A major shift has taken hold of the high school football landscape following an explosive Week 2 of action. Liverpool and Cazenovia have captured No. 1 rankings in their respective classes on the back of dominant displays, headlining a week defined by significant roster shifts and statement victories. Their rise coincides with a broader reshuffling across regional power structures, where four new teams earned spots in the latest top-flight selections. With teams continuing to establish their form or recalibrate after early setbacks, the latest standings reflect a dramatic early-season hierarchy across multiple competitive divisions.
Updated regional power rankings highlight intensifying competition across classes. In Section 2, where official rankings are evaluated every Tuesday through the regular season and sectionals, five teams are featured in each class division, while Class C and Class D programs compete in a combined regular-season schedule to form a single unified ranking. Meanwhile, Section V is set for an immediate marquee showcase as East High/World of Inquiry prepares to host defending Class B state champion Monroe on Friday at 6 p.m. in the Tree Bowl. Monroe enters the matchup holding the No. 1 position in the Small Schools Poll, creating the first premier No. 1 versus No. 2 battle of the current campaign.
Movement in West Texas power rankings further underlines the early volatility of the campaign, with San Angelo Central and Ozona making significant climbs following Week 2 evaluations. Key individual plays sparked these movements during Week 1 action, notably when San Angelo Central receiver Ellis Johnson, wearing number 12, pulled in a reception and advanced downfield at San Angelo Stadium on Friday, August 28, 2026. Wall football also made its presence felt behind standout performances led by Gunner King, who set the standard for individual dominance across the West Texas region as teams evaluate film to either build momentum or reset for upcoming fixtures.
Statewide rankings elsewhere delivered sweeping alterations at the top of several divisions heading into Week 3. Iowa City Regina Catholic and Woodbury Central both secured No. 1 spots after unseating incumbent leaders. Woodbury Central surged ahead of West Sioux in Class A despite both programs maintaining identical 2-0 records. In Class 5A, Dowling Catholic kept its grip on the top spot at 2-0, backed in the rankings by Cedar Rapids Prairie at 2-0 in third, Johnston at 1-1 in fourth, Iowa City Liberty at 1-1 in seventh, West Des Moines Valley at 1-1 in eighth, and newly ranked Iowa City West entering at tenth with a 2-0 mark. Cedar Rapids Xavier maintained its No. 1 position in Class 4A with a 2-0 record, holding off Lewis Central at 1-1 in third, North Scott at 1-1 in seventh, and North Polk at 1-1 in eighth. Clear Lake in Class 3A, Kuemper Catholic in Class 2A, and Audubon in eight-player football retained their No. 1 statuses, while former Class 2A leader West Lyon dropped to fourth at 1-1 following Iowa City Regina Catholic’s climb to the summit.
