Wichita Collegiate will look to continue one of the state’s most impressive state championship runs on Saturday at the 2026 Scholars Bowl State Championships with the Spartans looking for their 10th straight state title.
Collegiate began its streak in 2017, taking the state title in Class 4A that year. After winning 4A again in 2018, the Spartans dropped down to Class 3A and have won the past seven state titles in that classification, going 5-0 in the final round including a title-clinching 75-10 win over runner-up Southeast of Saline.
Collegiate isn’t the only 2025 champion looking to repeat. In fact, all seven champions from a year ago are back to defend their titles.
Five of the seven returning state champions also go into this year’s state tournament having won regional championships last week – Manhattan (6A), Wichita Collegiate (3A), Moundridge (2A), Wichita Independent (1A Division I) and Satanta (1A Division II).
The other two returning champions are Bishop Carroll (5A) and Eudora (4A) with Eudora having won the past two 4A state titles.
Manhattan and Carroll will have the luxury of defending their titles on their home turf with the Indians hosting the 6A championships and Carroll hosting the 5A tournament. The other state sites are Winfield (4A), Southeast of Saline (3A), Bennington (2A), Lincoln (1A I) and Elyria Christian (1A II).
2026 SCHOLARS BOWL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
CLASS 6A
At Manhattan
Qualifiers – Derby, Manhattan*, Mill Valley*, Olathe North, Olathe Northwest, Topeka High, Wichita East, Wichita Northwest.
CLASS 5A
At Bishop Carroll
Qualifiers – Andover Central, Bishop Carroll, De Soto, Maize South*, Newton, Piper, St. James Academy*, Sumner Academy.
CLASS 4A
At Winfield
Qualifiers – Baldwin, Buhler*, Eudora, Louisburg*, McPherson, Ottawa, Pratt, Winfield.
CLASS 3A
At Southeast of Saline
Qualifiers – Burlington, Cimarron, Ellsworth*, Girard*, Hesston, Heritage Christian, Lyons, Nemaha Central, Perry-Lecompton*, Riverton, Southeast of Saline, Wichita Collegiate*.
CLASS 2A
At Bennington
Qualifiers – Bennington, Maur Hill*, Mission Valley, Moundridge*, Northern Heights*, Remington, Republic County, Sacred Heart*, St. Mary’s Colgan, Sublette, Uniontown, Wichita Central Christian.
CLASS 1A DIVISION I
At Lincoln
Qualifiers – Fairfield, Frankfort*, Goessel, Greeley County, Hodgeman County*, Meade, Ness City, Onaga, Pleasanton, Pratt-Skyline, Sylvan-Lucas*, Wichita Independent*.
CLASS 1A DIVISION II
At Elyria Christian
Qualifiers – Beloit-St. John’s*, Bucklin, Centre, Cheylin, Cunningham, Elyria Christian, Golden Plains, Hartford, Hutchinson Central Christian*, Satanta*, St. Xavier, Wallace County.
*--Regional champion