The state's seven top-ranked teams held their ground in the latest South Dakota Prep Media Football Poll released on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.
There were a couple of positional changes in the rankings, but not at the top.
Top-rated teams include Sioux Falls Jefferson (Class 11AAA, 8-0), Pierre (Class 11AA, 8-0), Sioux Falls Christian (Class 11A, 8-0), Elk Point-Jefferson (Class 11B, 8-0), Parkston (Class 9AA, 8-0), Freeman (Class 9A, 8-0) and Dell Rapids St. Mary (Class 9B, 8-0).
The state's Class 11B and nine-man teams begin the playoffs on Thursday, Oct. 22.
High School Football
The South Dakota Prep Media Football Poll for the week of Oct. 19, 2026 is listed below, ranking the top-five teams in each class, record, total points and previous ranking. First-place votes are listed in parentheses.
CLASS 11AAA
- Sioux Falls Jefferson (21) 8-0 105 1
- Sioux Falls Lincoln 6-2 79 5
- Brandon Valley 6-2 63 2
- Harrisburg 5-3 37 4
- O’Gorman 5-3 31 3
CLASS 11AA
- Pierre (21) 8-0 105 1
- Tea Area 6-2 80 2
- Yankton 6-2 63 3
- Watertown 5-3 44 4
- Sturgis 5-3 22 5
Receiving votes: Spearfish (5-3) 1.
CLASS 11A
- Sioux Falls Christian (21) 8-0 105 1
- West Central 7-1 83 2
- Lennox 6-2 62 3
- Canton 6-2 44 4
- Dell Rapids 5-3 21 5
CLASS 11B
- Elk Point-Jefferson (15) 8-0 99 1
- St. Thomas More (6) 8-0 90 2
- Clark-Willow Lake 9-0 62 3
- Winner 7-1 42 4
- Deuel 6-2 16 5
Receiving votes: Rapid City Christian (6-2) 4, McCook Central-Montrose (5-3) 1 and Wagner (6-2) 1.
CLASS 9AA
- Parkston (21) 8-0 105 1
- Platte-Geddes 7-1 80 2
- Hamlin 7-1 67 3
- Britton-Hecla 7-1 40 4
- Garretson 6-2 14 5
Receiving votes: Waubay-Summit (7-1) 9.
CLASS 9A
- Freeman (20) 8-0 104 1
- Castlewood (1) 8-0 84 2
- Timber Lake 8-0 57 3
- Sully Buttes 7-1 34 5
- Centerville 6-2 16 4
Receiving votes: Bennett County (7-1) 11, Howard (6-2) 8 and Kimball-White Lake (5-3) 1.
CLASS 9B
- Dell Rapids St. Mary (14) 8-0 98 1
- Wall (7) 8-0 90 2
- Warner 8-0 61 3
- Avon 6-2 42 4
- Hitchcock-Tulare 7-1 23 5
Receiving votes: Colman-Egan (6-2) 1.
LAST WEEK'S POLLS: Same seven football, three volleyball teams remain No 1 in rankings
Volleyball
There is not change at all in the latest South Dakota Prep Media Volleyball Poll released on Monday, Oct. 19.
All of the teams held their positions from last week including top-rated teams from Harrisburg (Class AA, 19-4), Sioux Falls Christian (Class A, 22-8) and Warner (Class B, 27-3).
High School Volleyball
Here is the South Dakota Prep Media Volleyball Poll for the week of Oct. 19, 2026. Teams are listed with first-place votes in parenthesis, record, points and previous ranking.
CLASS AA
1. Harrisburg (12) 19-4 64 1
2. Brandon Valley (1) 17-5 53 2
3. Sioux Falls Lincoln 12-4 27 3
4. Watertown 12-6 22 4
5. Sioux Falls Washington 13-5 15 5
Receiving votes: O'Gorman (15-7) 11; and Rapid City Stevens (20-5) 3
CLASS A
1. Sioux Falls Christian (13) 22-8 65 1
2. Dell Rapids 21-3 52 2
3. Dakota Valley 20-10 37 3
4. Clark-Willow Lake 20-1 26 4
5. St. Thomas More 27-7 13 5
Receiving votes: Hamlin (17-3) 2.
CLASS B
1. Warner (12) 27-3 64 1
2. Chester Area (1) 21-4 51 2
3. Bennett County 28-1 37 3
4. Colman-Egan 22-3 24 4
5. Gayville-Volin 28-2 9 5
Receiving votes: Northwestern (28-5) 7; Dell Rapids St. Mary's (23-2) 2; and Harding County (24-1) 1.
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: Playoffs begin this week for state's Class 11B & nine-man football teams