Three weeks of regular-season football have now given the Florida Power Rankings Index a much stronger body of 2026 evidence, and the classification races are changing rapidly because of it.

Week 3 delivered some of the most significant head-to-head results of the season. Venice went into Bryant Stadium and defeated Lakeland. Osceola stunned Lake Mary. St. Thomas Aquinas held off Columbus. Chaminade-Madonna beat American Heritage. Columbia handed Madison County its first loss, while Godby knocked off Pensacola Catholic and Newberry stunned Cocoa.

Those results have produced changes ranging from small adjustments near the top to enormous jumps farther down the classifications. Osceola climbs 18 positions in Class 5A, Godby rises 13 spots in Class 3A, Newberry moves 10 places in Class 2A, Benjamin jumps 12 in Class 1A and several SSAA and independent teams make similarly dramatic moves.

The FPRI also received several methodology refinements this week designed to give stronger recognition to meaningful head-to-head results while continuing to evaluate the complete body of work.

Here is where every classification stands entering Week 4.

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THE COMPLETE CLASSIFICATION POWER 10S

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FPRI METHODOLOGY UPDATE

Readers may notice more movement than usual in this week’s FPRI rankings.

After reviewing how the first three weeks of the 2026 season were being reflected in the model, several refinements were made to better balance preseason expectations with actual on-field results. The changes were applied consistently across the entire statewide dataset and were not made to benefit or penalize individual teams.

The biggest update involves head-to-head results. FPRI now gives stronger recognition to statement wins over teams that entered a game rated significantly higher, but it does so in a controlled way. Rather than automatically transferring the defeated opponent’s full rating to the winner, the system moves the winning team part of the way toward that opponent’s pregame strength.

The model also now considers what happens after that win. A later loss to an elite or higher-rated opponent does not erase the value of an earlier statement victory, while a later loss to a significantly lower-rated opponent can reduce how much of that head-to-head boost remains.

Quality wins were also refined. Instead of using hard rating cutoffs that could create abrupt jumps in bonus value, the quality-win component now uses a smoother scale and gives more consideration to current-season performance when a team has already exceeded its preseason expectation.

A 35-point per-game margin-of-victory cap has also been added to the rating calculation. Actual scores and point differentials remain unchanged in the published statistics, but margins beyond 35 points no longer continue increasing a team’s rating. This helps prevent extreme blowouts from carrying too much weight in the overall formula.

Preseason ratings still remain part of FPRI early in the season because the sample size is small, but that influence continues to decline as more games are played and more 2026 data becomes available.

Because these refinements are being applied to games already played this season, some teams may make larger-than-normal moves in this week’s rankings. That movement is expected as the model adjusts to the stronger body of current-season evidence.

As the season progresses, FPRI should naturally become more stable while remaining responsive to meaningful wins, losses, opponent strength and head-to-head results.

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CLASS 6A

Venice Takes Over No. 1 as Osceola Sends Lake Mary Back

Class 6A gets a new No. 1 after Venice delivered one of the biggest victories of Week 3.

The Indians defeated Lakeland 32-25 and climb one position to the top of the classification with a 91.44 FPRI rating. Venice also moves to No. 6 statewide, giving the Indians another significant result after an already strong start.

Columbus makes an equally interesting move. The Explorers lost 31-24 at St. Thomas Aquinas but climb three classification positions from No. 5 to No. 2. Columbus now carries an 84.92 rating and owns a 29.4 strength-of-schedule figure after consecutive games against Bishop Gorman and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Lake Mary experiences the opposite side of Week 3. Osceola defeated the Rams 17-9, sending Lake Mary down two places from No. 1 to No. 3. The loss becomes even more significant because Osceola entered substantially lower in the FPRI and received one of the largest head-to-head adjustments of the week.

Vero Beach falls one position to No. 4 after losing 38-6 to St. Frances Academy, while Edgewater climbs three spots to No. 5 following its 42-28 victory over Windermere.

West Orange falls two positions despite beating Wekiva 59-6, while DeLand jumps five spots into the No. 7 position. Seminole slips to No. 8 despite remaining unbeaten, Spruce Creek moves to No. 9 and Miami Palmetto holds No. 10 after beating Southridge.

WEEK 4 GAMES TO WATCH

Lake Mary at DeLand — Friday, 7 p.m., Spec Martin Memorial Stadium

Lake Mary gets an immediate opportunity to respond after losing the No. 1 position. DeLand has one of the strongest schedules in the classification and could create another major move with a victory.

Columbus at Miami Palmetto — Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Tropical Park

Columbus follows games against Bishop Gorman and St. Thomas Aquinas with another direct Class 6A matchup. Miami Palmetto sits No. 10 and can make a significant jump with an upset.

Ocoee at West Orange — Thursday, 7 p.m., Raymond Screws Field

West Orange remains unbeaten, while Ocoee has been climbing quickly after its victory over Apopka. Another strong Ocoee performance could create additional movement in a classification that has already changed considerably.

Venice hosts Lehigh on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Powell-Davis Stadium. Edgewater travels to Lake Nona on Friday at 7 p.m. at Nemours Stadium, Vero Beach visits Centennial on Friday at 7 p.m. at South County Stadium, and Seminole hosts University (Orange City) on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Thomas E. Whigham Stadium.

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CLASS 5A

St. Thomas Aquinas Stays No. 1 as Osceola Rockets 18 Spots

St. Thomas Aquinas remains the standard in Class 5A after defeating Columbus 31-24.

The Raiders carry a 99.63 FPRI rating and move to No. 1 statewide, while West Boca Raton remains No. 2 after shutting out Spanish River 37-0.

Lakeland stays No. 3 despite its loss to Venice, while Buchholz remains No. 4 following a 49-7 victory over Eastside.

Then comes the biggest story in the classification.

Osceola rockets 18 positions, from No. 23 all the way to No. 5, after defeating previously No. 1-ranked Class 6A Lake Mary 17-9.

The Kowboys entered Week 3 with a 60.13 FPRI rating and leave it at 84.00, an enormous adjustment created by beating an opponent that entered more than 31 rating points higher.

That move is exactly the type of result the refined head-to-head component is intended to recognize.

Armwood climbs one position to No. 6 after shutting out Plant City 35-0. Tampa Bay Tech slips one position to No. 7 despite a 38-0 win over Jefferson, Mandarin falls three places during an open week, Mitchell drops one and Oakleaf climbs three spots into the No. 10 position after beating Fleming Island 47-15.

Only 0.02 rating points separate No. 10 Oakleaf and No. 11 Archbishop McCarthy.

WEEK 4 GAMES TO WATCH

Lakeland at Osceola — Friday, 7 p.m., Kowboy Field

One week after stunning Lake Mary, Osceola gets another enormous test against Lakeland. The Kowboys have moved all the way to No. 5 and now have an immediate opportunity to prove that rise belongs.

Cardinal Newman at West Boca Raton — Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Frank A. Barbieri Jr. Stadium

West Boca gets one of the strongest opponents on its schedule in a matchup involving two of the highest-rated teams in Florida. Cardinal Newman enters as the Class 2A No. 1, making this another important cross-classification data point.

St. Thomas Aquinas at Dillard — Thursday, 7 p.m., Otis Gray Jr. Memorial Stadium

The No. 1 Raiders face a Dillard team that just made a significant move in Class 3A after beating Coconut Creek.

Tampa Bay Tech travels to Plant on Thursday at 7 p.m. with the venue listed as TBA on the Week 4 schedule. Buchholz visits West Port on Friday at 7 p.m. at Wolf Pack Stadium, while Mandarin travels to Nease on Friday at 7 p.m. at Panther Stadium.

Mitchell and Oakleaf are open.

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CLASS 4A

St. Augustine Takes Over as Columbia Surges

Class 4A has a new No. 1.

St. Augustine moves two positions to the top after defeating Menendez 34-8, giving the Yellow Jackets an 84.71 rating.

Miami Northwestern falls one position to No. 2 despite overwhelming Hialeah 51-0. The Bulls remain only 0.48 rating points behind St. Augustine, leaving almost no separation between the top two.

American Heritage falls from No. 2 to No. 3 after Chaminade-Madonna handed the Patriots a 46-27 loss.

Jones stays No. 4 after defeating Evans 12-6.

Columbia makes the classification’s most significant move near the top, climbing two places to No. 5 and 21 spots statewide after defeating Madison County 27-13. The Tigers have now added another substantial result to an early résumé that already included victories over Bolles and Lakewood.

Jesuit falls to No. 6 despite beating Vanguard 24-21, while Atlantic slips to No. 7 after beating Blanche Ely. Lake Wales climbs two places to No. 8, Clearwater falls one to No. 9 and Vanguard moves three spots into the No. 10 position despite the narrow loss to Jesuit.

Vanguard’s 17.4 strength-of-schedule figure provides important context for that movement.

WEEK 4 GAMES TO WATCH

Miami Northwestern at Hawthorne — Thursday, 7 p.m., Annie Mae Phillips Stadium

One of the most intriguing games anywhere in Florida sends the Class 4A No. 2 team into Hawthorne to face the Class 1A leader.

American Heritage (Plantation) at Trinity Christian — Friday, 7 p.m., Conquerors Stadium

American Heritage gets another major test immediately after the Chaminade-Madonna loss, while Trinity Christian has climbed sharply in Class 1A.

Atlantic at Pahokee — Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Anquan Boldin Stadium

Atlantic and Pahokee are both highly rated inside their respective classifications, creating another valuable cross-classification comparison.

St. Augustine travels to Middleburg on Friday at 7 p.m. at Alan Powers Field at Garber Automall Stadium. Columbia visits Ribault on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Alvin White Stadium, Jones hosts Boone on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Booker T. Reddick Field, Lake Wales travels to Lake Region on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Stephen White Stadium, and Vanguard hosts Leesburg on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Booster Stadium.

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CLASS 3A

Raines Holds No. 1 as Godby and Bay Explode Into the Top 10

Raines remains No. 1 in Class 3A after defeating Ed White 21-12.

The Vikings carry a 93.37 FPRI rating and remain comfortably ahead of No. 2 Cardinal Mooney, which beat True North 56-34.

Miami Central holds No. 3 after defeating St. Brendan 43-7, while Merritt Island climbs one position to No. 4 after earning a 45-37 road victory over Ponte Vedra.

The Villages moves two positions into the top five following its 28-21 win over South Lake.

Dillard rises three spots to No. 6 after beating Coconut Creek 25-20, but the largest movements come immediately behind the Panthers.

Godby surges 13 positions, from No. 20 to No. 7, after defeating Pensacola Catholic 21-10. The Cougars had already pushed Mosley to a one-point game the week before, and the victory over a highly rated Pensacola Catholic team gives the FPRI another major piece of current-season evidence.

Bay climbs seven positions to No. 8 following a 22-6 victory over Gadsden County. The Tornadoes continue one of the fastest early-season rises anywhere in the Panhandle.

Cardinal Gibbons falls five positions to No. 9 after losing 20-13 to Monarch, while Bishop Verot climbs three places into the No. 10 spot after shutting out Riverdale 38-0.

WEEK 4 GAMES TO WATCH

St. Thomas Aquinas at Dillard — Thursday, 7 p.m., Otis Gray Jr. Memorial Stadium

Dillard gets a massive opportunity to validate its rise against the highest-rated team in the state.

Miami Central at Buford (Ga.) — Friday, 7:30 p.m., Phillip Beard Stadium

Miami Central gets another nationally significant opponent and one of the strongest possible schedule tests available to a Class 3A team.

Godby at Camden County (Ga.) — Friday, 7:30 p.m., Chris Gilman Stadium

Godby follows its breakthrough victory over Pensacola Catholic with another difficult road test. Another strong performance could reinforce the Cougars’ massive Week 3 rise.

Raines travels to Terry Parker on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Hodge Stadium. Merritt Island hosts Astronaut on Friday at 7 p.m. at The O’Dome, Bishop Verot hosts Williston on Friday at 7 p.m. at Viking Stadium, and Cardinal Gibbons hosts Coconut Creek on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Dr. Bud Tight Field.

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CLASS 2A

Cardinal Newman Leads as Newberry Makes a 10-Spot Jump

Cardinal Newman remains No. 1 in Class 2A after overwhelming John Carroll 45-7.

The Crusaders carry a 93.52 FPRI rating and sit No. 4 statewide.

Chaminade-Madonna remains No. 2 after beating American Heritage 46-27, while The First Academy stays No. 3 after surviving Port Charlotte 23-20.

Bolles climbs two positions to No. 4 despite an open week, while Clearwater Central Catholic and Bradford each fall one position. Bradford still produced a 56-0 victory over Zarephath Academy, but movement around the Tornadoes pushes them to No. 6.

Pensacola Catholic remains No. 7 after losing 21-10 to Godby, while Immaculata-La Salle stays No. 8 following a 48-6 victory over Miami Edison.

Florida High climbs two spots to No. 9 after beating South Walton 18-15, and Calvary Christian remains No. 10.

The most dramatic move comes immediately outside the Power 10.

Newberry jumps 10 classification positions and 122 spots statewide after stunning Cocoa 14-13. The Panthers move from No. 21 to No. 11 and now sit only 1.76 rating points outside the Class 2A Power 10.

Miami Carol City also makes a substantial move, climbing four classification positions to No. 12 after shutting out Miami Norland 43-0.

WEEK 4 GAMES TO WATCH

Cardinal Newman at West Boca Raton — Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Frank A. Barbieri Jr. Stadium

Class 2A’s No. 1 team gets one of the strongest tests available against the No. 2 team in Class 5A.

Bishop Kenny at Bolles — Friday, 7 p.m., Skinner-Barco Stadium

Bolles returns from its open week against another Northeast Florida program with direct regional and classification implications.

Calvary Christian at Clearwater Central Catholic — Friday, 7:30 p.m., James Brian Thomas Stadium

Two Class 2A Power 10 teams meet head-to-head, giving the FPRI a clean comparison inside the classification.

The First Academy travels to South Lake on Friday at 7 p.m. at Eagle Stadium. Bradford hosts Trinity Catholic on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at David Hurst Stadium, while Florida High travels to Rutherford on Friday at 8 p.m. at Tommy Oliver Stadium.

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CLASS 1A

Hawthorne Holds No. 1 as Benjamin Rockets Into the Power 10

Hawthorne remains No. 1 after shutting out Hernando 38-0.

Carrollwood Day stays No. 2 following a 76-0 win over Northside Christian, while Lakeland Christian remains No. 3 after shutting out Fort Meade 63-0.

Because of the new 35-point margin-of-victory cap, the extra points in those large wins no longer continue adding rating value once the differential reaches 35.

Pahokee climbs one position to No. 4 after defeating Benjamin 33-3, while Blountstown moves one spot to No. 5 following its 40-7 victory over Bozeman.

Trinity Christian climbs to No. 6 after beating Lincoln 47-28, and University Christian jumps four spots to No. 7 following a 62-14 win over Lecanto.

John Carroll moves to No. 8 despite its loss to Cardinal Newman, with the strength of the opponent and a 15.4 SOS helping provide context.

Madison County suffers the biggest fall near the top, dropping five positions from No. 4 to No. 9 after losing 27-13 to Columbia.

Benjamin makes the most dramatic move.

Despite losing 33-3 to Pahokee, the Buccaneers jump 12 classification positions to No. 10 as the broader methodology recalibration and their 17.7 strength-of-schedule figure reshape how their overall profile compares with the teams around them.

Williston sits immediately outside at No. 11.

WEEK 4 GAMES TO WATCH

Miami Northwestern at Hawthorne — Thursday, 7 p.m., Annie Mae Phillips Stadium

Hawthorne gets one of the biggest opportunities any Class 1A team will see this season against the No. 2 team in Class 4A.

American Heritage (Plantation) at Trinity Christian — Friday, 7 p.m., Conquerors Stadium

Trinity Christian gets another major test after moving into the top six, while American Heritage arrives with one of the strongest schedules in South Florida.

University Christian at Madison County — Friday, 7:30 p.m., Boot Hill Stadium

Two Class 1A Power 10 teams meet in a game that could immediately alter the middle of the rankings. Madison County is looking to rebound from its loss to Columbia, while University Christian has moved sharply upward.

Blountstown travels to Baker on Friday at 8 p.m. at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium, while Pahokee hosts Atlantic on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Anquan Boldin Stadium.

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SSAA 11-MAN

Out-of-Door Holds No. 1 as Maclay Climbs to No. 2

Out-of-Door remains No. 1 in SSAA 11-Man after shutting out Saint Stephen’s Episcopal 28-0.

The Thunder carry a 62.30 FPRI rating, but the gap behind them has tightened.

Maclay climbs three positions to No. 2 following a dominant 42-14 victory over Aucilla Christian. That direct result pushes Maclay upward while Aucilla falls three positions to No. 6.

Seffner Christian climbs one spot to No. 3 after beating Central Florida Christian 28-8, while Keswick Christian drops two places during an open week.

Christ’s Church Academy moves one position to No. 5 after beating Old Plank Christian 35-6.

Westminster Academy makes the largest move inside the Power 10, climbing five places to No. 7 after a 44-10 victory over Glades Day.

Episcopal and Florida Christian each slide one place, while Jupiter Christian jumps three positions into the No. 10 spot after defeating Calvary Christian 40-32.

Only 5.34 points separate No. 2 Maclay from No. 10 Jupiter Christian, leaving most of the classification tightly packed behind Out-of-Door.

WEEK 4 GAMES TO WATCH

Chipley at Maclay — Friday, 7 p.m., Frank Shaw Field

Maclay has climbed into the No. 2 position and gets an opportunity to strengthen that spot against a traditional Panhandle opponent.

Christ’s Church Academy at Duval Charter — Friday, 7 p.m., Duval Charter Field

Christ’s Church Academy enters Week 4 inside the top five and gets another opportunity to add current-season evidence.

Aucilla Christian at Rocky Bayou Christian — Friday, 8 p.m., Meigs Middle School Football Field

Aucilla Christian looks to rebound after its head-to-head loss to Maclay.

Jupiter Christian hosts Glades Day on Friday at 7 p.m. at Velocity Community Credit Union Stadium.

Out-of-Door, Seffner Christian, Westminster Academy and Florida Christian are open.

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SSAA ATLANTIC

West Nassau Takes Over No. 1

SSAA Atlantic gets a new leader as West Nassau climbs one position to No. 1 with a 68.29 FPRI rating.

American Heritage (Delray Beach) falls one position to No. 2 despite shutting out Boynton Beach 42-0. The Stallions remain only 0.95 rating points behind West Nassau.

King’s Academy stays No. 3 after defeating NSU University School 35-12.

Space Coast climbs three positions to No. 4 after overwhelming Celebration 48-0, while Paxon jumps four places to No. 5 following its 26-25 victory over Williston.

Satellite slips one position to No. 6 despite beating Seabreeze 35-2.

Calvary Christian falls three places after losing to Jupiter Christian, while Frostproof drops two following its 23-19 loss to Lemon Bay.

Hardee makes a four-position climb to No. 9 after crushing Bayside 56-7, while Branford remains No. 10 despite losing 27-14 to Bell.

The top of the classification is beginning to develop, but the movement underneath West Nassau remains substantial.

WEEK 4 GAMES TO WATCH

West Nassau at Bayside — Friday, 7 p.m., Bayside High Stadium

The new No. 1 gets its first opportunity to defend the top position after climbing past American Heritage Delray.

King’s Academy at Miami Beach — Thursday, 7 p.m., Memorial Field at Flamingo Park

King’s Academy faces an Independent opponent in another useful cross-classification comparison.

Oak Hall at Branford — Friday, 7:30 p.m., Cleve Sikes Field

Branford’s No. 10 position gets a direct test against one of the stronger Independent League B teams.

Space Coast travels to Discovery on Friday at 7 p.m. with the venue listed as TBA on the Week 4 schedule. Paxon hosts Stanton on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Eagles Field, while Satellite hosts Pine Ridge on Friday at 7 p.m. at Scorpion Stadium.

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SSAA 8-MAN

Merritt Island Christian Stays No. 1 as Countryside Christian Makes Its Move

Merritt Island Christian remains No. 1 after defeating Florida Deaf and Blind 48-14.

Real Life Christian climbs two positions to No. 2 following a 48-8 victory over St. John Lutheran.

One of the classification’s biggest results came between Shorecrest Prep and Countryside Christian.

Countryside Christian defeated Shorecrest Prep 32-12, sending Countryside up three positions to No. 6 while Shorecrest falls one spot to No. 3.

Bradenton Christian also falls one position to No. 4 despite shutting out Hernando Christian 39-0, while Foundation Christian climbs three places into the top five after beating Classical Academy 26-14.

Ocala Christian moves three positions to No. 7 after defeating Lake Mary Prep 44-8.

Lakeside Christian makes another significant move, climbing six positions to No. 9 after overwhelming Academy at the Lakes 56-8.

Florida Deaf and Blind falls five places to No. 10 following its loss to Merritt Island Christian.

With only 24 teams in the eight-man FPRI, every direct result continues to carry significant weight.

WEEK 4 GAMES TO WATCH

Countryside Christian at First Academy-Leesburg — Friday, 7 p.m., Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex

Countryside Christian gets its first opportunity to build on the statement win over Shorecrest Prep.

Shorecrest Prep at Classical Academy — Friday, 7 p.m., Venue TBA

Shorecrest Prep looks to respond after its first major setback, while Classical Academy gets a chance to add another direct result against one of the classification’s leading teams.

Donahue Academy at Bradenton Christian — Friday, 7 p.m., Dan van der Kooy Field

Bradenton Christian gets an opportunity to strengthen its top-four position after last week’s shutout victory.

Hernando Christian travels to Ocala Christian on Friday at 7 p.m. at Ocala Christian Field.

Merritt Island Christian and Real Life Christian are open.

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FHSAA INDEPENDENT LEAGUE A

Innovation Finally Takes Over No. 1

The Week 2 head-to-head victory over Windermere now has Innovation sitting atop Independent League A.

The Bulls climb one position to No. 1 after following the Windermere victory with a 41-9 win over University. Innovation now carries a 64.58 FPRI rating and has risen 54 positions statewide.

Windermere falls one position to No. 2 after losing 42-28 to Edgewater.

That creates an important distinction from one week ago. Innovation had beaten Windermere head-to-head but still remained behind because the Bulls had entered the matchup with a larger rating deficit. Another week of current-season evidence has now pushed Innovation across that threshold.

Umatilla remains No. 3 following a 27-13 win over Eustis.

Cooper City climbs one place to No. 4 after shutting out Taravella 41-0, while Oasis falls one position during an open week.

Oak Ridge rises two places to No. 8 following a 38-12 win over Cypress Creek, while Hallandale climbs four positions and Atlantic moves into the No. 10 spot.

WEEK 4 GAMES TO WATCH

Lake Buena Vista at Innovation — Thursday, 7 p.m., Innovation High School Stadium

Innovation gets its first game as the Independent League A leader and an opportunity to add another win after taking over the top spot.

Wekiva at Windermere — Thursday, 7 p.m., Windermere High Stadium

Windermere gets an immediate opportunity to rebuild after consecutive losses to Innovation and Edgewater.

Umatilla at Trenton — Friday, 7:30 p.m., Tiger Stadium

Umatilla gets a cross-classification road test as it tries to strengthen its position near the top.

Cooper City hosts Boyd Anderson on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Billie R. Gill Stadium, while Belen Jesuit hosts Somerset Academy on Thursday at 7 p.m. at De la Cruz Stadium.

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FHSAA INDEPENDENT LEAGUE B

Mount Dora Christian Holds No. 1 as Santa Fe Catholic Surges

Mount Dora Christian remains No. 1 after defeating P.K. Yonge 36-6.

Jay stays No. 2 following a 41-0 shutout of Central.

Santa Fe Catholic makes the biggest move near the top, climbing six positions from No. 9 to No. 3 after overwhelming Legacy Charter 62-0. The Celtics also rise sharply statewide.

Lake Highland Prep climbs one position to No. 4 during an open week, while Oak Hall moves one place to No. 5 after beating Seven Rivers Christian 30-23.

Foundation Academy falls two positions to No. 6 after losing 28-21 to Cocoa Beach.

The Masters Academy suffers an even larger drop, falling four places after Geneva defeated the Eagles 22-15.

Geneva receives the opposite reward, exploding 13 positions into the No. 10 spot. The Knights make one of the largest moves anywhere in the Independent League B rankings.

That head-to-head result gives the classification another example of how quickly the order can change when a lower-rated team delivers a significant victory.

WEEK 4 GAMES TO WATCH

Lake Highland Prep at Mount Dora Christian — Friday, 7:30 p.m., Mount Dora Christian Field

The No. 1 team gets a direct matchup against the new No. 4, giving the FPRI an important comparison near the top.

Palmer Trinity at Santa Fe Catholic — Friday, 6 p.m., Santa Fe Catholic Field

Santa Fe Catholic gets an immediate opportunity to validate its six-position climb against another South Florida opponent.

The Masters Academy at Trinity Prep — Thursday, 6 p.m., Hubbard Field

The Masters Academy looks to respond after its loss to Geneva.

Oak Hall travels to Branford on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Cleve Sikes Field, while All Saints visits Geneva on Friday at 7 p.m. at Eric Liddell Athletic Complex.

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INDEPENDENT

IMG Academy National Remains Far Ahead

The standalone Independent classification remains dominated by IMG Academy National.

The Ascenders hold the No. 1 position with a 99.07 FPRI rating and remain No. 2 statewide.

IMG Academy Junior National remains No. 2 in the Independent classification despite losing 34-27 to Community School, but the gap behind the Ascenders continues to be enormous.

Coral Reef climbs one position to No. 3 after beating Dr. Krop 26-14.

Reagan moves to No. 4 during an open week, while Miami Beach jumps three positions to No. 5 after defeating Florida Christian 23-7.

South Miami produces one of the classification’s biggest moves, climbing seven positions into the No. 9 position after shutting out Parkridge Christian 36-0.

The separation between IMG Academy National and the rest of the Independent group remains unlike anything in another classification.

WEEK 4 GAME TO WATCH

Palmetto at IMG Academy Junior National — Friday, 7 p.m., IMG Academy Stadium

IMG Academy Junior National gets a major test against a Palmetto team that has climbed into the upper portion of the Class 5A rankings. The matchup provides another useful cross-classification comparison for both teams.

IMG Academy National is open in Week 4.

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THE BIGGEST WEEK 4 CLASSIFICATION GAMES

Several games stand out as potential ranking movers across Florida. Each provides either a direct classification comparison or a high-value crossover matchup capable of affecting opponent strength throughout the FPRI.

Cardinal Newman at West Boca Raton — Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Frank A. Barbieri Jr. Stadium

Miami Northwestern at Hawthorne — Thursday, 7 p.m., Annie Mae Phillips Stadium

St. Thomas Aquinas at Dillard — Thursday, 7 p.m., Otis Gray Jr. Memorial Stadium

Columbus at Miami Palmetto — Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Tropical Park

Atlantic at Pahokee — Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Anquan Boldin Stadium

Lakeland at Osceola — Friday, 7 p.m., Kowboy Field

Lake Mary at DeLand — Friday, 7 p.m., Spec Martin Memorial Stadium

American Heritage (Plantation) at Trinity Christian — Friday, 7 p.m., Conquerors Stadium

Miami Central at Buford (Ga.) — Friday, 7:30 p.m., Phillip Beard Stadium

Bishop Kenny at Bolles — Friday, 7 p.m., Skinner-Barco Stadium

Calvary Christian at Clearwater Central Catholic — Friday, 7:30 p.m., James Brian Thomas Stadium

University Christian at Madison County — Friday, 7:30 p.m., Boot Hill Stadium

Those games stretch across the FHSAA classifications and provide some of the strongest head-to-head information available in Week 4.

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THREE WEEKS IN, THE PRESEASON IS LOSING ITS GRIP

Week 3 provides perhaps the clearest evidence yet that the classification rankings are moving away from where teams started.

Venice has taken over Class 6A after beating Lakeland.

Osceola has gone from No. 23 to No. 5 in Class 5A after beating Lake Mary.

St. Augustine has moved to No. 1 in Class 4A.

Godby has climbed from No. 20 to No. 7 in Class 3A.

Newberry has jumped 10 spots and now sits immediately outside the Class 2A Power 10 after beating Cocoa.

Innovation has finally moved ahead of Windermere in Independent League A after first beating the Wolverines head-to-head and then adding another strong result.

The FPRI is not a standings table, and it is not a subjective media poll. Teams are evaluated on their complete body of work, including results, scoring performance, opponent quality, strength of schedule and head-to-head evidence.

That means one result can create enormous movement without automatically erasing everything that came before it.

Osceola’s victory over Lake Mary is perhaps the best example. The Kowboys were rewarded with an extraordinary 18-position classification jump and nearly 24 additional FPRI rating points, but their pregame deficit was so large that the model did not simply discard all previous information.

The same concept applies throughout the classifications.

A team can win and still move down when stronger information is generated around it. A team can move during an open week. A competitive loss to an elite opponent can strengthen the context surrounding a résumé, while a loss to a significantly lower-rated opponent can force a much larger correction.

And as preseason influence continues to decline, those actual 2026 results will increasingly control the rankings.

Week 4 now provides another major collection of head-to-head evidence.

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EXPLORE THE COMPLETE FLORIDA POWER RANKINGS INDEX

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As more games are played, current performance and opponent strength will continue replacing preseason information within the ratings.

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