Early 2026 Top Five

[EnterpriseBulldogsFan]

7A

1: Oak Grove 

2 Oxford

3 Gulfport

4 Madison Central

5 Tupelo

6A

1 Hattiesburg

2 Warren Central

3 Picayune

4 Ridgeland 

5 West Jones 

5A

1 Brookhaven 

2 West Point 

3  South Jones

4 Pontotoc 

5 Laurel

4A

1 Louisville

2 Poplarville 

3 Kosciusko 

4 Columbia 

5 Corinth 

3A

1 Winona 

2 Raleigh 

3 Noxubee Co 

4 Seminary 

5 PCS

2A

1 Heidelberg

2 East Webster 

3 Mize

4 Wesson 

5 Northside

1A

1 Hollandale Simmons 

2 Calhoun City

3 Nanih Waiya 

4 Stringer 

5 Vardaman 

MAIS

1 Jackson Academy 

2 Jackson Prep

3 MRA

4 Hartfield

5 Parklane 

 

Edited December 9, 2025 by EnterpriseBulldogsFan

[Chunky6617]

I could see PCS being the preseason favorite in 3A south. Not saying they end up winning it but I could definitely see them being the early favorite. They return most of their starters on offense, including their QB and RB and most of their OL. I don’t know what they lose on defense, and they weren’t that strong defensively this season to begin with but I’m sure they will just look to recruit to fill any of those holes. Raleigh returns some good young talent but I believe they do lose at least 5 starters on both sides of the ball, including 3 of their spark plugs who were multi year starters who I think will be very hard to replace. I think Raleigh will still be one of the favorites in the south but I think PCS starts out as the preseason favorite due to who they have returning and the fact that they are alllowed to recruit some. Seminary loses some good players offensively but they return most of their defense so they will be one of the better 3A teams again. I don’t know much about anybody else in 3A right now. 
 

In 2A North, I know East Webster loses some studs, but they do have Avent coming back at QB and I think he could have a really special year next year. I have no clue who anybody else in the north returns next season. I need to try to look that up.
 

In 2A south, Heidelberg will be the favorite, but they lose more starters than people keep saying they do. Everybody keeps saying they return almost their whole roster but that’s just not true. They have 17 seniors on their roster, and according to their state championship game lineup, 8 of their starters on defense were seniors and 4 of their starters on offense were seniors. So offensively, they should still be very explosive returning 7 starters. Defensively, they will still likely be pretty good but they do only return 3 starters on that side of the ball. 
 

Wesson returns a lot of great players. According to maxpreps, they lose one WR and a couple offensive linemen, and just 2 or 3 defensive players but that’s it. So they will definitely be one of the top teams in 2A south next season. Amite county loses some good players, and I heard Loyd Star’s really good running back Jordan Kees is moving to Brookhaven, so Wesson should easily roll thru their district without even breaking a sweat. 
 

Mize returns 7 on offense and 8 on defense. Offensively, we bring back all of our main offensive production and most of our OL. Defensively, It will be tough to find a replacement for our senior linebacker, he was 5th in total tackles for the entire state in all classes. So that will be a need that we will have to address. This will be our best shot at making a championship run in a long time, but it will be tough with Heidelberg and Wesson both being very strong. 
 

East Marion also returns a lot of their key players as well next season. They lose some good linemen I think on both sides of the ball, but all their skill players return including their freshman QB. They should be good next season if they can replace some of those linemen. 
 

In 1A, I have no clue who returns what next season other than think Stringer returns a good group. I know Taylorsville loses a ton of starters on both sides of the ball, including 10 starters on defense. Could be rough again early in the season for the Tarters but maybe they can find something by time their district play begins. 

Edited December 10, 2025 by Chunky6617

[coastball]

Pretty good list overall

[Dubaction]

Good luck beating OG next year. Loaded bunch coming back. 

[Chunky6617]

After looking over the 2A north rosters and stats from maxpreps, I like Baldwyn next season. They return a good group of players and I think they could be a good contender next season. I think right now I’m gonna go with them for my preseason favorite in 2A north. 
 

I couldn’t find anything on Northside, so I have no clue about them.
 

Kemper loses most of their production on offense but they bring back their QB who rushed for over 1000 yards. I don’t know what they have coming back on defense.

 

Charleston loses a lot of skill players, including their stud RB and good QB, both of whom were 3 year starters, but they do bring back all of their linemen so they could still be pretty good if they can replace their QB and RB. 
 

Velma Jackson returns some skill guys but they lose quite a bit of seniors on a small roster, so I don’t know if they have the depth to compete with the best. 

[EnterpriseBulldogsFan]

I f Kees  is moving to Brookhaven that pretty much seals the deal with Brookhaven repeating; they already return their QB and most of that big OL and their all everything defensive end.

Edited December 10, 2025 by EnterpriseBulldogsFan

[Vott]

Dude, just out of respect for Warren Central, you have got to put them at NO.1 in your 6a poll. I saw their roster at the state championship game and they got a lot of talent returning.

[Vott]

1 hour ago, Dubaction said:

Good luck beating OG next year. Loaded bunch coming back. 

They will be loaded for sure. Dub, you may or may not know, but why are a few folks so PO'd at Causey? Some OG fans who came to the Picayune-HHS south state game were talking as if OG had gone 2-8 or something. 

[EnterpriseBulldogsFan]

53 minutes ago, Vott said:

Dude, just out of respect for Warren Central, you have got to put them at NO.1 in your 6a poll. I saw their roster at the state championship game and they got a lot of talent returning.

Hattiesburg has a lot coming back too its hard to win state two years straight.

[Dubaction]

1 hour ago, Vott said:

They will be loaded for sure. Dub, you may or may not know, but why are a few folks so PO'd at Causey? Some OG fans who came to the Picayune-HHS south state game were talking as if OG had gone 2-8 or something. 

Prob pissed at how we lost if anything. Some real head scratch level decision making down the stretch when we had a substantial lead against Brandon. 

[Chunky6617]

1 hour ago, EnterpriseBulldogsFan said:

I f Kees  is moving to Brookhaven that pretty much seals the deal with Brookhaven repeating; they already return their QB and most of that big OL and their all everything defensive end.

Personally, I don’t think it’s a good move by him. I get why he’s doing it. But I don’t think it is gonna be a good move. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. But whatever. 

[Dubaction]

Who is Kees?

[Chunky6617]

2 minutes ago, Dubaction said:

Who is Kees?

Runningback from Loyd star 

[Dubaction]

Does Brookhaven return the Bibbs kid? 

[Rebel Bert]

2 hours ago, Chunky6617 said:

Runningback from Loyd star 

Sometimes parents move and that is reason enough to transfer. 

[Tartar nation 98]

10 hours ago, Chunky6617 said:

I could see PCS being the preseason favorite in 3A south. Not saying they end up winning it but I could definitely see them being the early favorite. They return most of their starters on offense, including their QB and RB and most of their OL. I don’t know what they lose on defense, and they weren’t that strong defensively this season to begin with but I’m sure they will just look to recruit to fill any of those holes. Raleigh returns some good young talent but I believe they do lose at least 5 starters on both sides of the ball, including 3 of their spark plugs who were multi year starters who I think will be very hard to replace. I think Raleigh will still be one of the favorites in the south but I think PCS starts out as the preseason favorite due to who they have returning and the fact that they are alllowed to recruit some. Seminary loses some good players offensively but they return most of their defense so they will be one of the better 3A teams again. I don’t know much about anybody else in 3A right now. 
 

In 2A North, I know East Webster loses some studs, but they do have Avent coming back at QB and I think he could have a really special year next year. I have no clue who anybody else in the north returns next season. I need to try to look that up.
 

In 2A south, Heidelberg will be the favorite, but they lose more starters than people keep saying they do. Everybody keeps saying they return almost their whole roster but that’s just not true. They have 17 seniors on their roster, and according to their state championship game lineup, 8 of their starters on defense were seniors and 4 of their starters on offense were seniors. So offensively, they should still be very explosive returning 7 starters. Defensively, they will still likely be pretty good but they do only return 3 starters on that side of the ball. 
 

Wesson returns a lot of great players. According to maxpreps, they lose one WR and a couple offensive linemen, and just 2 or 3 defensive players but that’s it. So they will definitely be one of the top teams in 2A south next season. Amite county loses some good players, and I heard Loyd Star’s really good running back Jordan Kees is moving to Brookhaven, so Wesson should easily roll thru their district without even breaking a sweat. 
 

Mize returns 7 on offense and 8 on defense. Offensively, we bring back all of our main offensive production and most of our OL. Defensively, It will be tough to find a replacement for our senior linebacker, he was 5th in total tackles for the entire state in all classes. So that will be a need that we will have to address. This will be our best shot at making a championship run in a long time, but it will be tough with Heidelberg and Wesson both being very strong. 
 

East Marion also returns a lot of their key players as well next season. They lose some good linemen I think on both sides of the ball, but all their skill players return including their freshman QB. They should be good next season if they can replace some of those linemen. 
 

In 1A, I have no clue who returns what next season other than think Stringer returns a good group. I know Taylorsville loses a ton of starters on both sides of the ball, including 10 starters on defense. Could be rough again early in the season for the Tarters but maybe they can find something by time their district play begins. 

Tartars thanks

[Football In MS]

2 hours ago, Tartar nation 98 said:

Tartars thanks

Absolutely legit question nobody has ever answered for me.

What is a tar-tar?

[s1nglewing]

18 minutes ago, Football In MS said:

Absolutely legit question nobody has ever answered for me.

What is a tar-tar?

tartar

1 of 2

noun (1)

tar·tar ˈtär-tər 

1

: an incrustation on the teeth consisting of plaque that has become hardened by the deposition of mineral salts (such as calcium carbonate)

2

: a substance consisting essentially of cream of tartar that is derived from the juice of grapes and deposited in wine casks together with yeast and other suspended matters as a pale or dark reddish crust or sediment

especially : a recrystallized product yielding cream of tartar on further purification

tartar

 

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

Tartar : a native or inhabitant of Tartary

2

Tartar : tatar sense 2

3

often Tartar : a person of irritable or violent temper

4

: one that proves to be unexpectedly formidable

[Mac7633]

Collins will be back in the mix in 2A. They are losing only 6 seniors. Half of the team was out this season. I can see them turning it around in a major way 

[Chunky6617]

6 hours ago, Football In MS said:

Absolutely legit question nobody has ever answered for me.

What is a tar-tar?

A Mongolian warrior 

[Football In MS]

8 hours ago, Chunky6617 said:

A Mongolian warrior 

Okay, thanks. Only thing I ever found for tartar (other than dental care) said “person of violent or irritable temper” and I knew that couldn’t be right for a mascot

[Rebel Bert]

16 hours ago, s1nglewing said:

tartar

1 of 2

noun (1)

tar·tar ˈtär-tər 

1

: an incrustation on the teeth consisting of plaque that has become hardened by the deposition of mineral salts (such as calcium carbonate)

2

: a substance consisting essentially of cream of tartar that is derived from the juice of grapes and deposited in wine casks together with yeast and other suspended matters as a pale or dark reddish crust or sediment

especially : a recrystallized product yielding cream of tartar on further purification

tartar

 

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

Tartar : a native or inhabitant of Tartary

2

Tartar : tatar sense 2

3

often Tartar : a person of irritable or violent temper

4

: one that proves to be unexpectedly formidable

Warrior in battle. Look at their logo. He has steel breastfed plate Lilith sword and round plate in hand to ward off your weapon.

[Money05]

In 1A south, Simmons should be the definite favorite to start the season. I think they lost 7 seniors, but most of their playmakers on both sides of the ball are returning. Only real loss that comes to mind is their QB who also played in the secondary. Stringer does have a good group coming back and should be in the mix for the south along with Nanih Waiya who similar to Stringer lost a good group but still has some playmakers returning. Taylorsville is losing a whole lot to graduation and will be young in several areas, but I feel like they will still find a way to be competitive in 1A at least. 

 

Not really sure about 1A north, but after doing some research Leflore County is a team that draws my interest. They return 60-70% of their offensive and defensive production after going 9-4 this season and losing in the 3rd round to Calhoun City. Calhoun City (similar to Taylorsville) is graduating a good group of seniors, but I am sure they will find a way to reload and still be in the running for North State. Biggersville lost a good bit of seniors as well from what i’m seeing, but they should still be a contender. 

 

Overall, I say 1A should lean more towards the south this year, with Simmons being the early overall favorite. 

[Chunky6617]

What’s leake county bringing back next season? 

[pancho]

hard to say.   they lost 8 seniors