There's a decent sense through two weeks which Section V football teams stand out among their peers. But how do those teams rank among the best in New York state? The indication, for now, is very strongly.
The first New York State Sportswriters Association football rankings for the 2026 season have been released, and the initial list includes 11 teams from the Rochester area (with several more included among honorable mentions).
The list is surely to change throughout the year as state-ranked teams meet. That's the case this week as East High/World of Inquiry hosts Monroe in a matchup between two of the best Class B teams in the state.
Here are the New York state football rankings entering the third week of the season:
Class AA
No. 20: University Prep (1-1)
- Last game: 38-24 loss vs. Liverpool (III)
- Up next: Friday, Sept. 18 at Rush-Henrietta
No. 25: Rush-Henrietta (2-0)
- Last game: 26-19 win vs. Pittsford
- Up next: Friday, Sept. 18 vs. UPrep
Honorable mentions: Pittsford
(1-1)
Class A
No. 5: Brighton(2-0)
- Last game: 42-7 win vs. Irondequoit
- Up next: Friday, Sept. 18 at Greece Athena
No. 12: Hilton(2-0)
- Last game: 41-14 win at Penfield
- Up next: Friday, Sept. 18 vs. Victor
No. 30: Webster Schroeder (1-1)
- Last game: 27-14 win at Fairport
- Up next: Friday, Sept. 18 vs. Penfield
Honorable mentions: Canandaigua(2-0), Churchville-Chili (2-0), Eastridge(1-1), Irondequoit(1-1), Victor(2-0)
Class B
No. 1: Monroe(2-0)
- Last game: 64-19 win vs. McQuaid
- Up next: Friday, Sept. 18 at East/World of Inquiry
No. 9: East/World of Inquiry (1-0)
- Last game: 49-0 win vs. Aquinas/RACS
- Up next: Friday, Sept. 18 vs. Monroe
Honorable mentions: N/A
Class C
No. 12: Alexander/Pembroke (2-0)
- Last game: 36-16 win at Letchworth/Warsaw/Perry
- Up next: Friday, Sept. 18 at Livonia
No. 15: LeRoy/Cal-Mum (2-0)
- Last game: 19-12 win at Haverling
- Up next: Friday, Sept. 18 vs. Hornell/Arkport-Canaseraga
Honorable mentions: East Rochester-Gananda (0-2), Hornell/Arkport-Canaseraga (2-0), Letchworth/Warsaw/Perry (1-1), Lyons/Sodus (2-0)
Class D
No. 5: Avon(2-0)
- Last game: 47-0 win at Holley/Lyndonville
- Up next: Friday, Sept. 18 vs. Geneseo/Mt. Morris
No. 12: Batavia Notre Dame/Byron-Bergen (2-0)
- Last game: 18-7 win at Canisteo-Greenwood
- Up next: Friday, Sept. 18 vs. Holley/Lyndonville
Honorable mentions: Canisteo-Greenwood (1-1), Oakfield-Alabama/Elba (2-0), York/Pavilion (2-0)
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Monroe is No. 1 as 11 Section V teams crack state football rankings
