Area teams and favorites for state titles are on top of the final 11A and 9-man football polls for 2026, released Wednesday by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters & Sportswriters Association.

Ellendale/Edgeley/Kulm, the only unbeaten team in 11A at 9-0, finished at number one in the final three polls.  The Thunder will host Grafton in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday.

New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock was atop the 9-man poll every week for the second straight season.  The 9-0 Rockets, winners of 34 consecutive games and the last two state championships, play Saturday in their playoff opener at home against Hatton/Northwood.

LaMoure-Litchville Marion is second, as the 9-0 Loboes have been all season.  LLM will battle Four Winds on Saturday.

Napoleon/Gackle-Streeter is fourth in the final poll.  At 8-1, the Imperials will meet TGU in Napoleon on Saturday.

First place votes in parentheses

NDAPSSA 11A & 9-Man Football Polls – October 21, 2026

11A
Record
Pts
LW

1 Ellendale/Edgeley/Kulm (15)
9-0
75
1

2 Harvey/Wells County
7-2
51
2

3 Langdon Area-Munich
8-1
34
3

4 Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison
8-1
31
4

5 Northern Cass
8-1
19
5

Receiving votes: Bishop Ryan-Our Redeemer’s, Southern McLean

9-MAN
Record
Pts
LW

1 New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock (12)
9-0
71
1

2 LaMoure-Litchville/Marion (3)
9-0
59
2

3 Linton/Hazelton-Moffitt-Braddock
9-0
47
3

4 Napoleon/Gackle-Streeter
8-1
22
4

5 Alexander
9-0
13
5

Receiving votes: Cavalier, Hankinson