm

Bishop Gorman’s football team will be involved in a national No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown early this season.

The Gaels are ranked No. 2 nationally by MaxPreps in the site’s preseason poll released Monday behind California power St. John Bosco at No. 1.

The two teams will meet Aug. 21 at Gorman’s Fertitta Field. A win would put Gorman in the driver’s seat to win a fifth mythical national title.

St. John Bosco and Gorman were also ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the preseason High School Football America Rankings released last month.

Gorman’s nonleague schedule includes a road game at Mater Dei (California), which was ranked No. 9 in MaxPreps’ preseason poll, on Sept. 18. Three of Gorman’s four losses since 2021 have been to Mater Dei, including a 24-21 defeat at home last September.

The Gaels also play Columbus (Florida) on Aug. 29 in Florida and at Lone Peak (Utah) Sept. 4. The rest of their schedule includes local 5A and 4A private and charter schools after 30 CCSD schools moved their football programs to independent status and will not play Gorman or compete for state titles the next two seasons.

Gorman finished 12-1 last season and ranked No. 2 in USA Today’s final poll and No. 3 by MaxPreps. USA Today has not released its preseason Super 25 poll.

The Gaels are also expected to play in the Overtime Nationals, which, as reported by Rivals, will be a four-team national tournament that will crown a national champion.

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.