With Kentucky’s high school football playoffs set to kick off this week, the final media poll of the year reflects heavy favorites to win championships in all six classes.
Trinity (Class 6A), Pulaski County (5A), Christian Academy (3A) and Pikeville (A) are unanimous No. 1 picks in their respective classes.
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In Class 4A, Highlands received 14 of the 16 first-place votes. Paducah Tilghman received the other two.
In Class 2A, Beechwood garnered 15 of the 16 first-place votes, with Owensboro Catholic getting the other one.
The five-week playoff march will culminate with the state finals set for Dec. 4-5 at the University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field in Lexington.
The Kentucky High School Football Media Poll is conducted by 16 sports journalists throughout the state, with one representative for each of the 16 basketball regions in order to provide geographical balance.
Here are the complete polls. First-place votes are in parentheses.
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Class 6A football poll
|
Rank, school, FPV |
Record |
Points |
Last week |
|
1. Trinity |
9-1 |
160 |
1 |
|
2. Frederick Douglass |
10-0 |
143 |
2 |
|
3. Manual |
9-1 |
128 |
3 |
|
4. South Warren |
8-2 |
109 |
4 |
|
5. Madison Central |
9-1 |
99 |
5 |
|
6. Bullitt East |
8-2 |
70 |
7 |
|
7. St. Xavier |
4-6 |
58 |
6 |
|
8. McCracken County |
7-3 |
37 |
9 |
|
9. Male |
5-5 |
28 |
8 |
|
10. Bryan Station |
5-5 |
26 |
10 |
Others receiving votes: Oldham County 9, Lafayette 8, Eastern 3, North Hardin 2.
Class 5A football poll
|
Rank, school, FPV |
Record |
Points |
Last week |
|
1. Pulaski County (16) |
10-0 |
160 |
1 |
|
2. Woodford County |
9-1 |
137 |
2 |
|
3. Owensboro |
8-2 |
130 |
3 |
|
4. Scott County |
7-3 |
98 |
5 |
|
5. Atherton |
8-2 |
82 |
4 |
|
6. West Jessamine |
10-0 |
81 |
6 |
|
7. Cooper |
8-2 |
72 |
7 |
|
8. Bowling Green |
6-4 |
47 |
8 |
|
9. Madisonville-North Hopkins |
8-2 |
35 |
9 |
|
10. Collins |
7-3 |
30 |
10 |
Others receiving votes: Fairdale 7, South Laurel 1.
Class 4A football poll
|
Rank, school, FPV |
Record |
Points |
Last week |
|
1. Highlands (14) |
8-2 |
158 |
1 |
|
2. Boyle County |
8-2 |
137 |
2 |
|
3. Paducah Tilghman (2) |
10-0 |
136 |
3 |
|
4. Corbin |
8-2 |
98 |
5 |
|
5. Ashland Blazer |
9-1 |
90 |
4 |
|
6. Covington Catholic |
6-4 |
88 |
6 |
|
7. North Oldham |
9-1 |
68 |
7 |
|
8. Nelson County |
9-1 |
37 |
10 |
|
9. Logan County |
7-3 |
22 |
8 |
|
10. Spencer County |
7-3 |
16 |
9 |
Others receiving votes: Elizabethtown 10, Greenup County 9, Boyd County 5, Johnson Central 4, Franklin County 2.
Class 3A football poll
Christian Academy of Louisville’s Micah Newsome (26) makes the touchdown catch over Owensboro High School’s Kalil Shemwell (0) in the first half at Centurion Stadium in Louisville. August 28, 2026
|
Rank, school, FPV |
Record |
Points |
Last week |
|
1. Christian Academy (16) |
10-0 |
160 |
1 |
|
2. Lexington Catholic |
8-2 |
137 |
2 |
|
3. Murray |
9-1 |
126 |
3 |
|
4. Glasgow |
9-1 |
89 |
4 |
|
5. Rockcastle County |
10-0 |
84 |
5 |
|
6. LaRue County |
10-0 |
82 |
6 |
|
7. Lloyd Memorial |
9-1 |
63 |
7 |
|
8. Bourbon County |
9-1 |
58 |
9 |
|
9. Lawrence County |
9-1 |
57 |
8 |
|
10. Bardstown |
7-3 |
13 |
10 |
Others receiving votes: Russell 9, Central 2.
Class 2A football poll
|
Rank, school, FPV |
Record |
Points |
Last week |
|
1. Beechwood (15) |
10-0 |
159 |
1 |
|
2. Owensboro Catholic (1) |
9-1 |
142 |
2 |
|
3. Lexington Christian |
8-2 |
125 |
3 |
|
4. Belfry |
9-1 |
108 |
5 |
|
5. Mayfield |
8-2 |
93 |
4 |
|
6. Somerset |
9-1 |
85 |
6 |
|
7. Danville |
8-2 |
53 |
7 |
|
8. Prestonsburg |
9-1 |
42 |
9 |
|
9. Breathitt County |
8-2 |
35 |
8 |
|
10. Caldwell County |
8-2 |
19 |
10 |
Others receiving votes: DuBois 12, Walton-Verona 6, Martin County 1.
Class A football poll
KCD’s Deion Davidson is tripped up by Bethlehem’s Michael Crigler in the first half. Oct 16, 2026
|
Rank, school, FPV |
Record |
Points |
Last week |
|
1. Pikeville (16) |
9-1 |
160 |
1 |
|
2. Sayre |
10-0 |
137 |
2 |
|
3. Raceland |
8-2 |
129 |
3 |
|
4. Kentucky Country Day |
8-2 |
101 |
5 |
|
5. Paintsville |
9-1 |
86 |
6 |
|
6. Middlesboro |
9-1 |
83 |
4 |
|
7. Bethlehem |
9-1 |
72 |
7 |
|
8. Louisville Holy Cross |
7-3 |
54 |
8 |
|
9. Eminence |
8-2 |
21 |
9 |
|
10. Covington Holy Cross |
8-2 |
15 |
NR |
Others receiving votes: Williamsburg 8, Dayton 6, Newport Central Catholic 6, Bishop Brossart 1, Nicholas County 1.
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Voters: Steve Springer (Murray Ledger & Times), Edward Marlowe (WKDZ-FM), Mark Mathis (Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer), Micheal Compton (Bowling Green Daily News), Josh Claywell (The Kentucky Standard, LaRue County Herald News), Cory Bosemer (Bosemer Media), Jason Frakes (The Courier Journal), James Weber (Cincinnati Enquirer), Brendan Connelly (Cincinnati Enquirer), Evan Dennison (LinkNKy.com), Jared Peck (PrepSpin.com), Mike Marsee (Danville freelancer), Les Dixon (13thRegionMediaNetwork.com), Brendon Miller (Bluegrass Sports Nation), Randy White (Appalachian News-Express), James Collier (Rams Sports Network).
Jason Frakes: (502) 582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.
More high school football: Jason Frakes’ final ranking of the top 10 teams in Kentucky
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky high school football rankings: Final media poll as playoffs arrive
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
