Mississippi High School football Rankings: Preseason Top 25 teams

It just means more in SEC country and that includes football at the high school level. The state of Mississippi is one of the many in the region that continues to deploy top prospects to some of the best college programs in the nation.

The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory. According to this model, five Mississippi schools rank in the top 200 nationwide.

Two of the nation’s preseason top-100 schools — Oak Grove and Starkville — are at the top of the pack moving into the fall after meeting in the 7A state title game last year. Below are the top 25 programs in Mississippi ahead of the 2024 season.

1. Hattiesburg Oak Grove

Despite losing championship-winning quarterback and now Ole Miss freshman AJ Maddox, Oak Grove is once again set to make a run for another state title. The Warriors will be tested at the end of the season, as three of their final four games will be on the road, including an important clash at Brandon High on Oct. 18. Maddox’s brother, Ole Miss four-star defensive line commit Andrew Maddox and four-star uncommitted four-star wide receiver Anson Lewis will be players to watch this season.

2. Starkville

The Yellowjackets came up just short in a 33-28 loss to Oak Grove in the state championship last season but are primed to reach the top of the mountain in 2024. Projected to have a top-three offense and defense in the state, the Yellowjackets will have to replace the hole left by now Mississippi State freshman wide receiver Braylon Burnside. Starkville is slated to play six road games in the regular season, including a trip to Oxford for the Little Egg Bowl.

3. Brandon

The Bulldogs rebounded from an 0-2 start last season by winning 10 games in a row before falling to Oak Grove in the 7A playoffs. Brandon is back in the hunt for the 2024 season and will look for revenge against the preseason top team in the state in October. 2026 four-star cornerback Preston Ashley is the No. 8 junior in the state, per the On3 Industry Ranking. Brandon is currently projected to win each of its regular season matchups.

4. Madison Central

Florida tight end commit Micah Jones will be a frequent target for the Jaguars this season. Madison won eight games a season ago and fell to Starkville in the 7A playoffs. Entering the campaign with the No. 2 strength of schedule in-state, Madison is set to play the likes of Ocean Springs, Brandon, Tupelo and Starkville.

5. Tupelo

The Golden Wave claimed eight victories last season and is sizing up a deeper run in the 7A playoffs this fall. Tupelo will meet both Madison Central and Starkville in the back half of the 2024 season, a tough pair of matchups for a program that’s entering the year with one of the top 100 rated defenses in the nation. Ole Miss four-star cornerback commit Maison Dunn will be a threat to opposing offenses all season.

6. Ocean Springs

The Greyhounds made the jump to 7A last season and finished with a 9-2 record. Projected to have a top-five offense in the state this fall, Ocean Springs is slated to take on three other preseason top-10 schools in the coming weeks, including the season-opener at home against Madison and a road trip to Oak Grove.

7. Picayune Memorial

Tabbed as the top 6A program in the state preseason, the Maroon Tide aren’t playing an easy schedule this fall and will battle 7A standouts Brandon and Ocean Springs early in the year. In its other nine games, Picayune is tabbed as the favorite and is poised for another big year, searching for its third state title in four years.

8. Laurel West Jones

West Jones ran the table last season and claimed its second 6A state title in the last four years. The Mustangs are back for more in 2024 and are currently projected to win each of its regular season contests. Road trips to Laurel High and Northeast Jones will open the season.

9. Louisville

The Wildcats made history last season by going a perfect 15-0, winning its 12th state championship, tying a state record for the most titles of any school. The dominant 4A program will open the 2024 campaign on the road at 5A power West Point and will also host Starkville at the end of September.

10. West Point

West Point also claimed its record 12th state championship last season by climbing the top of the 5A mountain. The Green Wave lost now Florida freshman running back KD Daniels but are still poised to have a top-10 offense in the state this season. A stout schedule awaits, as West Point will open the season with games against Brandon, Louisville and Starkville.

11. Vicksburg Warren Central
12. Batesville South Panola
13. Gulfport
14. Grenada
15. Oxford

16. Pearl
17. Flowood Northwest Rankin
18. Madison-Ridgeland
19. Meridian
20. Clinton

21. Flowood Hartfield
22. Columbia
23. Madison Germantown
24. Jackson Prep
25. Laurel