Three defending state champions among top-rated football teams in poll

Three defending state champions and two runners-up are among the top-rated teams in the preseason South Dakota Prep Media Football Poll released on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.

Pierre (Class 11AA), Sioux Falls Christian (Class 11AA) and Dell Rapids St. Mary (Class 9B) each won state titles last fall and will open the season as the top-rated teams this fall.

Sioux Falls Lincoln (Class 11AAA) and Elk Point-Jefferson (Class 11B) each lost in state championship games in 2025 and are now No. 1 in their respective classes.

Parkston (Class 9AA) and Freeman (Class 9A) are also rated No. 1. Freeman won the Class 9AA state title last fall as part of the Freeman-Marion/Freeman Academy co-op.

S.D. High School Football

The preseason South Dakota Prep Media Football Poll is listed below, ranking the top-five teams and points received. First-place votes are listed in parentheses.

CLASS 11AAA

1. SF Lincoln (16) 95
2. Brandon Valley (3) 69
3. SF Jefferson (1) 67
4. Harrisburg 42
5. O’Gorman 23

Receiving votes: SF Washington 4.

CLASS 11AA

1. Pierre (19) 97
2. Huron 62
3. Yankton 59
4. Tea Area 37
5. Sturgis (1) 24

Receiving votes: Watertown 12 and Spearfish 9.

CLASS 11A

1. SF Christian (20) 100
2. Lennox 72
3. Dell Rapids 60
4. West Central 38
5. Madison 19

Receiving votes: Dakota Valley 9, Canton 1 and Tri-Valley 1.

CLASS 11B

1. Elk Point-Jefferson (13) 87
2. St. Thomas More (4) 79
3. Winner (2) 48
4. Deuel (1) 37
5. Sioux Valley 24

Receiving votes: Clark-Willow Lake 15, Mobridge-Pollock 5, Rapid City Christian 3, McCook Central-Montrose 1 and Hot Springs 1.

2025 SDFBCA ALL-STATE FOOTBALL TEAMS: All-state teams released for state's seven football classes & All Nations Conference

CLASS 9AA

1. Parkston (19) 99
2. Hamlin (1) 74
3. Bon Homme 47
4. Platte-Geddes 28
5. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan 15

Receiving votes: Viborg-Hurley 10, Hanson 8, Hill City 8, Britton-Hecla 7, Garretson 2 and Sioux Falls Lutheran 2.

CLASS 9A

1. Freeman (14) 84
2. Howard (4) 75
3. Elkton-Lake Benton (1) 45
4. Kimball-White Lake 28
5. Castlewood (1) 25

Receiving votes: Faulkton Area 14, Alcester-Hudson 13, Lyman 7, Philip 5, Harding County-Bison 2, Ipswich 1 and Sully Buttes 1.

CLASS 9B

1. Dell Rapids St. Mary (11) 89
2. Wall (9) 87
3. Warner 54
4. Avon 41
5. Colman-Egan 23

Receiving votes: Herreid-Selby Area 6.

2025 STATE SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS: State soccer titles won by Harrisburg, SF Lincoln, SF Christian & James Valley Christian

The four defending state championships are each rated No. 1 in the South Dakota High School Soccer Coaches Association preseason poll.

Sioux Falls Lincoln (Class AA boys), Harrisburg (Class AA girls), James Valley Christian (Class A boys) and Sioux Falls Christian (Class A girls) each lead their respective divisions in the poll.

S.D. High School Soccer

Here is the South Dakota High School Soccer Coaches Association's preseason poll for high school boys and girls soccer. The rankings will be released every two weeks during the season.

CLASS AA BOYS

1. Sioux Falls Lincoln

2. Sioux Falls Jefferson

3. Rapid City Stevens 

4. Aberdeen Central

5. Sioux Falls Washington

Receiving Votes: O'Gorman, Sioux Falls Christian, Brandon Valley, Watertown, Harrisburg and Sturgis.

CLASS AA GIRLS

1. Harrisburg

2. O'Gorman

3. Rapid City Stevens

4. Pierre

5. Sioux Falls Roosevelt

Receiving Votes: Yankton, Sioux Falls Lincoln, Sioux Falls Jefferson, Rapid City Central, Brandon Valley, Aberdeen Central, Mitchell and Tea Area.

CLASS A BOYS

1. James Valley Christian 

2. Vermillion 

3. Freeman-Marion-Parker/Viborg-Hurley

4. St. Thomas More-Rapid City Christian

5. West Central

Receiving Votes: Belle Fourche, Groton Area and Dakota Valley.

CLASS A GIRLS

1. Sioux Falls Christian

2. Dakota Valley

3. Groton Area 

4. West Central

5. St. Thomas More

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Three defending state champions among top-rated football teams in poll