MaxPreps to release high school football preseason Early Contenders July 24

Video: Early Contenders Facts
Thirteen defending state champs among teams that will make the cut next week.

The wait is almost over.

MaxPreps will unveil the preseason pecking order in high school football Monday with the release of our annual Early Contenders feature.

Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) finished the 2016 season on top with a 15-0 record, extending its overall win streak to 54 games. With showdowns this fall against Central (Miami, Fla.), De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), the Gaels should have a lot to say about the national championship picture once again.

The action begins sooner than you may think. Hawaii kicks things off Aug. 4 with a showdown between Early Contenders candidate Kahuku and perennial power Mililani.

For those that just can't wait, we've put together some reading material to get you through the weekend.

Let's get ready for some high school football. Preseason Early Contenders Primer

Early Contenders Series: Top Quarterbacks | Toughest Schedules | Best Defensive Players | Underrated Players | Top Transfers | Best Players | Biggest Games | Biggest Storylines

Top 100: State-by-state look at top teams

Top 10 Players: California | Florida | Georgia | Texas

Elite 11/The Opening: Elite 11 Finalists | The Opening Recap | Justin Fields MVP

High School Football on TV: ESPN announces opening weekend schedule