Labor Day weekend set the stage for more statement wins and shocking upsets across the high school football landscape, which created a new hierarchy among the best teams in each state.
Elsewhere around the U.S., more teams kicked off the 2026 season. In part, more teams made it clear they are top in the state.
Ahead of the Super 25 rankings reveal on Tuesday, here is an updated look at the top-ranked teams in each state according to the USA TODAY Sports staff.
Pennsylvania: St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, PA)
2026 Record: 1-0
Rhode Island: La Salle Academy (Providence)
2026 Record: 1-0
South Carolina: Dutch Fork
2026 Record: 2-0
South Dakota: Brandon Valley
2026 Record: 2-0
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Tennessee: Baylor (Chattanooga)
2026 Record: 3-0
Texas: Waxahachie
2026 Record: 2-0
Utah: Corner Canyon (Draper)
2026 Record: 3-1
Vermont: St. Johnsbury Academy
2026 Record: 1-0
Virginia: Varina (Richmond)
2026 Record: 2-0
Washington: Puyallup
2026 Record: 1-0
West Virginia: Martinsburg
2026 Record: 2-0
Wisconsin: Arrowhead (Hartland)
2026 Record: 3-0
Wyoming: Star Valley (Afton)
2026 Record: 1-0
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Gilbert marching band cheers after a touchdown during the game against Mason City in the week-2 Iowa high school football at Tiger Stadium on Sept. 4, 2026, in Gilbert, Iowa.
(Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Gilbert marching band cheers after a touchdown during the game against Mason City in the week-2 Iowa high school football at Tiger Stadium on Sept. 4, 2026, in Gilbert, Iowa.
(Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Members of the Washington Township High School Marching Band lead the football team onto the field before its game against Millville at Washington Township High School on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(CHRIS LACHALL/USA TODAY NETWORK, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
The Broncos Band and color guard entertain with music and dance as the Palm Beach Central High School Broncos hosted the Dr. Joaquin Garc’a High School Bulldogs in Florida High School Athletic Association Class 6A varsity football with a District 13 game at the school in Wellington, Fla., on September 3, 2026. The Broncos won the game 24-12.
(THOMAS CORDY/PALM BEACH POST, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Tuttle band cheers during a high school football game between Newcastle and Tuttle in Newcastle, Okla., on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Trinity Christian band members march into the stadium before a high school football game on Aug. 28, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
(Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Un, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
The full moon rises behind the Brownwood High School Mighty Maroon Marching Band during the Friday night football season opener against Wylie in Abilene’s Hugh Sandifer Stadium Aug. 28, 2026. Final score was 13-7, Brownwood.
(Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Members of York High marching band perform following pregame warmups before the Bearcats’ high school football season opener against Harrisburg on Aug. 28, 2026, at Small Field.
(Jack Gleckler, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
The Kings band plays during an OHSAA football game between Winton Woods and Kings high schools on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Winton Woods.
(Tony Tribble for The Enquirer, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Members of the Deptford High School Marching Band lead the Deptford football team onto the field prior to the game between Deptford and Woodbury played at Deptford High School on Friday, August 28, 2026.
(CHRIS LACHALL/USA TODAY NETWORK, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Members of the Mighty Bulldog Marching Band prepare for the team arrival before a non-league football game between West York and Susquehanna Township at West York Area High School on Friday, August 28, 2026.
(Dan Rainville/York Daily Record, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Winton Woods’ band plays before an OHSAA football game between Winton Woods and Kings high schools on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Winton Woods.
(Tony Tribble for the Enquirer, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
The Olentangy Orange band and flag corps march onto the field during Week 1 of high school football at Olentangy Berlin in Delaware, Ohio on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
The Bearden marching band stand still during a TSSAA football game between West and Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tenn., on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
The Philo High School marching band plays during halftime of Friday’s game against Crooksville.
(Chris Crook/Times Recorder/2016 , USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
The Sheridan HIgh School marching band participated in the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival grand parade on Sept. 2, 2026, in Millersport, Ohio.
(Tonya Shipley/Lancaster Eagle-Ga, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
West PortÕs band and dance team entertain fans during the game against South Marion at Dunnellon High School, Friday, August 28, 2026, in Dunnellon, Florida. West Port was up 20-14 at halftime. [Cyndi Chambers/ Ocala Star Banner] 2026.
(Cyndi Chambers/ Ocala Star Banne, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Memorial High School’s Noah Wyatt plays in the front ensemble during a marching band halftime performance on, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls.
(Naomi Skinner/Times Record News, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
A member of the Oak Hills band plays the bagpipes before an OHSAA football game between Oak Hills and Lakota East high schools Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(Tony Tribble for The Enquirer, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
The Eastwood High School marching band arrives at the field before a football game against Canutillo on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Eastwood High School in El Paso, Texas.
(Gaby Velasquez/ El Paso Times, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Oak Hills band plays during an OHSAA football game between Oak Hills and Lakota East high schools on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Stargel Stadium.
(Tony Tribble for The Enquirer, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
The Stroudsburg High School marching band stands at attention prior to the game against George Washington on August 28, 2026.
(Taj Falconer, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
An Iowa City West drum major directs the marching band during their halftime performance Aug. 28, 2026 at an Iowa High School football game between the Iowa City West Trojans and the Iowa City High Little Hawks in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
West High School’s drum major prepares to lead the band in their halftime performance of the high school football game between West and Maryville in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
The Anderson County High School band drum major acknowledges the crowd before the start of their halftime show performance of the high school football game between Anderson County and Knoxville Catholic on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Best of high school marching bands in photos as football kicks off
Berlin marching band members dance as they arrive in the stadium for Week 1 of high school football against the Olentangy Orange Pioneers at Olentangy Berlin in Delaware, Ohio on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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