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   The New York State Sportswriters Association's Steve Grandin compiles the weekly rankings.

         

   Below are the Teams to Watch for the 2026 football season from the 
New York State Sportswriters Association.

   We had strong input from our local correspondent in putting together 
this list, but when we didn't hear from them, we used other published 
rankings and historical data.  Please keep in mind these are NOT rankings 
but just expected top teams in each class in each section, but nothing is 
carved in stone.

   Teams that have already started their seasons have their records listed 
with them.

   Please note we will start the 2026 rankings in two weeks, after Week 2 
of the season.  We hope all of our usual correspondents can help us again 
by contacting us by noon on Sundays with their local rankings.

-- Steve

CLASS AA
   Section 1 -- Mamaroneck, North Rockland, Scarsdale, John Jay (EF)
   Section 2 -- Christian Brothers Academy, Saratoga Springs, Shenendehowa, 
Shaker
   Section 3 -- Christian Brothers Academy, Liverpool, Cicero-North Syracuse, 
Utica Proctor, Rome Free Academy
   Section 4 -- Elmira, Corning
   Section 5 -- Penfield, Pittsford, Rush-Henrietta, University Prep
   Section 6 -- Health Sciences/Buffalo Science/Global Concepts, Bennett, 
Lancaster, Jamestown
   Section 8 -- Massapequa, Farmingdale, Oceanside, Port Washington, Syosset
   Section 9 -- Newburgh Free Academy, Monroe-Woodbury, Middletown
   Section 11 -- Ward Melville, Sachem North, William Floyd, Longwood, 
Northport, Connetquot
   PSAL -- Eagle Academy II (1-0), Erasmus Hall Campus (0-1), Curtis (1-0), 
Tottenville (0-1), Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy Campus
   CHSFL -- Iona Prep, Monsignor Farrell (1-0), St. Anthony's, Archbishop 
Stepinac (1-0), Cardinal Hayes, Chaminade (0-1)
   MMA -- St. Francis, Canisius, St. Joseph's Collegiate
 
  

	


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CLASS A

   Section 1 -- Somers, Rye, Clarkstown South, Harrison
   Section 2 -- Troy, Ballston Spa, Queensbury, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, 
Amsterdam
   Section 3 -- Whitesboro, East Syracuse-Minoa, Corcoran, West Genesee, 
Fayetteville-Manlius
   Section 4 -- Horseheads, Union-Endicott, Vestal
   Section 5 -- Brighton, Canandaigua, Eastridge, Greece Athena, Irondequoit, 
Hilton, Webster Schroeder
   Section 6 -- Orchard Park, Grand Island, Williamsville East, West Seneca 
West, Williamsville North, Clarence
   Section 8 -- Garden City, Long Beach, South Side, Carey, Mepham, Bethpage
   Section 9 -- Cornwall, Minisink Valley, Washingtonville
   Section 10* -- Canton
   Section 11 -- Half Hollow Hills East, East Islip, West Islip, Westhampton 
Beach, Hauppauge
   PSAL -- A. Philip Randolph, Sheepshead Bay Center (0-1), Eagle Academy III, 
James Madison, New Utrecht, Stuyvesant
   CHSFL -- St. Joseph by the Sea (1-0), Kellenberg (1-0), Fordham Prep (1-0), 
Xavier, St. Francis Prep (1-0), Xaverian (1-0)
 
CLASS B

   Section 1 -- Westlake, Sleepy Hollow
   Section 2 -- Glens Falls, Lansingburgh, Averill Park, Schalmont/Duanesburg/
Berne-Knox, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk
   Section 3 -- New Hartford, Institute of Technology, Indian River, Vernon-
Verona-Sherrill, Central Valley
   Section 4 -- Maine-Endwell, Owego Free Academy
   Section 5 -- East/World of Inquiry, Monroe
   Section 6 -- McKinley, Lackawanna, Iroquois, Williamsville South, Pioneer, 
West Seneca East
   Section 7 -- Peru/AuSable Valley, Beekmantown
   Section 8 -- Wantagh, Seaford, Plainedge, Floral Park, Lynbrook, Malverne
   Section 9 -- Port Jervis
   Section 10* -- Potsdam, Massena
   Section 11 -- Sayville, Mount Sinai, Harborfields, Miller Place
   PSAL -- Petrides, Mott Haven, Thomas Jefferson Campus, William E. Grady
   CHSFL -- Holy Cross (0-1), Mount St. Michael (0-1), Kennedy Catholic
   AIS -- Rye Country Day, Poly Prep, Riverdale Country Day, Hackley
 
  

	


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CLASS C

   Section 1 -- Bronxville, Pleasantville, Dobbs Ferry
   Section 2 -- Schuylerville, Fonda-Fultonville, Cobleskill-Richmondville, 
Hoosick Falls/Tamarac
   Section 3 -- General Brown, Lowville, Canastota, Cazenovia, Notre Dame
   Section 4 -- Waverly, Chenango Forks, Windsor, Oneonta
   Section 5 -- Alexander/Pembroke, East Rochester/Gananda, LeRoy/Caledonia-
Mumford, Letchworth/Perry/Warsaw
   Section 6 -- Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton, Southwestern/Frewsburg, 
Salamanca, Barker/Royalton-Hartland, Portville/Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale, 
Clymer/Sherman/Panama
   Section 7 -- Saranac Lake Placid, Saranac
   Section 8 -- Cold Spring Harbor
   Section 9 -- Dover
   Section 10* -- Ogdensburg Free Academy, Gouverneur
   Section 11 -- Bayport-Blue Point, Babylon
 
CLASS D

   Section 1 -- Tuckahoe, Haldane
   Section 2 -- Greenwich, Canajoharie/Fort Plain
   Section 3 -- Dolgeville, Little Falls, Cato-Meridian, Sauquoit Valley, 
Sandy Creek
   Section 4 -- Tioga, Delhi, Deposit/Hancock, Sidney, Walton/Downsville, 
Trumansburg, Spencer-VanEtten/Candor, Groton
   Section 5 -- Avon, Notre Dame/Byron-Bergen, Pavilion/York
   Section 6 -- Newfane, Wilson, Silver Creek/Forestville, Randolph, 
Franklinville/Ellicottville
   Section 7 -- Moriah/Ticonderoga
   Section 9 -- Burke Catholic, Chester
   Section 10 -- Tupper Lake
 
EIGHT-MAN

   Section 2 -- Taconic Hills/Hawthorne Valley, Corinth/Hadley-Luzerne, 
Stillwater/Saratoga Catholic
   Section 3 -- Morrisville-Eaton, Frankfort-Schuyler, Waterville, Thousand 
Islands, West Canada Valley
   Section 4 -- Unatego/Franklin/Unadilla Valley, Thomas Edison, Moravia
   Section 9 -- Eldred, Sullivan West


   * -- Section 10 hasn't finalized classes; entries based on recent history