South Carolina High School Football Rankings: Preseason Top 25 teams
In just a matter of days, high school football will return to the state of South Carolina. The Palmetto State continues to punch at a respectable weight in the South and will once again produce some top talent in 2024.
The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory. According to the model, four teams from South Carolina ranks inside the top 300.
Below are the top 25 programs in South Carolina heading into the 2024 season.
1. Irmo Dutch Fork
It was a dream run to the 5A state title for Dutch Fork in 2023, as it overcame a 2-5 start to the season by winning eight in a row, capping things off with a championship win over White Knoll. The Silver Foxes have now won eight state titles in the last 10 years and are the favorite to repeat atop the mountain this fall. The only team that checks in inside the top 100 nationally, Dutch Fork is currently favored to win each of its regular season games. Senior West Virginia cornerback commit Elgin Sessions is the lone ranked recruit on the roster.
2. Rock Hill Northwestern
An 11-game winning streak was halted in the 4A playoffs, but Northwestern is once again pegged as the favorite in its class behind what’s projected to be the state’s top offense. A stout schedule awaits, however, beginning with a trip to North Carolina to take on top-200 program William Amos Hough. Northwestern checks in just outside the top 100 at No. 106.
3. Duncan Byrnes
Scheduled to play six games away from home in the regular season, Byrnes will have to work to build on its 10-2 season last fall. Eyes will be on Appalachian State cornerback commit Chamarryus Bomar, who ranks as the No. 13 player in the state. Tough games at T L Hanna and Irmo will open the season for the Rebels later this month.
4. Gaffney
Gaffney won nine games a season ago, but aspirations are higher in 2024, as perhaps the top quarterback in the state, junior Arkansas commit Jayvon Gilmore, will be under center for the Indians. Protecting Gilmore will be South Carolina IOL pledge Shed Sarratt, a top-350 recruit nationally and the No. 5 player in the state. One of the top in-state matchups all season will take place on Oct. 11 as Gaffney travels to take on Byrnes.
5. Columbia Irmo
Irmo’s historic season in 2023 was cut short in the state semifinals, as it lost and finished the year with a 13-1 record. The Yellowjackets had a top offense in the state last season and will look for more of the same this fall, headlined by returning quarterback and Virginia Tech athlete commit AJ Brand. Junior four-star wide receiver Donovan Murph and Brand is perhaps the best one-two punch in the Palmetto State. Irmo checks in at No. 1 in preseason strength of schedule in the state, with games against Byrnes, Butler (N.C.), White Knoll and Dutch Fork all on the docket.
6. Anderson T.L. Hanna
TL Hanna won 10 games last season and is projected to have a top-250 offense in the nation this fall. The stout 5A program will see most of its tough matchups at home in the coming weeks, kicking off the season with games against Byrnes and Westside. Senior NC State cornerback commit Cam Strong will be a major threat on both sides of the ball for the YellowJackets.
7. South Florence
The Bruins’ dream season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion last season, losing in the 4A state title game, denying what would’ve been an undefeated 2023. Thankfully for South Florence, it’s back for another big season and returns the No. 1 player in the state, Clemson four-star defensive line commit Amare Adams. Headlining the offensive side of the ball is South Carolina wide receiver pledge Jayden Sellers. The Bruins are projected to roll through their schedule aside from an early-season test at Northwestern on Sept. 6.
8. Simpsonville Hillcrest
Another 10-game winner last season, Hillcrest is once again set to have one of the top offenses and defenses in the Palmetto State. The Rams are slated for six games away from home this fall, including back-to-back trips to TL Hanna and JL Mann — both of which beat Hillcrest in 2023. The Rams are set to open the season at Laurens on Aug. 23.
9. Spartanburg
The Vikings are once again set to play one of the toughest schedules in the state after trudging to a 6-6 record in 2023. There’s no easing into things, either, as Spartanburg will open the new season at Mallard Creek, at South Pointe and then at home against preseason No. 1 Dutch Fork. Making some noise in 5A will be a challenge, but the opportunities will be there. The Vikings are projected to have a top-five defense in the state.
10. Central D.W. Daniel
DW Daniel marched to a 3A state title last season, its third in the last four seasons. The Lions are the preseason favorite to reach the top of the mountain once again in the class, returning plenty of talent that projects to a top-10 offense in the state. Eyes will be on an early-September clash at JL Mann, as Daniel is a preseason heavy favorite to roll through the rest of its 2024 regular season.
11. Lexington White Knoll
12. Rock Hill South Pointe
13. Greenville
14. Anderson Westside
15. Roebuck Dorman
16. Clover
17. Greenville J.L. Mann
18. Summerville
19. Belton-Honea Path
20. Camden
21. Sumter
22. North Charleston Fort Dorchester
23. Hartsville
24. Columbia Ridge View
25. West Columbia Gray Collegiate