Staples and Fairfield Ludlowe Entered Top 10 Rankings
The latest GameTimeCT football poll saw significant movement after key victories shook up the standings.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Football
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Staples and Fairfield Ludlowe have earned spots in the latest Top 10 football rankings following pivotal weekend victories. The shift in the state poll comes as other programs faced their first setbacks of the season.
Why it matters
Poll changes highlight the competitive parity of Connecticut high school football, where recent game outcomes directly dictate the trajectory of top-tier programs. The results illustrate how single-game upsets can reorder the entire hierarchy within the state.
Fairfield Ludlowe secured its spot with 236 poll points, narrowly edging out New London at 235. Meanwhile, Staples garnered 353 points in the rankings, while New Canaan leads the field with 22 first-place votes.
The players
Staples
This high school football program earned a No. 7 ranking in the latest state poll.
Fairfield Ludlowe
This athletic program joined the Top 10 rankings following a victory over Darien.
Berlin
This football team fell out of the Top 10 rankings after suffering its first loss since 2024.
New Canaan
This team holds the top spot in the poll with 22 first-place votes.
New London
This football program received 235 points in the latest state poll rankings.
The details
Staples secured its new No. 7 ranking following a 23-20 win over Ridgefield, while Fairfield Ludlowe entered the Top 10 after a 15-0 shutout against Darien. Berlin fell out of the rankings after a narrow 14-13 loss to South Windsor, marking the team's first defeat since 2024.
Timeline
Berlin last lost a game during the 2024 season.
Staples defeated South Windsor 46-0 in Week 2.
The games determining the Week 4 poll rankings occurred during Week 3.
The Week 4 football poll was published on September 28, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The GameTimeCT football poll serves as the primary benchmark for competitive balance in the state, with weekly adjustments dictating the narrative of the championship race. This reshuffling underscores how the playoff picture remains fluid as teams like Berlin see long winning streaks snapped.
Fairfield Ludlowe must now maintain its momentum to hold off New London, as only one point separated the two programs in the latest poll. Meanwhile, New Britain remains the only team currently in the Top 10 to have recorded a loss this season.
The takeaway
The recent poll shifts demonstrate that no ranking is secure in a league where consistency is defined by weekly performance. Coaches and players should view these rankings as a snapshot of current momentum rather than a permanent standing.
Further reading
For more updates on the season, visit the Connecticut Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by greenwich time.
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