TSWA Releases Tennessee Prep Football Rankings

The Tennessee Sports Writers Association has finalized its high school football rankings following the completion of week 10.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Tennis

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a football in flight under stadium lights, evoking the intensity of Tennessee high school athletics. — The Tennessee Sports Writers Association has finalized its prep football rankings across nine divisions following the completion of the regular season's tenth week. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Tennessee Sports Writers Association released its latest state prep football rankings covering six Division I classifications and three Division II classes. These rankings reflect team performances through the first 10 weeks of the season.

Why it matters

State rankings serve as a critical benchmark for high school football programs, providing recognition for athletic performance as the regular season reaches its conclusion. These lists help coaches, players, and fans assess team standing within their respective divisions.

The rankings are compiled based on point totals, with Division I teams receiving 10 points for first-place votes down to one point for 10th-place votes. Division II rankings utilize a weighted scale starting at five points for top-ranked selections.

The players

Tennessee Sports Writers Association

This professional organization represents sports journalists across the state and is responsible for determining official high school athletic rankings.

The details

Members of the association evaluated teams across nine total classes based on on-field results through week 10. The scoring systems ensure that teams are weighted based on the consensus of participating sportswriters across the state.

Week 10 marked the conclusion of the latest round of prep football competition.
The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced the rankings on October 26, 2026.

Season Trajectory

These rankings are organized according to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association classification structure, which groups schools to ensure competitive fairness. This hierarchy directly dictates the playoff paths for teams as they look toward postseason advancement.

Athletes and coaches can view these rankings to gauge their standing and potential seeding heading into the postseason. The point-based system provides a clear indication of how local teams are perceived relative to their divisional competitors.

The takeaway

Fans of high school football should use these rankings to track which teams have maintained consistent momentum through the end of the regular season. These evaluations often shift significantly in the final weeks of play as teams solidify their records for tournament qualification.