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South Dakota Football: New Era Dawns for 2026 Season
3 Jul
Summary
- New class alignments significantly reshape South Dakota football.
- Several storied programs are co-oping for the upcoming season.
- Key teams make significant upward or downward class movements.
As July 2nd marks the 50-day countdown, South Dakota high school football gears up for its 2026 season opener on August 21. Significant reclassifications are set to reshape the landscape across all divisions.
Several programs are experiencing major shifts. Freeman, after an undefeated 2025, now fields its own team in Class 9A. Colome and Gregory, rich in championship history, have formed a co-op in Class 9AA. Sioux Falls Lutheran is the sole team to move up two classes, entering Class 9AA after a 6-4 record last season.
Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan returns to nine-man football in Class 9AA after success in Class 11B. Baltic and Lead-Deadwood also drop from 11B to 9AA, aiming to rebuild. Sisseton, after not fielding a varsity team in 2025, moves to nine-man football to develop its program, foregoing the postseason.
Class 9A sees the most movement, with 11 of its 23 teams new to the division. This includes top seeds from the 2025 Class 9AA playoffs. Conversely, Class 11B has fewer teams, down to 20, from 29 in 2022. Rapid City Christian moves down from 11A to 11B, returning to a division where they reached the state semifinals in 2024.
Dominant Class 9A champion Wall moves down to Class 9B, bringing back three all-state players. Warner also drops from 9A to 9B, boasting undefeated champions from 2024. Parker and Marion have joined forces in football, continuing a co-op established for other sports.
The All-Nations Conference also sees realignment, with Lakota Tech moving into Class 9A and Dupree joining Takini in Class 9B. Winnebago claimed the Class 9A ANC title last season, while McLaughlin won Class 9B.
South Dakota will feature 121 teams in traditional classes, with 69 in nine-man football. Several matchups highlight the early season, including Sully Buttes vs. Faulkton Area in Class 9A, and rematches of recent championship games like Brandon Valley vs. Sioux Falls Lincoln in Class 11AAA.
Stadiums are also seeing upgrades, with Viborg-Hurley and Sturgis installing artificial turf. Several neutral-site games are scheduled, including a nine-man contest in Madison and the Lake Region Conference Classic in Aberdeen.
Class 11AAA rivals Brandon Valley and Sioux Falls Lincoln are set for a late-season rematch on October 16. The Presidents Bowl on September 12 features several Sioux Falls matchups. Both Lincoln and Jefferson bring back multiple all-state players, with Lincoln's quarterback Brody Schafer committed to South Dakota State.
Dell Rapids St. Mary is a strong contender for the Class 9B repeat championship, returning four all-state players. However, a repeat title in Class 9B has been elusive for over two decades. Huron and Sturgis were notable risers in Class 11AA last season.
Four undefeated champions from 2025—Sioux Falls Christian, St. Thomas More, Wall, and Dell Rapids St. Mary—share the longest active win streaks. Several preseason top-ranked teams lived up to expectations, finishing as champions.
Key individual players to watch include Howard's Kolt Becker, the top rusher in Class 9A, and Parkston's Mason Jervik and Gage Jodozi in Class 9AA. Class 11B sees only two all-state returners. Officials will emphasize offensive holding and blocking below the waist penalties this season, along with a new rule prohibiting head slaps.
