Which are the Carolinas’ top high school football teams? Check our 2-state rankings
The high school football season, for most teams in the Carolinas, kicks off Friday.
Today, we release the preseason Carolinas Top 25 poll. The Carolinas poll ranks the best teams in North and South Carolina and is sponsored by the McClatchy media company.
The rankings, which will appear weekly, are compiled by longtime high school football expert Chris Hughes.
Carolinas top 25 preseason poll
| Rk. | School | State | Hometown | 2024 record |
| 1. | Dutch Fork | SC | Irmo | 13-0 |
| 2. | Providence Day | NC | Charlotte | 9-3 |
| 3. | West Charlotte | NC | Charlotte | 13-2 |
| 4. | Grimsley | NC | Greensboro | 16-0 |
| 5. | Gaffney | SC | Gaffney | 10-2 |
| 6. | Hough | NC | Cornelius | 12-2 |
| 7. | Northwestern | SC | Rock Hill | 14-0 |
| 8. | Spartanburg | SC | Spartanburg | 9-3 |
| 9. | Weddington | NC | Weddington | 13-1 |
| 10. | Summerville | SC | Summerville | 13-1 |
| 11. | Rolesville | NC | Rolesville | 14-2 |
| 12. | South Pointe | SC | Rock Hill | 11-3 |
| 13. | Cardinal Gibbons | NC | Raleigh | 12-2 |
| 14. | Mallard Creek | NC | Charlotte | 10-3 |
| 15. | Millbrook | NC | Raleigh | 11-2 |
| 16. | Richmond | NC | Rockingham | 10-3 |
| 17. | Charlotte Christian | NC | Charlotte | 7-4 |
| 18. | Independence | NC | Mint Hill | 10-2 |
| 19. | South Florence | SC | Florence | 12-3 |
| 20. | Westside | SC | Anderson | 13-1 |
| 21. | Irmo | SC | Irmo | 12-2 |
| 22. | Sumter | SC | Sumter | 12-1 |
| 23. | Clayton | NC | Clayton | 10-2 |
| 24. | Mooresville | NC | Mooresville | 11-2 |
| 25. | Seventy-First | NC | Fayetteville | 15-1 |
This story was originally published August 21, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Which are the Carolinas’ top high school football teams? Check our 2-state rankings."
Langston Wertz Jr.
The Charlotte Observer