Oct. 26—SIOUX FALLS — Unanimous No. 1-ranked teams featured atop Classes 11AAA, 11AA and 11A in the final South Dakota Prep Media football polls of the 2026 season, issued Monday.
Sioux Falls Jefferson, Pierre and Sioux Falls Christian, each with a 9-0 record, garnered all 20 available first-place votes. The poll this week included only the three largest enrollment divisions, as Class 11B and the three nine-man divisions had their final media poll released last week ahead of their playoffs.
In Class 11AAA, each ranking drops exactly 20 vote points, meaning all 20 ballots cast had identical top-five rankings: Sioux Falls Jefferson followed in order by Sioux Falls Lincoln, Brandon Valley, Harrisburg and O'Gorman.
There was a close call for the No. 3 spot in Class 11AA, with Watertown coming in with 53 vote points, just ahead of Tea Area with 47 points. Yankton grabbed the No. 2 ranking behind Pierre despite losing to Watertown head-to-head on Sept. 25. Sturgis rounded out the rankings.
Ranking Nos. 3-5 were closely clustered in Class 11A, with West Central receiving 48 vote points, ahead of Canton with 44 points and Dell Rapids with 35 points. Lennox finished well clear of that trio at No. 2 with 73 points.
Dell Rapids defeated West Central to close the regular season, but West Central previously beat Lennox. Meanwhile, Lennox beat Canton, and Canton beat Dell Rapids during the course of the regular season. That created a notable circle of results between the four teams that voters had to reconcile in their final rankings.
The South Dakota Prep Media football polls released Oct. 26 are listed below, ranking the top five teams in each class, record and total points. First-place votes received are indicated in parentheses.
Class 11AAA
1. Sioux Falls Jefferson (20), 9-0, 100; 2. Sioux Falls Lincoln, 7-2, 80; 3. Brandon Valley, 7-2, 60; 4. Harrisburg, 5-4, 40; 5. O'Gorman, 5-4, 20.
Others receiving votes: None.
Class 11AA
1. Pierre (20), 9-0, 100; 2. Yankton, 7-2, 78; 3. Watertown, 6-3, 53; 4. Tea Area, 7-2, 47; 5. Sturgis, 6-3, 22.
Others receiving votes: None.
Class 11A
1. Sioux Falls Christian (20), 9-0, 100; 2. Lennox, 7-2, 73; 3. West Central, 7-2, 48; 4. Canton, 7-2, 44; 5. Dell Rapids, 6-3, 35.
Others receiving votes: None.
The South Dakota Prep Media football polls released Oct. 19 are listed below, ranking the top five teams in each class, record and total points. First-place votes received are indicated in parentheses.
Class 11B
1. Elk Point-Jefferson (15), 8-0, 99; 2. St. Thomas More (6), 8-0, 90; 3. Clark/Willow Lake, 9-0, 62; 4. Winner, 7-1, 42; 5. Deuel, 6-2, 16.
Others receiving votes: Rapid City Christian 4, McCook Central/Montrose 1, Wagner 1.
Class 9AA
1. Parkston (21), 8-0, 105; 2. Platte-Geddes, 7-1, 80; 3. Hamlin, 7-1, 67; 4. Britton-Hecla, 7-1, 40; 5. Garretson, 6-2, 14.
Others receiving votes: Waubay/Summit 9.
Class 9A
1. Freeman (20), 8-0, 104; 2. Castlewood (1), 8-0, 84; 3. Timber Lake, 8-0, 57; 4. Sully Buttes, 7-1, 34; 5. Centerville, 6-2, 16.
Others receiving votes: Bennett County 11, Howard 8, Kimball/White Lake 1.
Class 9B
1. Dell Rapids St. Mary (14), 8-0, 98; 2. Wall (7), 8-0, 90; 3. Warner, 8-0, 61; 4. Avon, 6-2, 42; 5. Hitchcock-Tulare, 7-1, 23.
Others receiving votes: Colman-Egan 1.