S.C. Prep Football Media Poll Updates Statewide Rankings

New high school football rankings see Ridge View and Belton-Honea Path re-enter the Top 10 lists.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Football

S.C. Prep Football Media Poll Updates Statewide Rankings

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The S.C. Prep Football Media poll released updated rankings on October 20, 2026, featuring shifts across several classes. Ridge View and Belton-Honea Path both returned to the Top 10 following recent on-field successes.

Why it matters

The rankings highlight the competitive evolution of South Carolina high school football programs as teams vie for position late in the season. These standings reflect the impact of recent individual game outcomes on the overall statewide hierarchy.

Ridge View enters the Class 5A poll at No. 9, while River Bluff slips to No. 10. In Class 3A, Belton-Honea Path moves into a tie for the No. 10 spot following a 21-18 win over Powdersville.

The players

Ridge View

This is a South Carolina high school football program that re-entered the Class 5A Top 10 rankings.

Dutch Fork

This is a prominent high school football program currently holding the No. 1 ranking in Class 5A.

Belton-Honea Path

This is a South Carolina high school football team that moved into a tie for the No. 10 ranking in Class 3A.

River Bluff

This is a high school football program that dropped to the No. 10 ranking in Class 5A.

Bishop England

This is a high school football team that fell to No. 6 in the Class 3A rankings.

The details

Dutch Fork cemented its hold on the top spot after a dominant 42-0 win over River Bluff, while Ridge View earned its ranking following a 40-35 victory over Sumter on October 16. Meanwhile, Bishop England dropped to No. 6 in Class 3A after a 42-7 loss to Oceanside Collegiate.

October 16, 2026: Ridge View defeated Sumter 40-35.
October 20, 2026: The S.C. Prep Football Media poll was officially released.

Season Trajectory

These updated rankings provide a snapshot of the current landscape within the 2026 South Carolina high school football regular season. The re-entry of teams like Ridge View indicates shifting momentum as schools finalize their records for playoff seeding.

The shift in rankings directly impacts which teams are perceived as championship favorites for the upcoming playoffs. Fans should note that Class A and 4A remain static, meaning there is no change to the current power structure in those specific tiers.

The takeaway

The latest media poll confirms that consistent winning streaks, such as the one maintained by Ridge View, are the primary drivers for movement in statewide standings. Fans tracking the season should focus on the impact of these rankings on eventual playoff brackets as the regular season concludes.