Series
2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 13 Oakland
Oakland opens No. 13 with two experienced quarterbacks, returning offensive contributors and a roster built for another deep run.
Top 25 Public HSFB / 6 min read
TN Public School Football
TN
Oakland opens with four consecutive non-region tests, including three on the road. The Patriots begin Aug. 21 at Christ Presbyterian Academy before traveling to Ohio to face Centerville. That out-of-state matchup gives Oakland an early opportunity to strengthen its national profile. After hosting Smyrna, the Patriots visit Pearl-Cohn, another successful Tennessee program capable of testing Oakland before region play begins. The second half of the schedule is built around familiar Rutherford County opponents. Games against Blackman and Riverdale carry rivalry and postseason implications. Oakland defeated Blackman twice in 2025, including a 42-14 victory in the state semifinals, while its annual meeting with Riverdale remains one of Murfreesboro's biggest football games. #### 2026 Oakland Schedule Aug. 21: at Christ Presbyterian Academy Aug. 28: at Centerville (Ohio) Sept. 4: vs. Smyrna Sept. 11: at Pearl-Cohn Sept. 17: vs. Siegel Sept. 24: vs. Blackman Oct. 1: at Rockvale Oct. 16: vs. LaVergne Oct. 23: at Stewarts Creek Oct. 30: at Riverdale
Donte Cameron — QB/ATH, 2027 Cameron gives Oakland an explosive runner who has already delivered in a major playoff moment. His game-winning touchdown against Green Hill helped preserve the Patriots' undefeated season, and his versatility allows Oakland to move him around without removing his impact from the offense. Kam Morton — QB, 2029 Morton played significant varsity snaps as a freshman and performed efficiently during Oakland's postseason run. His two-touchdown performance in the state semifinal showed that the Patriots can trust him in important games despite his youth. Kemani Bass — RB, 2027 Bass enters the season as one of Oakland's most important returning skill players. He can contribute as a runner or receiver and should receive more opportunities following the graduation of Tutt and Haggard. Ja'Vonni Malone — WR, 2028 Malone brings speed and special-teams value to the offense. After flashing big-play ability during the 2025 season, he could develop into one of Oakland's primary playmakers. Jacob Vaughn — RB, 2028 A new addition to the program, Vaughn arrives after totaling 1,352 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore. He adds another explosive weapon to the backfield and has the ability to score every time the ball is in his hands. Chandler Cates — OL, 2027 Cates headlines an experienced collection of returning offensive linemen. That group will be essential as Oakland reshapes its backfield and looks to maintain its physical advantage at the line of scrimmage. D'Von McGhee — DL, 2027 McGhee is one of the returning defensive players Oakland will build around. With more turnover on defense than offense, his experience becomes especially valuable.
Series
Oakland opens No. 13 with two experienced quarterbacks, returning offensive contributors and a roster built for another deep run.
Top 25 Public HSFB / 6 min read
Series
Oakland enters 2026 coming off a perfect 15-0 season and back-to-back Tennessee 6A state championships. With another strong core back and a loaded schedule featuring CPA, Centerville (OH), Pearl-Cohn, Blackman, Stewarts Creek, and Riverdale, the Patriots are built to chase another title. Tennessee standard.
Top 25 Public HSFB / 1 min read
Series
Public Schools Top 25 | National Series — Part 54: National Top 40 Section 3/3 - Top 10 These are the ten programs that built the strongest public-school résumés in the country from 2021 through 2025 — not just by winning, but by where they won, how often they got back, and how much weight those championships carried.
Top 25 Public HSFB / 5 min read