Natrona County, Star Valley, and Burlington entered the 2026 postseason as the undisputed favorites, each securing unanimous first-place votes in the final WyoPreps Coaches and Media Football Poll released October 28, 2026. These three programs, along with Big Horn and Rocky Mountain, claimed the top spots across Wyoming’s five classifications, setting the stage for a postseason where the favorites hold nearly all the leverage.
Unanimous Dominance in 4A, 3A, and 1A 6-Man
The level of consensus in the final poll was striking. In Class 4A, the Natrona County Mustangs were the only choice for the top spot, earning all 20 first-place votes, according to WyoPreps. Similarly, the Star Valley Braves swept the 3A classification with all 25 top ballots, while the Burlington Huskies took every one of the 17 available votes in the 1A 6-man division.
For the Braves, Rams, and Huskies, the 2026 season was a masterclass in consistency.
The dominance extended beyond the top spot. In 4A and 3A, the No. 2 seeds were also unanimous choices. Sheridan (4A) and Cody (3A) both earned total agreement from the coaches and media members, suggesting a clear hierarchy at the top of the state’s largest classifications.
The Battle for 1A 9-Man and 2A
While some classifications were settled, others showed signs of volatility. Class 1A 9-man saw the only movement in the final rankings. Pine Bluffs, a two-time defending champion, moved back to second place after beating Saratoga 32-18 on the road last Friday. This shift pushed the Saratoga Panthers down to third, while Rocky Mountain remained at the top for the eighth week in a row.
The Rocky Mountain Grizzlies didn’t have a unanimous lock on the top spot, but they remained the clear favorite with 16 of the 20 first-place votes. This suggests a window of opportunity for challengers in the 1A 9-man division compared to the unanimous No. 1 selections seen in 4A.
In Class 2A, Big Horn held a nearly identical grip on the lead. They received all but one of the first-place votes, positioning them as the heavy favorite heading into the postseason.
Final Classification Standings
The following table breaks down the top five teams in each classification as determined by the final WyoPreps Coaches and Media Football Poll.
| Rank | Class 1A 6-man | Class 1A 9-man | Class 2A | Class 3A | Class 4A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burlington | Rocky Mountain | Big Horn | Star Valley | Natrona County |
| 2 | Casper Christian | Pine Bluffs | Cokeville | Cody | Sheridan |
| 3 | Little Snake River | Saratoga | Thermopolis | Jackson | East |
| 4 | Encampment | Greybull | Mountain View | Riverton | Laramie |
| 5 | Riverside | Sundance | Burns | Evanston | Central |
The Human Stakes of the Postseason
For teams like Burlington or Star Valley, these rankings represent their positions as No. 1 in their respective classifications.
The recent slide of Pine Bluffs in the 1A 9-man division serves as a reminder that defending champions are often the most vulnerable to upsets. A result—like the 32-18 win over Saratoga—can shift the rankings of a season in a single Friday night.
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