Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings Shake Up After Week 9 Upsets

The penultimate weekly state rankings for the 2026 Pennsylvania high school football regular season feature notable movement following Week 9. While no teams were eliminated from the top five lists in most classifications, several experienced shifts in position due to head-to-head matchups and unexpected losses. The most significant changes occurred in Class 4A and Class 6A, where new entrants replaced previously ranked teams and established leaders saw their standings drop.

In Class 4A, the top of the list underwent a major transformation. Shamokin and Cardinal O'Hara, who had previously held spots in the top five, dropped out after their respective losses. They were replaced by undefeated Dallas from District 2 and South Fayette from the WPIAL. This shakeup highlights the competitive nature of the classification as teams vie for playoff positioning.

Class 6A also saw a dramatic reordering. Bishop McDevitt, previously ranked No. 5, defeated No. 2 Harrisburg by a score of 51 to 14. This victory propelled Bishop McDevitt up to No. 3 and sent Harrisburg down to No. 5. Harrisburg now faces a critical test as it prepares to visit the new No. 2 team, State College, in Week 10.

Several other teams joined the No. 1 spots in their respective classifications following the latest week of play. General McLane leads Class 4A, while Mount Carmel takes the top spot in Class 3A. Additionally, Central Catholic in Class 6A, Pine-Richland in Class 5A, Seton LaSalle in Class 2A, and Bishop Guilfoyle Academy in Class A all currently hold the No. 1 ranking.

Class 3A witnessed a cross-classification upset that affected rankings. Northwestern Lehigh, which had been the top-ranked team in its class, fell to No. 4 after losing to Class 5A No. 4 Southern Lehigh. The Spartans defeated the Tigers 17 to 14 in District 11, a result that derailed Northwestern Lehigh's perfect season and altered the competitive landscape for the remainder of the regular season.

Week 10 presents tough challenges for several ranked teams, including two additional head-to-head contests between teams in the top five. In Class 2A, the No. 1 Seton LaSalle team will face No. 4 Bishop Canevin. Both teams are undefeated and belong to District 7, making this matchup a significant event for the classification.

In Class 6A, the remaining top five teams include State College at No. 2, Bishop McDevitt at No. 3, and St. Joseph Prep at No. 4. Central Catholic remains at the top of the classification. In Class 5A, Pine-Richland leads the rankings, followed by Springfield-Delco, Imhotep Charter, Southern Lehigh, and Twin Valley.

Class 4A now features General McLane at No. 1, West York at No. 2, and Scranton Prep at No. 3. The new entries, Dallas and South Fayette, round out the top five. In Class 3A, Mount Carmel is ranked first, followed by Northwestern Lehigh, Propel Braddock Hills, Hopewell, and Notre Dame-Green Pond.

Class 2A rankings are led by Seton LaSalle, with Southern Columbia at No. 2, Farrell at No. 3, Bishop Canevin at No. 4, and Westinghouse at No. 5. In Class A, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy holds the top spot, followed by Clairton, Washington, Wilmington, and Steelton-Highspire.

With only one week left in the regular season, these rankings will determine the field for the PIAA playoffs. Teams must navigate their remaining schedules carefully, as upsets and head-to-head results continue to play a pivotal role in determining final seeding.