South Dakota high school football polls revealed

Dana Becker

South Dakota high school football polls revealed image

The preseason South Dakota high school football season will kick off later this month, so members of the media in the state have revealed their preseason rankings for each class.

Coming in as preseason No. 1 ranked teams are Brandon Valley and Lincoln in Class 11AAA, Pierre in 11AA, SF Christian in 11A, Winner in 11B, Elkton-Lake Benton in 9AA, Howard in 9A and Sully Buttes in 9B, according to a report by keloland.com.

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The South Dakota high school football playoffs begin October 23 with first round action, as the quarterfinals are the following week and the semifinals take place on November 7. The state championship games for all classes will be held November 13-15 in Vermillion, South Dakota from the DakotaDome.

Last year, Sioux Falls Lincoln (11AAA), Watertown (11AA), Lennox (11A), Winner (11B), Howard (9A), Hamlin (9AA) and Sully Buttes (9B) were crowned state champions. 

Here are the South Dakota high school football media preseason polls for the upcoming 2025 season:

SOUTH DAKOTA HIGH SCHOOL PRESEASON FOOTBALL MEDIA POLLS

Class 11AAA

  • 1. (tie) Brandon Valley
  • 1. (tie) Lincoln
  • 3. Harrisburg
  • 4. Jefferson
  • 5. O'Gorman

Class 11AA

  • 1. Pierre
  • 2. Yankton
  • 3. Brookings
  • 4. Tea Area
  • 5. Watertown

Class 11AA

  • 1. SF Christian
  • 2. Lennox
  • 3. Dell Rapids
  • 4. West Central
  • 5. Madison

Class 11B

  • 1. Winner
  • 2. Sioux Valley
  • 3. Elk Point-Jefferson
  • 4. St. Thomas More
  • 5. Wagner

Class 9AA

  • 1. Elkton-Lake Benton
  • 2. Hamlin
  • 3. Parkston
  • 4. Viborg-Hurley
  • 5. Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy

Class 9A

  • 1. Howard
  • 2. Wall
  • 3. Wolsey-Wessington
  • 4. Warner
  • 5. Harding County/Bison

Class 9B

  • 1. Sully Buttes
  • 2. Avon
  • 3. Faulkton Area
  • 4. Dell Rapids St. Mary
  • 5. Canistota

MORE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NEWS: 

Dana Becker

Dana Becker is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has been a sports writer since 2000, covering high school sports, the Big 12 and more for On SI, The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others.