South Dakota Football Polls Finalize Before Playoff Round
Top teams enter postseason play with undefeated records after the final 2026 state football rankings.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Football
Live Poll
Do you believe local high school football rankings accurately predict which teams will win the championship?
The South Dakota Power 5 poll has released its final rankings for the 2026 football season as teams advance to the SDHSAA playoff quarterfinals. Several programs finished their regular seasons with perfect records heading into the tournament.
Why it matters
These rankings reflect the consensus of voters regarding the state of high school football as programs transition from the regular season to championship contention. The results help frame expectations for upcoming playoff matchups across South Dakota classes.
Sioux Falls Jefferson, Pierre T.F. Riggs, and Sioux Falls Christian each secured all 13 available first-place votes in their respective classes. These top-ranked programs all concluded their regular seasons with undefeated records.
The players
SDHSAA
The South Dakota High School Activities Association governs interscholastic sports and activities programs across the state.
Sioux Falls Jefferson
This high school football program represents the Class 11AAA division and finished its regular season undefeated.
Pierre T.F. Riggs
A high school football program competing in Class 11AA that finished the regular season with a 9-0 record.
Sioux Falls Christian
This high school football team competes in Class 11A and secured an undefeated 9-0 regular season finish.
Yankton
A high school football program that recently defeated Tea Area 35-18 to advance its standing.
The details
Sioux Falls Jefferson finished undefeated in Class 11AAA, while Pierre T.F. Riggs and Sioux Falls Christian both posted 9-0 records. Voters project championship pairings featuring Sioux Falls Jefferson against Sioux Falls Lincoln, and Pierre T.F. Riggs against Yankton.
Timeline
The final poll was unveiled on October 19, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The final poll rankings serve as the conclusive assessment of team strength before the start of the SDHSAA football playoffs. These rankings influence the perceived paths for contenders seeking to win a state championship title in their respective classes.
The poll results confirm the top seeds entering the quarterfinal round of the postseason bracket. Fans can track how these high-ranked programs handle the shift to high-stakes knockout competition starting with recent results like the 35-18 Yankton victory.
The takeaway
These rankings provide a snapshot of team momentum as the state enters the most critical phase of the season. Teams must now translate regular-season success into playoff victories to secure a state title.
Further reading
For more on the current state of high school competition, visit South Dakota Football.
Live Poll
Do you believe local high school football rankings accurately predict which teams will win the championship?
