Football · 2026

NMSN North Half Power Rankings

The class Top 5 and overall North Half Top 10, with the results and reasoning behind the order.

Edition 1 · October 28, 2026

Results through October 25, 2026

By Steven Martinez

Overall North Half Top 10

The teams we would favor on a neutral field, across all classifications. No class receives a reserved place.

Football overall North Half Top 10, October 28, 2026
Rank	Team / NMSN’s assessment	Record
1	Tupelo7ANew Wins over Oxford, Brandon and Hernando establish the strongest résumé in the North Half. Results and schedule Last result: W 40–0 at Horn Lake. Next at publication: at Lewisburg, Oct. 29. View Tupelo’s schedule	9–0
2	Warren Central6ANew Unbeaten with wins over Germantown, Madison Central and Neshoba Central. Results and schedule Last result: W 34–14 vs. Neshoba Central. Next at publication: vs. Callaway, Oct. 30. View Warren Central’s schedule	8–0
3	Oxford7ANew Wins over South Panola, New Hope, Madison Central and Germantown; only loss is to Tupelo. Results and schedule Last result: W 52–21 vs. Clinton. Next at publication: vs. Murrah, Oct. 30. View Oxford’s schedule	7–1
4	Starkville7ANew Road wins over Oak Grove and Louisville support this spot despite the Germantown loss. Results and schedule Last result: W 49–12 at Murrah. Next at publication: at Madison Central, Oct. 30. View Starkville’s schedule	6–2
5	Louisville4ANew Beat Kosciusko, Shannon and Noxubee County; both losses were competitive games against strong opponents. Results and schedule Last result: W 50–7 vs. Mendenhall. Next at publication: at Greenwood, Oct. 30. View Louisville’s schedule	7–2
6	Lake Cormorant6ANew Head-to-head wins over South Panola and Center Hill anchor the No. 2 spot. Results and schedule Last result: W 38–6 at Saltillo. Next at publication: vs. Grenada, Oct. 30. View Lake Cormorant’s schedule	8–0
7	Madison Central7ANew The 42–36 win over Germantown breaks the tie between two teams with demanding schedules. Results and schedule Last result: W 42–36 vs. Germantown. Next at publication: vs. Starkville, Oct. 30. View Madison Central’s schedule	4–4
8	Germantown7ANew The 38–28 road win at Starkville is a major quality win; four losses have come by seven points or fewer. Results and schedule Last result: L 36–42 at Madison Central. Next at publication: vs. Clinton, Oct. 30. View Germantown’s schedule	4–4
9	Winona3ANew Unbeaten; the 42–20 head-to-head win over Noxubee County settles No. 1. Results and schedule Last result: W 41–20 at Choctaw County. Next at publication: vs. Nettleton, Oct. 29. View Winona’s schedule	9–0
10	Kosciusko4ANew Wins over Hernando and Neshoba Central provide evidence beyond the class; Louisville is its only loss. Results and schedule Last result: W 42–8 vs. Yazoo City. Next at publication: vs. Amanda Elzy, Oct. 30. View Kosciusko’s schedule	8–1

7A North Half Top 5

7A Football North Half Top 5
Rank	Team / NMSN’s assessment	Record
1	TupeloNew Wins over Oxford, Brandon and Hernando establish the strongest résumé in the North Half. Results and schedule Last result: W 40–0 at Horn Lake. Next at publication: at Lewisburg, Oct. 29. View Tupelo’s schedule	9–0
2	OxfordNew Wins over South Panola, New Hope, Madison Central and Germantown; only loss is to Tupelo. Results and schedule Last result: W 52–21 vs. Clinton. Next at publication: vs. Murrah, Oct. 30. View Oxford’s schedule	7–1
3	StarkvilleNew Road wins over Oak Grove and Louisville support this spot despite the Germantown loss. Results and schedule Last result: W 49–12 at Murrah. Next at publication: at Madison Central, Oct. 30. View Starkville’s schedule	6–2
4	Madison CentralNew The 42–36 win over Germantown breaks the tie between two teams with demanding schedules. Results and schedule Last result: W 42–36 vs. Germantown. Next at publication: vs. Starkville, Oct. 30. View Madison Central’s schedule	4–4
5	GermantownNew The 38–28 road win at Starkville is a major quality win; four losses have come by seven points or fewer. Results and schedule Last result: L 36–42 at Madison Central. Next at publication: vs. Clinton, Oct. 30. View Germantown’s schedule	4–4

6A North Half Top 5

6A Football North Half Top 5
Rank	Team / NMSN’s assessment	Record
1	Warren CentralNew Unbeaten with wins over Germantown, Madison Central and Neshoba Central. Results and schedule Last result: W 34–14 vs. Neshoba Central. Next at publication: vs. Callaway, Oct. 30. View Warren Central’s schedule	8–0
2	Lake CormorantNew Head-to-head wins over South Panola and Center Hill anchor the No. 2 spot. Results and schedule Last result: W 38–6 at Saltillo. Next at publication: vs. Grenada, Oct. 30. View Lake Cormorant’s schedule	8–0
3	South PanolaNew Three losses total 12 points; wins over Clarksdale and Grenada support a narrow edge over Center Hill. Results and schedule Last result: W 37–0 at Grenada. Next at publication: vs. Olive Branch, Oct. 30. View South Panola’s schedule	4–3
4	Center HillNew Beat Grenada and Olive Branch; losses were a double-overtime game against Hernando and a five-point game against Lake Cormorant. Results and schedule Last result: W 38–29 at Olive Branch. Next at publication: vs. Saltillo, Oct. 30. View Center Hill’s schedule	6–2
5	Neshoba CentralNew Wins over Meridian and Canton keep the Rockets in the five; the losses came against strong opposition. Results and schedule Last result: L 14–34 at Warren Central. View Neshoba Central’s schedule	5–3

5A North Half Top 5

5A Football North Half Top 5
Rank	Team / NMSN’s assessment	Record
1	New HopeNew Direct wins over Pontotoc and Lafayette decide the top spot; five straight wins. Results and schedule Last result: W 35–28 vs. Pontotoc. Next at publication: at West Point, Oct. 30. View New Hope’s schedule	6–2
2	PontotocNew Wins over Corinth, New Albany and West Point; losses to Shannon and New Hope total ten points. Results and schedule Last result: L 28–35 at New Hope. Next at publication: vs. Columbus, Oct. 30. View Pontotoc’s schedule	6–2
3	LafayetteNew Seven wins, including West Point and Lewisburg; New Hope's head-to-head win keeps Lafayette behind the Trojans. Results and schedule Last result: W 45–12 at Columbus. Next at publication: at Caledonia, Oct. 30. View Lafayette’s schedule	7–2
4	Cleveland CentralNew The 56–41 head-to-head win over Leake keeps Cleveland Central ahead despite last week's Vicksburg loss. Results and schedule Last result: L 26–28 at Vicksburg. View Cleveland Central’s schedule	6–2
5	LeakeNew Wins over Lanier, Vicksburg and West Lauderdale secure the final spot; Cleveland Central owns the direct comparison. Results and schedule Last result: Open; last game W 22–13 at West Lauderdale, Oct. 16. Next at publication: vs. Northeast Lauderdale, Oct. 30. View Leake’s schedule	6–2

4A North Half Top 5

4A Football North Half Top 5
Rank	Team / NMSN’s assessment	Record
1	LouisvilleNew Beat Kosciusko, Shannon and Noxubee County; both losses were competitive games against strong opponents. Results and schedule Last result: W 50–7 vs. Mendenhall. Next at publication: at Greenwood, Oct. 30. View Louisville’s schedule	7–2
2	KosciuskoNew Wins over Hernando and Neshoba Central provide evidence beyond the class; Louisville is its only loss. Results and schedule Last result: W 42–8 vs. Yazoo City. Next at publication: vs. Amanda Elzy, Oct. 30. View Kosciusko’s schedule	8–1
3	ShannonNew Wins over Pontotoc, Houston, Amory and Itawamba, with five consecutive victories. Results and schedule Last result: W 50–7 vs. Itawamba Agricultural. View Shannon’s schedule	7–2
4	SenatobiaNew Unbeaten with wins over New Albany, Olive Branch and Clarksdale; Shannon receives the narrow edge for its stronger recent résumé. Results and schedule Last result: W 13–0 at Aberdeen. Next at publication: vs. Ripley, Oct. 29. View Senatobia’s schedule	9–0
5	New AlbanyNew Four straight wins earn a narrow fifth-place edge over Itawamba and Corinth after their recent losses. Results and schedule Last result: W 49–20 at Tishomingo County. Next at publication: vs. Corinth, Oct. 29. View New Albany’s schedule	6–2

3A North Half Top 5

3A Football North Half Top 5
Rank	Team / NMSN’s assessment	Record
1	WinonaNew Unbeaten; the 42–20 head-to-head win over Noxubee County settles No. 1. Results and schedule Last result: W 41–20 at Choctaw County. Next at publication: vs. Nettleton, Oct. 29. View Winona’s schedule	9–0
2	Noxubee CountyNew Wins over Heidelberg, Shannon, Kemper County and West Point give Noxubee an excellent collection of quality wins. Results and schedule Last result: W 58–0 at Nettleton. View Noxubee County’s schedule	7–2
3	BoonevilleNew Unbeaten with convincing wins over Baldwyn and Kossuth; those wins give it a narrow edge over Edwards. Results and schedule Last result: W 42–6 vs. Alcorn Central. Next at publication: vs. South Pontotoc, Oct. 30. View Booneville’s schedule	8–0
4	Thomas E. EdwardsNew Unbeaten with wins over Greenville, Greenwood and O’Bannon; the 24–6 O’Bannon result establishes the local order. Results and schedule Last result: W 36–0 at Leland. Next at publication: at Yazoo County, Oct. 30. View Thomas E. Edwards’s schedule	8–0
5	O’BannonNew Seven wins with only an Edwards loss; wins over South Delta, Yazoo County and Amanda Elzy earn the fifth spot over a schedule-tested Choctaw County. Results and schedule Last result: W 22–14 at Amanda Elzy. Next at publication: at Humphreys County, Oct. 29. View O’Bannon’s schedule	7–1

2A North Half Top 5

2A Football North Half Top 5
Rank	Team / NMSN’s assessment	Record
1	Kemper CountyNew Direct wins over East Webster (45–20) and Eupora (35–8) keep Kemper first despite the Heidelberg loss. Results and schedule Last result: L 7–46 vs. Heidelberg. Next at publication: at Philadelphia, Oct. 29. View Kemper County’s schedule	7–2
2	East WebsterNew Wins over Choctaw County, Nanih Waiya and Caledonia support the edge over Eupora; only loss is to Kemper County. Results and schedule Last result: W 48–28 at Velma Jackson. Next at publication: vs. Eupora, Oct. 29. View East Webster’s schedule	8–1
3	EuporaNew Eight wins, including Ethel and Water Valley; the East Webster game offers a direct opportunity to move up. Results and schedule Last result: W 50–14 vs. Philadelphia. Next at publication: at East Webster, Oct. 29. View Eupora’s schedule	8–1
4	BaldwynNew Wins over Kossuth, Mooreville and Water Valley hold the fourth spot; allowing 63 against Hamilton is a concern. Results and schedule Last result: W 84–63 at Hamilton. Next at publication: vs. Walnut, Oct. 29. View Baldwyn’s schedule	7–2
5	CharlestonNew Wins over North Panola and North Side support a narrow edge over Myrtle; all three losses were to larger-class opponents. Results and schedule Last result: W 34–30 at North Side. Next at publication: at Palmer, Oct. 29. View Charleston’s schedule	6–3

1A North Half Top 5

1A Football North Half Top 5
Rank	Team / NMSN’s assessment	Record
1	Leflore CountyNew Wins over Simmons, South Delta and North Side give Leflore the best quality-win case. Results and schedule Last result: W 36–6 at Coffeeville. Next at publication: vs. West Tallahatchie, Oct. 29. View Leflore County’s schedule	8–0
2	Tupelo Christian PrepNew Unbeaten with five shutouts; Leflore has the stronger verified in-state quality-win résumé. Results and schedule Last result: Open; last game W 44–0 at Biggersville, Oct. 16. Next at publication: at Smithville, Oct. 29. View Tupelo Christian Prep’s schedule	8–0
3	Calhoun CityNew Beat Myrtle, Hamilton and Okolona; all three losses came against higher classifications. Results and schedule Last result: W 34–0 vs. Vardaman. Next at publication: at West Lowndes, Oct. 29. View Calhoun City’s schedule	5–3
4	OkolonaNew The 41–22 win over Hatley, which beat Smithville, provides a common-opponent edge; a tougher schedule offsets the poorer record. Results and schedule Last result: W 40–0 vs. West Lowndes. Next at publication: at Vardaman, Oct. 29. View Okolona’s schedule	4–5
5	SmithvilleNew Three consecutive wins and a 35–12 victory over Falkner support the final place over Potts Camp. Results and schedule Last result: W 20–6 vs. Biggersville. Next at publication: vs. Tupelo Christian Prep, Oct. 29. View Smithville’s schedule	5–3

How we rank football

Season results, schedule strength, quality wins, recent form and competitiveness guide NMSN’s editorial order.

Head-to-head separates otherwise comparable teams, followed by common opponents and the full-season résumé. The last three games inform recent form.

Margins beyond 21 points add no ranking credit. The overall Top 10 asks which North Half teams we would favor on a neutral field today.

These are editorial rankings. Broadcast coverage, sponsorships, fan voting and program reputation do not earn ranking credit. The overall list keeps teams from the same class in the same order as their class list.

MHSAA Regions 1–2 in 5A, 6A and 7A; Regions 1–4 in the remaining classifications. Eligibility follows this sport’s alignment, not school location alone.

View the official MHSAA football alignment

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