SBLive Mississippi high school football rankings (10/30/2023)

The Louisville Wildcats rank first in the final 2023 regular season Mississippi rankings

With the 2023 Mississippi high school football playoffs on the horizon, here are SBLive's final rankings of the regular season.

SBLive Mississippi Power 10 Rankings

1. Louisville Wildcats (10-0)

• Last week: Beat Greenwood 58-0
• This week: hosts Itawamba AHS (3-7)

The undefeated Wildcats put the finishing touches on an outstanding regular season with a blowout win over Greenwood, notching their third shutout of the season. Louisville begins its slog through the 4A North Playoffs this week at home against the Indians. A state title run would almost assuredly secure the top spot in our final rankings in December. The Class 4A Wildcats are that good.

2. Brandon Bulldogs (7-2)

• Last week: Beat Meridian 41-35
• This week: at Northwest Rankin (5-4)

The Bulldogs played their sloppiest game since Week 2, but found away to beat Meridian and cinched the top seed in Region 3-7A in the process. This week’s matchup with cross-town rival Northwest Rankin holds no post-season implications for either team, but should offer the Bulldogs a chance to clean some things up before starting their playoff run next week.

3. Oak Grove Warriors (8-1)

• Last week: Beat Pearl 31-13
• This week: hosts Petal (4-5)

Maybe the loss at home against Brandon was the eye-opener the Warriors needed. Oak Grove has buckled down and easily dispatched Northwest Rankin and Pearl the last two weeks, and can take another step in the right direction with a win over cross-town rival Petal this Thursday.

4. Ocean Springs Greyhounds (8-1)

• Last week: Beat Gulfport 30-7
• This week: hosts St. Martin (0-9)

It’s hard to believe that the Greyhounds may be a more complete team than they were last season, despite losing the reigning Mr. Football to graduation, but here we are. Ocean Springs clinched the Region 4-7A title by cruising past Gulfport Friday night. Regardless of what happens this week in a meaningless game against winless St. Martin, the Greyhounds will get a favorable matchup in the first round of the playoffs before their biggest test of the season against whoever they draw in the second round.

5. Starkville Yellowjackets (7-2)

• Last week: Beat Madison Central 39-7
• This week: at Tupelo (7-2)

We have to start by apologizing to Starkville for listing last week’s matchup against Madison Central as a “Game to Watch.” The Jackets made a mockery of Friday night’s contest, rushing for nearly 300 yards in an absolute romp. That win set up a winner-take-all game against Tupelo at Renasant Bank Stadium for the Region 2-7A title.

6. Tupelo Golden Wave (7-2)

• Last week: Off
• This week: hosts Starkville (7-2)

The Golden Wave’s late-season bye came at the right time, as they used the week to get healthy before the biggest game of the year against Starkville. The Jackets knocked off the Golden Wave in the North State Championship last season, so Tupelo certainly owes them one. Whether or not they’ll be able to pull out a victory over a Starkville team that appears to be hitting on all cylinders remains to be seen.

7. Picayune Maroon Tide (7-2)

• Last week: Beat George County 34-21
• This week: hosts Hancock (8-2)

The Maroon Tide struggled to adjust to life without star tailback Chris Davis, but the emergence of converted defensive back Niquis Ratliff in the running game has been a revelation. The senior went for 320 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win over the George County Rebels, and could be poised for another big game this week in the regular-season finale against Hancock.

8. Warren Central Vikings (7-2)

• Last week: Beat Callaway 27-20
• This week: hosts Columbus (1-9)

The Vikings were lucky to escape Hughes Field with a victory over the Callaway Chargers, but a win’s a win, and coming out on top in close games has been Warren Central’s calling card this season. They are 3-1 in one-score games, with wins over Madison Central, Vicksburg and now Callaway and the lone loss to Pearl. The blue-collar Vikings are heavy favorites this week against a one-win Columbus team in the regular season finale.

9. Holmes County Central Jaguars (9-0)

• Last week: Beat Cleveland Central 29-28
• This week: at Canton (4-5)

The Jaguars remained unbeaten by the slimmest of margins, pulling out a tight win over Cleveland Central to set up a winner-take-all game at Canton. Holmes County better not sleep on the Tigers, either — after starting the season 0-5, Canton has stormed through four Region 2-5A games, going 4-0 and allowing opponents just 20 total points.

10. West Jones Mustangs (9-0)

• Last week: Beat Pearl River Central 56-0
• This week: at Hattiesburg (7-2)

The Mustangs rolled over winless Pearl River Central to set up a winner-take-all game at Hattiesburg for the Region 3-6A title. West Jones should have the edge in this week’s matchup, but the Tigers are playing as well as they have all season, and we’re expecting a barn-burner at D.I. Patrick Stadium Thursday night.

MHSAA Class-by-Class Rankings

Class 7A

1. Brandon Bulldogs (7-2) 
2. Oak Grove Warriors (8-1) 
3. Ocean Springs Greyhounds (8-1) 
4. Starkville Yellowjackets (7-2) 
5. Tupelo Golden Wave (7-2)

Class 6A

1. Picayune Maroon Tide (7-2) 
2. West Jones Mustangs (9-0) 
3. Warren Central Vikings (7-2) 
4. South Panola Tigers (8-1) 
5. Grenada Chargers (8-2)

Class 5A

1. Holmes County Central Jaguars (9-0)
2. Clarksdale Wildcats (6-3) 
3. West Point Green Wave (6-3) 
4. Florence Eagles (7-3) 
5. Gautier Gators (6-3)

Class 4A

1. Louisville Wildcats (10-0) 
2. Columbia Wildcats (10-0) 
3. McComb Tigers (10-0) 
4. Ripley Tigers (9-1) 
5. Houston Hilltoppers (8-1)

Class 3A

1. Winona Tigers (10-0) 
2. Choctaw County Chargers (8-2) 
3. Kossuth Aggies (9-1) 
4. Jeff Davis County Jaguars (8-2) 
5. St. Stanislaus Rock-a-Chaws (8-1)

Class 2A

1. Charleston Tigers (8-2) 
2. Calhoun City Wildcats (9-0) 
3. Union Yellowjackets (9-1) 
4. Raleigh Lions (8-2) 
5. Bay Springs Bulldogs (9-1)

Class 1A

1. Velma Jackson Falcons (9-0) 
2. Simmons Blue Devils (9-0) 
3. Vardaman Rams (9-0) 
4. Biggersville Lions (8-1) 
5. Resurrection Catholic Eagles (7-2)