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
SF Lincoln (16) 95 Brandon Valley (3) 69 SF Jefferson (1) 67 Harrisburg 42 O’Gorman 23
Receiving votes: SF Washington 4.
CLASS 11AA
Pierre (19) 97 Huron 62 Yankton 59 Tea Area 37 Sturgis (1) 24
Receiving votes: Watertown 12 and Spearfish 9. CLASS 11A
SF Christian (20) 100 Lennox 72 Dell Rapids 60 West Central 38 Madison 19
Receiving votes: Dakota Valley 9, Canton 1 and Tri-Valley 1. CLASS 11B
Elk Point-Jefferson (13) 87 St. Thomas More (4) 79 Winner (2) 48 Deuel (1) 37 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
Parkston (19) 99 Hamlin (1) 74 Bon Homme 47 Platte-Geddes 28 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
Freeman (14) 84 Howard (4) 75 Elkton-Lake Benton (1) 45 Kimball-White Lake 28 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
Dell Rapids St. Mary (11) 89 Wall (9) 87 Warner 54 Avon 41 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 South Dakota Soccer 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