Outside of the powerhouse that is New Canaan, Class L in Connecticut remains incredibly competitive. Here are five teams poised to make serious noise and worth watching closely in the 2026 season:

1. Cheshire: Cheshire put together a stellar run last season, marching all the way to the Class L state championship game before falling to New Canaan. They proved they can handle the physical toll of a deep postseason run, and with that championship-game experience under their belt, they enter 2026 as one of the definitive frontrunners to get back to the big stage. 

2. Weaver: Weaver was one of the most surprising stories of the state tournament last year, lighting up the scoreboard (63 points over ATI) in a massive quarterfinal win before bowing out in the semifinals. Their high-powered offensive identity makes them a threat against anyone, and they have officially established themselves as a team no one wants to draw in the bracket.

3. Ridgefield: Ridgefield proved how battle-tested they are by pulling off a gritty road upset against Newtown in the state quarterfinals last year to reach the final four. Navigating the brutal FCIAC schedule year in and year out gives them a massive edge in terms of strength of schedule, making them a lock to be dangerous come November.

4. Newtown: A perennial powerhouse out of the SWC, Newtown is almost always in the mix when the playoffs roll around. While their quarterfinal exit last year wasn’t how they wanted to finish, this is a program built on consistency and strong depth. Expect them to retool quickly and fight for a top-four seed in the division.

5. Darien: You can never count out Darien. As a legacy program in Connecticut high school football, they have the coaching infrastructure under Andy Grant and tradition to reload rather than rebuild. After making the tournament field last year, they have all the motivation needed to make a much deeper run into the Class L bracket this season.