Columbus Cardinals tabbed as preseason state title favorite

COLUMBUS — Expectations are high for the Columbus Cardinals entering the 2026 football season.

Dave Campbell’s Texas High School Football has picked Columbus to win the Class 3A Division I state championship while also recognizing several Cardinals with preseason honors.

Senior offensive and defensive lineman Keyon Hemphill-Woods was selected as the publication’s Class 3A “cover boy.” The 6-foot-4, 290-pound University of Texas commit is expected to anchor both