NATIONAL RANKINGS

5 more Georgia football teams move into the top 100 of one national poll

East Paulding coach Van Spence talks to his players after the Raiders' 27-23 victory over Harrison at Cobleigh Stadium on Aug. 28, 2026. (Chip Saye/AJC)

By Chip Saye

Sept 17, 2026

Buford remains the highest-rated Georgia team in eight polls and Carrollton is the highest in another as there was little movement among the top Georgia teams in the national rankings after Week 4 of the high school football season.

Buford, the consensus defending national champion, is ranked in the top five of eight of the nine polls considered by AJC Varsity. The exception is the Massey Ratings, which has the Wolves at No. 7, five spots behind No. 2 Carrollton. The Trojans, who lost to the Wolves in last year’s Class 6A championship game, are ranked in the top 17 of all nine polls.

A look at the top 10 Georgia high school football games for Week 5

Thomas County Central is in the top 20 in eight polls and is No. 30 in the Sport Idol Nation top 100. Lee County, North Gwinnett and Newton also received top-25 recognition.

Five new Georgia teams moved into the top 100 of the Massey Ratings, giving the state a season-high 22. The new teams in the top 100 are No. 73 Milton, No. 81 Gainesville, No. 92 North Cobb, No. 98 East Paulding and No. 100 Archer.

Here is where Georgia teams stand in several national polls. The numbers on the left are this week’s rankings; the numbers in parentheses are last week’s rankings.

Central of Carrollton is AJC Varsity Team of the Week for ‘wildest game’ win