The Indian Hill Braves will open their 2026 varsity football season at Roger Bacon on Friday, Aug. 21, then navigate a 10-game slate that includes a KWF rivalry showdown against Madeira at home on Friday, Oct. 9, and a trip to Mariemont on Friday, Sept. 18.
The complete schedule, published Thursday on the Indian Hill Braves Athletics website, gives east-side fans the full picture as the Braves move up to Division III after going 13-1, reaching the state semifinals, and winning the Cincinnati Hills League title in 2025.
All 10 games kick off at 7 p.m.
The full schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Event |
|------|----------|----------|-------|
| Friday, Aug. 21 | Roger Bacon | Away | |
| Friday, Aug. 28 | Beechwood (KY) | Away | |
| Friday, Sept. 4 | New Richmond | Home | Booster Bash |
| Friday, Sept. 11 | Wyoming | Home | Youth Night |
| Friday, Sept. 18 | Mariemont | Away | |
| Friday, Sept. 25 | Taylor | Home | |
| Friday, Oct. 2 | Finneytown | Away | |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | Madeira | Home | KWF |
| Friday, Oct. 16 | Deer Park | Home | Senior Night |
| Friday, Oct. 23 | Reading | Away | |
The schedule splits evenly: five home games and five on the road.
Marquee matchups
The Oct. 9 KWF game against Madeira is the headline date for east-side fans. Indian Hill beat the Mustangs 45-0 on the road on Oct. 10, 2025, and the 2026 meeting comes home to Tomahawk Stadium with the CHL rivalry designation attached.
The Sept. 18 trip to Mariemont pits two east-side programs against each other in a Friday night that will draw fans from both villages.
Returning talent
Head coach John Rodenberg enters his fifth season at Indian Hill and his 33rd year overall as a high school head coach, carrying more than 200 career victories and four state championships across three states. Senior quarterback Devlan Daniel, who threw for 1,192 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 1,116 yards and 21 more scores in 2025, leads the offense. Daniel is also verbally committed to Mississippi State for baseball.
"Everyone wants to be here. … Everyone wants to compete. We all have the same goal. Go win a state championship and I don't think that thought process has wavered from anyone's mind," Daniel told WCPO on July 24 at Tomahawk Stadium.
Junior linebackers Topher Wachtel and Joey Jernigan each recorded 83 tackles last season behind a defense that allowed just 10 points per game. Senior defensive back Dylan Hartman returns as a Division IV first-team all-state selection, and junior running back Jacob Alexander (674 yards, seven touchdowns) gives the backfield a second gear.
What's next
The Braves open at Roger Bacon on Friday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. The home opener is Friday, Sept. 4, against New Richmond for Booster Bash night.
