Iowa High School Football: Official Rankings, Radio Iowa Polls Released

First set of Iowa high school football rankings from IHSAA released.

Iowa City Liberty’s Cooper Lester (7) catches the football for a touchdown as Iowa City West’s Carter Spark (3) defends Sept. 25, 2026 at Iowa City Liberty High School in North Liberty, Iowa. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The first set of official Iowa high school football rankings from the Iowa High School Athletic Association was released on Monday.

These rankings are important because they help determine who goes where in the postseason.

Kuemper Catholic, the defending Class 2A state champion, is ranked first, with Iowa City Regina in Class 1A, Woodbury Central in Class A and Audubon in eight-player joining them.

The rankings are comprised of a committee that includes former head coaches, media members and IHSAA staff. They debuted in 2023, with Class 5A, Class 4A and Class 3A joining the rankings next week.

For Class 5A, Class 4A and Class 3A, they will use a Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) to determine playoff qualifiers in those three classes. The remaining classes will use district standings.

Radio Iowa No. 1 Ranked Teams All The Same This Week

Radio Iowa also released updated rankings on Monday. Both sets of rankings are listed below.

There was no change among the top-ranked teams in the Radio Iowa poll. Southeast Polk remained No. 1 in Class 5A, as did defending state champion Cedar Rapids Xavier in Class 4A.

Solon holds down the top position in Class 3A, with Kuemper Catholic, Woodbury Central and Audubon all doubling up from the IHSAA rankings. 

Iowa High School Athletic Association High School Football Rankings

Class 2A

1. Kuemper Catholic
2. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock
3. Roland-Story
4. Alburnett
5. Van Meter
6. OABCIG
7. Crestwood
8. Mid-Prairie
9. Osage
10. Spirit Lake

Class 1A

1. Iowa City Regina
2. West Lyon
3. South Hardin
4. Aplington-Parkersburg
5. Treynor
6. Underwood
7. Dyersville Beckman Catholic
8. Interstate 35
9. Clarion-Goldfield/Dows
10. Northeast

Class A

1. Woodbury Central
2. West Sioux
3. Saint Ansgar
4. Madrid
5. Council Bluffs St. Albert
6. Riverside
7. East Buchanan
8. North Linn
9. Wapsie Valley
10. West Fork

Eight-Player

1. Audubon
2. Iowa Valley
3. Woodbine
4. Bedford
5. Bishop Garrigan
6. Gladbrook-Reinbeck
7. North Union
8. Edgewood-Colesburg
9. Kingsley-Pierson
10. Coon Rapids-Bayard

Radio Iowa High School Football Rankings

Class 5A

1. Southeast Polk
2. Dowling Catholic
3. Johnston
4. Ankeny
5. Sioux City East
6. Waukee
7. Cedar Falls
8. Bettendorf
9. Iowa City Liberty
10. Waukee Northwest

Class 4A

1. Cedar Rapids Xavier
2. Sergeant Bluff-Luton
3. Western Dubuque
4. Carlisle
5. Lewis Central
6. Waverly-Shell Rock
7. Clear Creek-Amana
8. Fort Dodge
9. North Polk
10. Pella

Class 3A

1. Solon
2. Clear Lake
3. Sioux Center
4. Des Moines Christian
5. Dubuque Wahlert Catholic
6. West Delaware
7. Carroll
8. Mount Pleasant
9. Mount Vernon
10. Davenport Assumption

Class 2A

1. Kuemper Catholic
2. Roland-Story
3. Alburnett
4. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock
5. Mid-Prairie
6. Van Meter
7. Centerville
8. Crestwood
9. OABCIG
10. Osage

Class 1A

1. Iowa City Regina
2. South Hardin
3. Aplington-Parkersburg
4. West Lyon
5. Treynor
6. Underwood
7. Dyersville Beckman Catholic
8. Northeast
9. East Sac County
10. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont

Class A

1. Woodbury Central
2. West Sioux
3. Saint Ansgar
4. Madrid
5. Council Bluffs St. Albert
6. West Fork
7. Pekin
8. Riverside
9. Wapsie Valley
10. East Buchanan

Eight-Player

1. Audubon
2. Iowa Valley
3. Woodbine
4. Edgewood-Colesburg
5. Gladbrook-Reinbeck
6. Bedford
7. North Union
8. Bishop Garrigan
9. Clarksville
10. Kingsley-Pierson