Get ready for a deep dive into the Mississippi high school football scene! Week 1 of the 2025 season brought plenty of action and a few surprises that have shaken up the rankings. From high-scoring thrillers to dominant defensive performances, Mississippi’s top teams delivered on the hype
The first week of the season didn’t disappoint, with thrilling matchups and significant upsets that are already shaping the landscape of the 2025 season. No game was more explosive than the Week 1 shootout between Oak Grove and Starkville, which saw Starkville emerge victorious with a 57-54 win. This high-octane performance helped the Yellow Jackets make a huge jump in the rankings.
Meanwhile, last season’s 7A state championship rematch between Tupelo and Brandon was a more one-sided affair. Tupelo solidified its top spot by dominating Brandon in a 36-15 win, showing they are on track to defend their state title.
Down in the Pine Belt, Petal delivered the most shocking result of the week, trouncing a highly-ranked Hattiesburg team with a decisive 50-28 victory. This huge win vaulted the Panthers up the leaderboard.
A few new faces also broke into the top 25 after impressive Week 1 performances. Columbia, Clinton, DeSoto Central, and Gautier all make their debut in the rankings after starting their seasons with strong wins.
Week 1 Top 25: Mississippi High School Football Rankings
Here’s the full breakdown of the top 25 teams in Mississippi high school football as of September 4, 2025:
| Rank | Team | Record | Previous Rank | Week 1 Result | Next Opponent |
| 1 | Tupelo | 1-0 | 1 | W vs. Brandon (36-15) | vs. Christ Presbyterian Academy (TN) |
| 2 | Madison Central | 1-0 | 3 | W vs. Pearl (20-6) | vs. Brandon |
| 3 | Grenada | 1-0 | 5 | W vs. Pine Bluff (AR) (42-6) | at Winona |
| 4 | West Point | 1-0 | 9 | W vs. Louisville (9-7) | at Noxubee County |
| 5 | Starkville | 1-0 | 10 | W vs. Oak Grove (57-54) | at Meridian |
| 6 | Ocean Springs | 1-0 | 12 | W vs. Meridian (35-0) | vs. Petal |
| 7 | Petal | 1-0 | 18 | W vs. Hattiesburg (50-28) | at Ocean Springs |
| 8 | Louisville | 0-1 | 7 | L vs. West Point (9-7) | at Shannon |
| 9 | Brandon | 0-1 | 2 | L vs. Tupelo (36-15) | at Madison Central |
| 10 | Hartfield Academy | 0-1 | 6 | L vs. Columbia (22-21) | vs. Madison-Ridgeland Academy |
| 11 | Jackson Academy | 1-0 | 13 | W vs. Oak Forest Academy (LA) (42-6) | vs. Leake Academy |
| 12 | Oak Grove | 0-1 | 8 | L vs. Starkville (57-54) | at Germantown |
| 13 | Picayune | 1-0 | 14 | W vs. Gulfport (31-28) | at Northshore (LA) |
| 14 | Noxubee County | 1-0 | 15 | W vs. Heidelberg (44-32) | at Kemper County |
| 15 | Northwest Rankin | 1-0 | 20 | W vs. Germantown (24-17) | at Clinton |
| 16 | Pascagoula | 1-0 | 21 | W vs. Moss Point (47-0) | at Biloxi |
| 17 | Hattiesburg | 0-1 | 4 | L vs. Petal (50-28) | at Laurel |
| 18 | Columbia | 1-0 | Unranked | W vs. Hartfield Academy (22-21) | vs. West Marion |
| 19 | Clinton | 1-0 | Unranked | W vs. Warren Central (45-13) | vs. Northwest Rankin |
| 20 | Madison-Ridgeland Academy | 1-1 | 25 | W vs. Jefferson Davis County (47-6) | at Hartfield Academy |
| 21 | DeSoto Central | 1-0 | Unranked | W vs. South Panola (42-39) | vs. Lake Cormorant |
| 22 | Gulfport | 0-1 | 19 | L vs. Picayune (31-28) | at Laurel |
| 23 | Gautier | 1-0 | Unranked | W vs. George County (35-0) | vs. D’Iberville |
| 24 | Poplarville | 0-1 | 16 | L vs. West Harrison (34-18) | at Stone |
| 25 | South Panola | 0-1 | 22 | L vs. DeSoto Central (42-39) | vs. Oxford |
