It was a cold December night in Chattanooga, and the air at Finley Stadium felt a little heavier than usual. If you were there, you saw it. If you weren’t, you definitely heard about it the next morning at the diner. The 2024 season didn't just end; it sort of exploded in a series of goal-line stands and heartbreak that rearranged everything we thought we knew about the power structure of the state.
Honestly, tracking the tennessee high school football rankings 2024 felt like trying to catch a greased pig for most of October. One week, a "lock" for the title would stumble in a regional trap game, and the next, an underdog from the mid-state would put up 50 points on a Top 10 defense. But now that the dust has settled and the trophies are sitting in glass cases, the final picture is a lot clearer.
The King Stays King: McCallie and the Division II-AAA Meatgrinder
You can't talk about 2024 without starting at the top. McCallie finishing as the consensus No. 1 isn't just a "stat"—it's a statement. They went 11-2, but those two losses were basically battle scars from a schedule that would make some college teams sweat.
The title game against Baylor? Pure cinema. A 27-21 thriller that saw Loia Valade and the Blue Tornado defense hold off a late charge from the Red Raiders. It was the kind of game where every play felt like it was worth three. Baylor had a magnificent 12-1 run, but in the end, they just couldn't quite find the edge against their Chattanooga rivals when it mattered most.
Who Else Made the Elite Cut?
While McCallie took the crown, the rest of the Top 5 was a rotating door of powerhouses.
Christ Presbyterian Academy (CPA) finished at 14-0. Let that sink in for a second. Undefeated. Hutson Chance was absolutely surgical under center this year, tossing 25 touchdowns against only four interceptions. They took down Battle Ground Academy 38-26 to secure the Division II-AA title, and frankly, they looked like they could have competed with anyone in any class.
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Then you have Oakland. The Murfreesboro giants did what they do: they dominated. A 14-1 record and a 42-20 dismantling of Houston in the 6A final proved that the "Oakland Standard" is very much alive and well. They’re basically the final boss of Tennessee football.
Breaking Down the Class Rankings: The 2024 Champions
If you’re looking for the specifics of the tennessee high school football rankings 2024, you have to look at the TSSAA state champions. Each class had its own unique flavor this year.
- Class 6A: Oakland (14-1) – Defeated Houston 42-20.
- Class 5A: Sevier County (15-0) – Defeated Page 27-20 in a game that came down to the wire. Cooper Newman’s leadership for the Smoky Bears was the difference-maker all season.
- Class 4A: Macon County (13-2) – They overwhelmed Melrose 45-14.
- Class 3A: Alcoa (13-1) – The Tornadoes won their 10th straight state title. That’s not a typo. Ten. In. A. Row. They beat Westview 40-21.
- Class 2A: Marion County (13-2) – A gritty 17-7 win over Milan.
- Class 1A: MASE (13-1) – The Phoenix took down South Pittsburg 36-14 in a result that surprised some, but not those who watched them all year.
The "How Did They Do That?" Moments of 2024
Sometimes rankings don't tell the whole story. You’ve gotta look at the individual brilliance.
Take Jared Curtis at Nashville Christian. The junior quarterback (and current Alabama commit) was basically a human highlight reel. He put up over 3,400 total yards and 58 touchdowns. He led his team to a DII-A title with a 49-21 win over Columbia Academy. When people look back at the 2024 rankings, they’ll see his team high up, but the tape shows a kid who was just playing on a different planet.
And what about Sevier County? Going 15-0 is incredibly hard in 5A. They had to survive a brutal playoff gauntlet, including a narrow one-point win over West just to keep the dream alive. Their rise to the Top 10 of the overall state rankings was one of the most organic, "earned" climbs we’ve seen in years.
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The Nuance of Strength of Schedule
People love to argue about why a 12-2 team like Maryville might be ranked higher than a 14-1 team in a smaller class. It’s all about who you play.
Maryville’s only losses were to teams like Oakland and Alcoa—literally the best of the best. If you play a schedule full of heavyweights, your ranking reflects that "quality of loss" metric that computer models like MaxPreps love so much. In the final tennessee high school football rankings 2024, Maryville sat comfortably at No. 8, despite the two losses, because their "Strength of Schedule" was through the roof.
On the flip side, Page (14-1) was one of the most disciplined teams in the state. Their defense only allowed 31 points all season before the state title game. That’s less than a field goal per game. Even though they lost to Sevier County in the final, they remained a Top 12 team because that kind of defensive consistency is rare.
Misconceptions About the 2024 Rankings
A lot of folks think the "Final Top 25" is the end-all-be-all. It's not.
Rankings are a snapshot of momentum and resume. For example, Ensworth (11-1) was ranked as high as No. 3 during the regular season. Their only loss was to McCallie in the playoffs. Does that mean they were "worse" than Oakland? Maybe on paper, but if they played on a neutral site in October, it would’ve been a coin flip.
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The divide between Division I and Division II also muddies the water. The private school powerhouses (DII) often have deeper rosters, but the 6A public schools (DI) have a level of grit and community support that’s hard to quantify.
Key Takeaways for 2025
If you're already looking ahead (and let's be real, we all are), there are a few things to keep in mind based on how 2024 ended:
- Watch the Juniors: Players like Jared Curtis are returning. That means the teams that were good in 2024 might be "all-time" great in 2025.
- The Alcoa Factor: Never bet against Alcoa. Until someone stops them, they are the baseline for excellence in Class 3A.
- Chattanooga is the Hub: With McCallie and Baylor finishing 1 and 2, the power center of Tennessee football has shifted slightly toward the Scenic City.
If you’re a coach, a scout, or just a dad who loves Friday night lights, the best thing you can do now is go back and watch the film on the 2024 playoffs. Pay attention to how the top-ranked teams handled the red zone—that's where the games were won. Also, keep an eye on the TSSAA reclassification news, as that usually shakes up the 2025 rankings before a single ball is even kicked.
Actionable Next Step: To get ahead of the curve for next season, start tracking the 2026 recruiting class in Tennessee. High-tier talent often dictates these rankings more than coaching schemes do. You can follow local beat writers on social media or check the updated 247Sports rankings for the state to see which rosters are loading up for another run at the Gold Ball.