What Happened to MaxPreps?
MaxPreps, a leading online platform for high school sports coverage, was founded in 2002 and quickly became a dominant source for scores, schedules, and statistics. After being acquired by CBS Corporation in 2007, it operated under CBS Sports for nearly two decades before being sold to PlayOn in April 2025, where it now integrates with other high school sports services like GoFan and NFHS Network, continuing its mission to cover high school athletics nationwide.
Quick Answer
MaxPreps, the prominent online hub for high school sports, was acquired by PlayOn in April 2025 from its previous owner, Paramount (CBS). It continues to operate as a central source for high school sports information, including scores, schedules, rankings, and news for 29 different sports across all 50 states. As of August 2026, MaxPreps is actively publishing preseason rankings and news for the upcoming high school football and volleyball seasons, demonstrating its ongoing role in the high school sports media landscape as part of the broader PlayOn ecosystem.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
MaxPreps Founded
MaxPreps is founded, starting as a platform for high school sports schedules, scores, and roster data in the Sacramento area, quickly expanding its coverage.
Acquired by CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation announces the acquisition of MaxPreps for $43 million, integrating it into CBS-owned CSTV (College Sports Television) to expand its sports media portfolio.
Partnership with Comcast in Houston
MaxPreps.com partners with Comcast to deliver extensive high school sports video on demand content in Houston, producing hundreds of short-form features.
Launches School History and Team Record Pages
MaxPreps unveils new features allowing schools to record team history and records, compiling data from as far back as 2004.
Celebrates 20th Anniversary
MaxPreps celebrates 20 years as America's source for high school sports, reflecting on two decades of coverage and highlighting dominant dynasties.
Acquired by PlayOn
PlayOn, a high school sports platform, acquires MaxPreps from Paramount (CBS), integrating it with its existing brands like GoFan and NFHS Network to create a comprehensive high school sports ecosystem.
WIAA Partners with PlayOn for MaxPreps Advantage
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) partners with PlayOn to bring 'MaxPreps Advantage' to Washington high schools, further integrating MaxPreps' services.
Releases Expanded Preseason Top 100 Football Rankings
MaxPreps publishes its expanded preseason rankings for the top 100 high school football teams nationwide for the upcoming 2026 season.
Publishes Alabama Preseason Football Rankings
MaxPreps releases its full statewide rankings for Alabama high school football teams ahead of the 2026 season, featuring four teams in the national top 100.
Highlights Top 10 High School Football Players for 2026 Season
MaxPreps features the top 10 high school football players overall heading into the 2026 season, including last year's National Player of the Year, David Gabriel Georges.
Releases Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 Volleyball Rankings
MaxPreps publishes its preseason Top 25 rankings for high school volleyball, with Southern California power Sierra Canyon headlining the selections.
Reports on 2026 Games in Pro/College Stadiums
MaxPreps reports that nearly 100 regular season high school football games will be played in NFL, college, or former MLB stadiums during the 2026 season.
Publishes Top 10 Toughest High School Football Schedules
MaxPreps releases its list of the top 10 toughest high school football schedules for the 2026 season, with members of Southern California's Trinity League taking the top three spots.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
MaxPreps was founded in August 2002 with the vision of becoming America's comprehensive source for high school sports. It began by covering schedules, scores, and roster data for teams in the Sacramento area, rapidly expanding its reach across California and then nationwide within two years. The platform innovated by utilizing a crowdsourced model, gathering data directly from coaches, athletes, and schools, which allowed it to provide extensive coverage that local newspapers struggled to maintain.
In March 2007, CBS Corporation recognized MaxPreps' potential and acquired the platform for $43 million. This acquisition was a strategic move to expand CBS Sports' digital footprint and complement its existing college sports network (CSTV, later CBS Sports Network), creating a comprehensive sports content ecosystem from professional to high school levels. Under CBS, MaxPreps continued to grow, enhancing its offerings with in-depth news, analysis, rankings, and video content, and partnering with thousands of varsity coaches across the country.
A significant turning point occurred in April 2025 when MaxPreps was acquired by PlayOn, a high school sports platform that already owned GoFan (ticketing) and NFHS Network (live streaming). This divestment by Paramount (CBS) was part of a broader strategy to reduce debt by selling non-core assets. The financial terms of the PlayOn acquisition were not disclosed, but it was described as a strategic consolidation in the fragmented youth sports media market. All 32 MaxPreps employees joined PlayOn, bringing their total headcount to 450.
The consequence of this acquisition is the creation of a more integrated, end-to-end service provider for high school sports. PlayOn aims to leverage MaxPreps as the "front porch" for high school sports, directing fans from scores and schedules to its other offerings like live streaming and digital ticketing. While there are no immediate plans for a single "super app," integrations are expected to enhance the user experience and provide a premium experience for high school sports communities.
As of August 13, 2026, MaxPreps remains a highly active and central platform for high school sports. It continues to publish extensive content, including preseason football rankings for the 2026 season, top player lists, and news on upcoming games, some of which are being played in college or NFL stadiums. MaxPreps also maintains partnerships with state athletic associations, such as the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), providing critical data for rankings, playoff seeding, and digital media. Its platform covers 29 different sports, offering scores, schedules, rankings, and statistics, along with athlete profiles and team pages, solidifying its role as a trusted source in high school athletics.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if MaxPreps made different choices?