Our ‘way too early’ rankings for the best NC prep football teams
High school football season is still a few months away, but there are going to be a lot of changes.
How teams qualify for the playoffs will be different.
Conferences will be different.
Instead of four classifications in public schools, now there will be eight.
The N.C.. statewide high school football rankings will also be different. Instead of five separate polls — including one encompassing all of the private schools, which will debut in August — now there will be nine.
And here is a “way too early” look at N.C.’s top teams. The rankings are sponsored by The Charlotte Observer and News & Observer of Raleigh and compiled by longtime N.C. prep football expert Chris Hughes, a co-host of The Observer’s long-running “Talking Preps” streaming show.
NCHSAA 8A
| Rk | School | 2024 Rec.. |
| 1 | Rolesville | (14-2) |
| 2 | Hough | (12-2) |
| 3 | West Charlotte | (13-2) |
| 4 | Mallard Creek | (10-3) |
| 5 | Millbrook | (11-2) |
| 6 | Jordan | (10-4) |
| 7 | Hoggard | (12-2) |
| 8 | Myers Park | (4-6) |
| 9 | West Forsyth | (8-4) |
| 10 | Pinecrest | (10-2) |
7A
| Rk | School | 2024 record |
| 1 | Weddington | (13-1) |
| 2 | Grimsley | (16-0) |
| 3 | Cardinal Gibbons | (12-2) |
| 4 | Richmond | (10-3) |
| 5 | East Forsyth | (13-1) |
| 6 | Reagan | (6-5) |
| 7 | Cleveland | (13-1) |
| 8 | Independence | (10-2) |
| 9 | Mooresville | (11-2) |
| 10 | Clayton | (10-2) |
6A
| Rk | School | 2024 record |
| 1 | Seventy-First | (15-1) |
| 2 | Dudley | (13-1) |
| 3 | Ashbrook | (10-3) |
| 4 | Kings Mountain | (9-3) |
| 5 | J.H. Rose | (5-9) |
| 6 | Northern Nash | (10-1) |
| 7 | Northern Guilford | (11-2) |
| 8 | Jacksonville | (12-2) |
| 9 | Charlotte Catholic | (10-3) |
| 10 | Terry Sanford | (9-3) |
5A
| Rk | School | 2024 record |
| 1 | Hickory | (14-1) |
| 2 | Monroe | (15-0) |
| 3 | J.M. Robinson | (12-1) |
| 4 | Crest | (10-3) |
| 5 | Havelock | (12-2) |
| 6 | Oak Grove | (10-2) |
| 7 | East Lincoln | (7-4) |
| 8 | Southern Nash | (9-3) |
| 9 | Erwin | (10-2) |
| 10 | South Point | (9-2) |
4A
| Rk | School | 2024 record |
| 1 | Reidsville | (11-1) |
| 2 | East Duplin | (6-6) |
| 3 | Brevard | (11-3) |
| 4 | Maiden | (8-4) |
| 6 | Eastern Wayne | (10-3) |
| 5 | Salisbury | (11-2) |
| 7 | Mount Pleasant | (9-3) |
| 8 | Bandys | (7-4) |
| 9 | West Stokes | (10-3) |
| 10 | Burns | (8-4) |
3A
| Rk | School | 2024 record |
| 1 | Northeastern | (15-1) |
| 2 | Shelby | (11-3) |
| 3 | James Kenan | (12-2) |
| 4 | Mount Airy | (13-1) |
| 5 | Walkertown | (8-4) |
| 6 | Whiteville | (13-2) |
| 7 | East Rutherford | (7-4) |
| 8 | Eastern Randolph | (12-1) |
| 9 | Wallace-Rose Hill | (9-4) |
| 10 | East Surry | (9-3) |
2A
| Rk | School | 2024 record |
| 1 | Tarboro | (14-1) |
| 2 | Starmount | (11-2) |
| 3 | Murphy | (12-2) |
| 4 | Community School of Davidson | (9-4) |
| 5 | Corvian Community | (14-1) |
| 6 | East Wilkes | (10-3) |
| 7 | North Duplin | (10-1) |
| 8 | Mitchell | (7-4) |
| 9 | Swain County | (1-10) |
| 10 | John A. Holmes | (7-5) |
1A
| Rk | School | 2024 record |
| 1 | Robbinsville | (7-7) |
| 2 | Wilson Prep | (12-2) |
| 3 | Northside | (8-4) |
| 4 | Andrews | (4-6) |
| 5 | KIPP Pride | (7-5) |
| 6 | Southeast Halifax | (4-7) |
| 7 | Weldon | (6-5) |
| 8 | Washington County | (2-9) |
| 9 | Thomas Jefferson | (3-8) |
| 10 | North Edgecombe | (2-9) |
