Northwestern Tops Class 5A in Final Poll
The South Carolina Prep Football Media Poll released its final statewide high school football rankings for the 2026 season.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Football
The South Carolina Prep Football Media Poll released its final statewide high school football rankings for the 2026 season on Nov. 3. Northwestern is ranked No. 1 in Class 5A with nine first-place votes, while Daniel holds a unanimous No. 1 ranking in Class 3A.
Why it matters
The final poll sets the statewide picture for high school football teams across South Carolina's classification levels as the season concludes. Rankings reflect season records and voter first-place votes, shaping how teams are viewed heading into the postseason.
The poll was compiled from 15 sports media voters, with Northwestern's 9-1 record and Daniel's unanimous first-place support drawn from the final ballots. Postseason results and playoff seeding remain unaddressed in the released rankings.
The players
South Carolina Prep Football Media Poll
The statewide poll compiled from votes cast by 15 sports media voters to rank high school football teams across all classifications.
The details
Dutch Fork is ranked No. 2 in Class 5A with five first-place votes, and James Island is No. 3 with one. Boiling Springs fell from No. 7 to No. 10 after losing to Fort Mill, while TL Hanna dropped four spots to No. 7 in Class 4A after a loss to Westside.
Timeline
Nov. 3, 2026: Final South Carolina Prep Football Media Poll released
Season Trajectory
The final rankings close out the season-long weekly series from the South Carolina Prep Football Media Poll, which tracks shifts in team standing as conference play concludes. James Island and Mid-Carolina, both undefeated, hold top-three positions that will shape postseason expectations across their classes.
Northwestern's 9-1 record and top Class 5A standing position it as the team to watch in the upcoming playoffs. Fans tracking statewide rankings can use the class-by-class breakdown to follow which programs are positioned for postseason success.
The takeaway
Final rankings show that unbeaten and high-ranked teams across South Carolina's classes now carry postseason expectations. Following class-level results will reveal which programs are best positioned to advance.
Further reading
Track more statewide coverage in South Carolina Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Herald.
