Way WAY Too Early 2026 Rankings

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!   The OSSAA recently approved the classes and districts for the 2026 and 2027 football seasons. Last week, we gave our first reactions to what the new classes and districts will look like. You can read that breakdown <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/first-reactions-from-new-class-and-district-lineups/" type="link" id="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/first-reactions-from-new-class-and-district-lineups/">RIGHT HERE</a>. In this article, we're putting the spotlight on the teams with our way WAY too early rankings for the 2026 season. Our preseason rankings will drop in the summer and we'll go ahead and say that those will probably look quite different than what you'll see here. But here's our first swing at what the 2026 season could look like in the various classes.   CLASS 6A-1   1) BIXBY - Who else would be number one? Spartans have to reload at key positions but they're the unquestioned favorite to win ninth straight title. 2) JENKS - The Trojans will once again be in the mix in 2026 and they appear to be hungrier than ever to make it back to the state title game. 3) BROKEN ARROW - It's year two under head coach Travis Hill and the Tigers are expecting to make that second year jump to serious 6A-1 contender. 4) OWASSO - The Rams made an unexpected run to the 6A-1 title game in 2025 so it wouldn't be surprising if they ran it back and did it again in 2026. 5) MUSTANG - The Broncos have certainly reloaded this offseason and have a roster capable of making plenty of noise in 6A-1 this fall. 6) UNION - Union will look to bounce back in year two under head coach Antonio Graham but it's a hard mountain to climb in 6A-1. 7) NORMAN NORTH - The T'Wolves bring back some serious firepower on offense and they'll be hungry to get out to a fast start in 2026. 8) EDMOND MEMORIAL - Edmond Memorial will once again be in the mix as a gritty team, capable of pulling off an upset or two along the way. 9) YUKON - We like some of the firepower Yukon returns in 2026 and they'll look to build off their 2025 season that saw them take that next step. 10) DEER CREEK - A young Deer Creek squad in 2025 is now a veteran group in 2026. Don't be surprised if the Antlers pull off an upset or two.   CLASS 6A-2   1) STILLWATER - The Pioneers return a lot of experience and production heading into this season and look like the favorites in a wide open 6A-2. 2) CHOCTAW - Last year's 6A-2 Runner Up is getting used to making trips to UCO in December and this year will be no different. 3) SAND SPRINGS - The defending champs will have quite a few new faces on both sides of the ball but they won't back down from a fight. 4) NORMAN - The Tigers are dropping down from 6A-1 and instantly become a team to look out for as a contender in 6A-2 this season 5) PIEDMONT - On paper, Piedmont has the talent to be a dangerous team in 6A-2 and they appear ready to take that next step as a true contender. 6) PUTNAM CITY - The Pirates were a semifinal team in 2025 but they lose a lot to graduation and will need to reload to make another run this fall. 7) BOOKER T WASHINGTON - The Hornets have been bumped back up to 6A-2 after back to back successful seasons in Class 5A. 8) MUSKOGEE - Year two under hall of fame coach Dale Condict will see the Roughers looking to get back to contending for the state title. 9) BARTLESVILLE - The Bruins have a new head coach that has won everywhere he's been so it might be smart to buy stock in Bartlesville now. 10) PONCA CITY - The Wildcats will enter this season looking to make some noise in the playoffs after an early playoff exit in 2025.   CLASS 5A   1) CARL ALBERT - The defending champs come into this season with a 53-game winning streak and no signs of slowing down anytime soon. 2) BISHOP McGUINNESS - The Irish made a run to the 5A state title game with a relatively young roster so they'll expect to be right back in the mix this fall. 3) DEL CITY - The Eagles are always in the mix with some outstanding two-way players and the 2026 season will not be any different. 4) ELGIN - Elgin is moving back up to 5A after going 27-1 in the last two years in 4A but they don't expect to take a step back in their new class. 5) McALESTER - McAlester finished 2025 strong and it wouldn't be surprising to see them carry that momentum into the 2026 season. 6) NEWCASTLE - The Racers will have a new head coach but things shouldn't look all too different when they take the field in 2026. 7) SAPULPA - The Chieftains drop back down to 5A from 6A-2 and bring plenty of experience and production with them to make some noise. 8) COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville is another program that is always in the mix, year after year and we don't think 2026 will be any different. 9) LAWTON MACARTHUR - The Highlanders have one of the most underrated running backs in the state and will lean on him this fall. 10) PRYOR - Fresh off arguably the best season in school history, the Tigers aren't satisfied with that and look to make another run in 2026.   CLASS 4A   1) BROKEN BOW - The Savages have arguably the most electric player in the state and plenty of experience around him to go all the way in 4A this fall. 2) TUTTLE - The defending champs made Tuttle "Title Town" once again but they will have to reload if they expect to play in Edmond again. 3) FORT GIBSON - The Tigers have one of the top 2027 prospects in the nation but there is a lot of talent around him to make this team one to watch. 4) ARDMORE - Ardmore will be one of the more experienced teams in Class 4A after being one of the youngest teams in the class in 2025. 5) CUSHING - Cushing was one of the top surprise teams in 2025 and while they lose some big pieces, they also bring back some serious firepower. 6) POTEAU - Year two for the Pirates under head coach Jake Hayes and Poteau has some serious talent and experience returning for 2026. 7) ADA - The Cougars will be incredibly strong on the line of scrimmage and that will help them break in some new players at the skill positions. 8) SALLISAW - Sallisaw has to replace some key pieces but they bring back the QB and they have one of the best coaches in 4A football. 9) CLINTON - Clinton has a new head coach but he's a familiar name to western Oklahoma football and will look to bring Clinton back to contention. 10) GROVE - The Ridgerunners caught several teams by surprise during the 2025 season and they'll try to repeat that in 2026.   CLASS 3A   1) JONES - The defending 2A-1 champs are up in 3A and they just hired a new head coach and with him, a star at the quarterback position to go after another gold ball. 2) SULPHUR - The Bulldogs have settled for the silver ball the last two years but they will look to make another run to Edmond in December. 3) MOUNT ST. MARY - The Rockets move up from 2A-1 and with nearly everyone back on both sides of the ball, they're ready to reach new heights. 4) METRO CHRISTIAN - Metro Christian is another team bumped up from 2A-1 and the Patriots will have one of the better offenses in the class this fall. 5) HERITAGE HALL - The Chargers don't have to worry about Lincoln Christian anymore and that could open the door to them contending for gold once again. 6) PLAINVIEW - Don't forget about this southern Oklahoma program that is routinely one of the best in Class 3A and they have some serious talent returning. 7) VERDIGRIS - Verdigris was one of the youngest teams in 3A last year and now all that youth is experienced and ready to take the next step to contending. 8) PERKINS-TRYON - The Demons have to replace some key pieces from last year's team but they also return enough guys to make plenty of noise. 9) INOLA - The Longhorns ended up being one of the surprise teams of the 2025 season and with some serious talent returning, they're one to watch. 10) MARLOW - The Outlaws also jump up to Class 3A and they are another program that routinely finds their way into contending.   CLASS 2A-1   1) LINCOLN CHRISTIAN - The Bulldogs won the last three 3A titles and have won 42 straight so needless to say, they are the easy favorite here in 2A-1. 2) WASHINGTON - For the first time in a long time, Washington will come into a season not the defending champion and not the preseason favorite. 3) REJOICE CHRISTIAN - Rejoice won the last two state titles in A-1 but they find themselves in deep waters up in 2A-2 with a few heavyweights. 4) CASCIA HALL - The Commandos are dropping down to 2A-1 and it wouldn't be surprising to see them end up being one of the top teams in this class. 5) TAHLEQUAH SEQUOYAH - The Indians surprised quite a few people in 2025 but they now have some serious expectations heading into 2026. 6) HOLLAND HALL - The Dutch are another team dropping down to 2A-1 and despite losing some key pieces, they're expected to reload. 7) KIEFER - The Trojans have been one of the more consistent winners over the last few years but they're ready to win at a higher level this fall. 8) CHECOTAH - Checotah will have one of the more experienced quarterbacks in the state and this has become a consistent playoff program. 9) ANADARKO - It's been a few years since Anadarko was a serious title contender but they could take that big step forward in 2026. 10) LITTLE AXE - Little Axe went through some growing pains last year but that youth is now experienced production to surprise some people in '26.   CLASS 2A-2   1) DAVIS - Led by arguably the best quarterback in the class, the Wolves are hungry to capture their second title in the last three years. 2) ADAIR - The defending champs have to replace their star quarterback but they do have some names returning to make another run at the gold ball. 3) MILLWOOD - The Falcons drop down to 2A-2 and they bring back quite a bit to become a team to watch immediately when the season begins. 4) CASHION - Cashion is moving up to 2A-2 and we think they will be instant contenders with a really solid athlete at the quarterback position. 5) SALINA - The Wildcats took the first step to contending in 2025 and they bring back some really solid playmakers on offense to take that next step in 2026. 6) COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN - The Royals have some really strong production returning on the offensive side of the ball to make some noise. 7) HOLDENVILLE - The Wolverines have had a really strong run over the last few seasons and they don't expect that to end in 2026. 8) STROUD - Stroud is another program that we feel like penciling in to a top ten every single year because they are a consistent winner. 9) VALLIANT - The Bulldogs will have a first year head coach but they won't be lacking talent when they take the field in 2026. 10) BEGGS - The Golden Demons have some talent returning to make some more noise in 2026 and it's been a few years since they were a true contender.   CLASS A-1   1) TONKAWA - Last year's A-1 Runner Up has all the pieces to not only make another run back to Edmond but to win the whole thing this time around. 2) VIAN - The Wolverines lose quite a bit but a drop down to A-1 turns them into an instant contender and let's face it, Vian will always be a contender. 3) POCOLA - The Indians have been knocking on that door of being a true state title contender and they want to kick the door down in 2026. 4) MANGUM - Mangum moves up to Class A-1 but they will also be one of the more experienced teams in the class with all the starters they bring back. 5) HOOKER - Don't forget about Hooker in the panhandle as they'll have arguably the best running back in the class and look to contend again. 6) FAIRVIEW - We thought Fairview would take a step back in 2025 and we were wrong so we're not betting against them again in 2026. 7) PAWHUSKA - The Huskies have a new head coach but they still bring back some really good two-way players that will keep them in the hunt. 8) WALTERS - Walters is one of those programs that seem to go on a run every few years and this could end up being one of those years. 9) MINCO - The Bulldogs just hired a state champion head coach so there is a lot to be excited about with Minco football heading into 2026. 10) WYNNEWOOD - The Savages ended up being one of the more surprising teams in Class A-1 in 2025 and they look to repeat that in 2026.   CLASS A-2   1) TALIHINA - The defending champs return their star quarterback and basically everyone else so they'll be the heavy favorites to repeat in 2026. 2) KETCHUM - This is a team that should be talked about more when you look at the production they're bringing back for another run in 2026. 3) HOMINY - The Bucks have to replace some key pieces from last year's Runner Up team but we think they will be right in the mix again. 4) THOMAS - The Terriers are looking to reload and make some more noise in A-2 this fall and they look to be the favorite in their district. 5) RINGLING - Ringling is one of those programs that you can't count out year after year. But they're also hungry to make another run this fall. 6) REGENT PREP - Regent Prep was very young in 2025 and it wouldn't be surprising to see them rise up and make a run in 2026. 7) FAIRLAND - The Owls pushed the eventual champs to the brink last season but they have to replace a very special senior class in 2026. 8) SOUTHWEST COVENANT - Not far from playing 8-man football, Southwest Covenant made it to the quarterfinals and look to build off last season. 9) WOODLAND - A-2's first state champion has that title pedigree after '24 title but they have to find some new playmakers this fall. 10) HEALDTON - Healdton loses a dynamic playmaker in the run game but they are coming off a '25 season where they made a playoff run.

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