List: Teams starting season at No. 1 after finishing previous year unranked

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Marietta is the first team with a losing record from the previous season to be ranked No. 1 in a preseason since 1982, when The Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution merged their polls. Marietta is the first team since Southwest DeKalb in 2009 to be ranked No. 1 after finishing unranked in the final rankings the previous season. Below are teams since 1982 that have gone from unranked one season to No. 1 the next, followed by teams that have been ranked No. 1 after having winning percentages of .750 or lower from the previous season.

Unranked to No. 1 

2019 Marietta

2009 Southwest DeKalb

2007 Wilcox County

1998 Washington-Wilkes

1993 Dougherty

1992 Stephens County

*1991 Clinch County

1986 Thomas County Central

1984 Cairo

.750 or below to No. 1 

2019 Marietta (5-6)

2016 Westminster (11-4)

*2015 ELCA (7-7)

2015 Archer (11-4)

2009 Southwest DeKalb (9-4)

2007 Wilcox County (9-3)

2006 Griffin (10-4)

2002 Bowdon (10-5)

1999 Cairo (9-5)

1998 Washington-Wilkes (5-5)

1993 Dougherty (8-3)

*1991 Clinch County (8-4)

1986 Thomas Co. Central (7-3)

1984 Cairo (6-4)

1983 Mary Persons (11-4)

*1982 Bainbridge (5-5)

*Won state championships

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