Raines (Jacksonville) almost unanimous top-ranked team, while Columbia (Lake City) now 2nd
GAINESVILLE — The Raines (Jacksonville) Vikings have made history as they head into the postseason for high school football in 2026.
The Vikings (10-0) are the first North Florida school to be selected to the new eight-team FHSAA Open Division playoffs. And for that reason, Raines is almost a unanimous No. 1 team in The Prep Zone Power Poll, which ranks the top 20 high school football teams across 26 counties in Florida.
Raines, last year’s 3A state champion, blasted rival Ribault (Jacksonville), 52-13, to close out another perfect regular season and they were selected among the eight best teams in the state regardless of classification.
The Vikings travel to another defending state champion West Boca Raton on Friday, Nov. 13, and then continue pool play by hosting Columbus (Miami) on Nov. 20 and traveling to Central (Miami) on Nov. 27. The best records in the two pools move on to the semifinals and then the state championship game at Pitbull Stadium in Miami.
The Vikings received 11 of the 12 first-place votes in this final regular season poll and has been at the top of these regional rankings every week this season.
Columbia (Lake City), another unbeaten team, moved up to 2nd. The Tigers finished 10-0 by blasting rival Suwannee (Live Oak), 48-0, in the regular season finale and opened up play in Region 1-4A against RV Clay (Green Cove Springs) on Friday. Columbia, considered one of the favorites to win the state title in 4A, earned the final first-place vote.
Mandarin (Jacksonville) is next at No. 3.
The Mustangs wrapped up a 9-1 regular season by handing No. 8 St. Augustine its first loss of the season, 32-31, in overtime in their final regular season game. Mandarin received the top seed in Region 1-5A and opened the regional quarterfinals on Friday against RV Oakleaf (Orange Park).
A team that may be on a collision course with Mandarin in a regional final is 4th-ranked Buchholz (Gainesville).
The Bobcats (9-1) saw their undefeated season end with a thrilling 31-28 last-minute loss at No. 7 Bolles (Jacksonville). Buchholz is the 2nd seed in Region 1-5A and hosts RV Ponte Vedra this Friday.
Rounding out the top five is DeLand. The Bulldogs (9-1) have won eight games in a row since their only loss, which came to nationally-ranked St. Frances Academy (MD). DeLand opens up in Region 1-6A on Friday against RV Spruce Creek (Port Orange).
Another unbeaten team and defending state champion leads off the second five.
Sixth-ranked Hawthorne finished off another undefeated regular season by handing then-No. 13 Dunnellon their first loss of the season 34-12. The Hornets (10-0) play Chiefland this Friday as the No. 2 seed in Region 2-1A behind No. 13 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville).
As mentioned Bolles is 7th, and the top seed in Region 1-2A. St. Augustine is the No. 2 seed behind Columbia in Region 1-4A. The Yellow Jackets (9-1) hosts Lincoln (Tallahassee) to open the state playoffs.
Vanguard (Ocala) is 9th and coming in at No. 10 is Bradford (Starke).
The Knights finished 8-2 with a 22-14 win at No. 19 Forest (Ocala) and opens up at home against Zephyrhills in a Region 2-4A quarterfinal. The Tornadoes (9-1) surprisingly received only a No. 6 seed in Region 2-2A but will host Berkeley Prep (Tampa) on Friday.
Everyone in the top 20 advanced to the playoffs with the exception of No. 19 Forest, who was edged out for the final spot in Region 1-5A by Oakleaf.
The only team new to the poll this week is Bartram Trail (St. Johns), who moves back in at 20th. The Bears (7-3) replaces Madison County from the previous poll.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Be Well Fitness.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2026 FOOTBALL POLL #11
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record, and total voting points)
1. Raines (Jacksonville) (3A) (11) (10-0) – 239
2. Columbia (Lake City) (4A) (1) (10-0) – 226
3. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (5A) (9-1) – 202
4. Buchholz (Gainesville) (5A) (9-1) – 195
5. DeLand (6A) (9-1) – 187
6. Hawthorne (1A) (10-0) – 181
7. Bolles (Jacksonville) (2A) (7-2) – 177
8. St. Augustine (4A) (9-1) – 160
9. Vanguard (Ocala) (4A) (8-2) – 126
10. Bradford (Starke) (2A) (9-1) – 123
11. Ed White (Jacksonville) (4A) (8-2) – 115
12. The Villages (3A) (10-0) – 104
13. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (6-4) – 101
14. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (5A) (7-3) – 60
15. University Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (7-3) – 54
16. Creekside (St. Johns) (6A) (8-2) – 51
17. Dunnellon (3A) (9-1) – 46
18. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (5-4) – 40
19. Forest (Ocala) (5A) (8-2) – 28
20. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (5A) (7-3) – 26
Also receiving votes: Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (3A) (7-3) – 15; Santa Fe (Alachua) (3A) (8-2) – 12; Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (6A) (5-4) – 10; West Nassau (Callahan) (SSAA) (8-2-1) – 6; Ponte Vedra (5A) (3-7) – 5; Episcopal (Jacksonville) (SSAA) (11-0) – 4; Madison County (1A) (5-5) – 4; Clay (Green Cove Springs) (4A) (8-2) – 3; Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (3A) (9-1) – 3; Oakleaf (Orange Park) (5A) (5-5) – 3; Lake Weir (Ocala) (4A) (8-2) – 2; Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (3A) (6-4) – 1; Interlachen (SSAA) (8-3) – 1.
