CLASS A

(With 2008 record, rank)

1. Millard South - With a logjam of contenders at the top, the Patriots get the nod because they return second-team Super-State quarterback Bronson Marsh, who passed for 1,976 yards in 2008. Last year's state runner-up team has four other starters back on offense, including Super-State lineman Gary Hiatt.

2. Omaha North - Will look to Journal Star athlete of the year and Super-State DE Ron Coleman for rushing yards and helping to prevent them. The defense will be strong with five other starters, and that will give the offense time to mesh. All four members of the state-champion 400-meter relay will give the Vikings speed galore.

3. Creighton Prep - Returns kicker-punter Adam Svoboda, who will also likely take over the reins at QB. He'll have 1,347-yard rusher Nick Mizaur to handle much of the load and 265-pound Jeff Uher paving the way up front.

4. Omaha Burke - Three-time hurdle champion Stephon Washington will switch to RB this year and that will take some heat off QB Jimmie Forsythe. The Bulldogs have seven starters returning on offense, including lots of experience up front.

5. Millard North - Missed the playoffs after 13 straight appearances, during which time the Mustangs won two titles, were runners-up three times and made it to the semifinals four more times. There are 18 players with starting experience.

6. Grand Island - The defense will carry the team early in the season with six starters back, led by Andy Gdowski and Kellen Werner. Experience in the kicking game will also be important.

7. Millard West - Must rebuild after winning the state title, but plenty of Wildcats got extra practice time and some game experience, which should make the rebuilding process easier. Other than QB, the skill positions should be solid.

8. Lincoln Southwest - Will look to three-year quarterback starter Rylan Cotton, who will likely hit the 1,000-yard milestone both rushing and passing. Six starters are back on offense and four return on defense.

9. Papillion-La Vista - Jeff Weander is back at QB and his top two receivers - Glenn Lewis and Sir Bullock - also return. The Monarchs have five starters back on both sides of the ball.

10. Lincoln North Star - QB Joe Hartley back (1,218 passing yards) returns, along with receivers Sam Housh and Dillon Schrodt. The Gators have just two starters back on defense, so newcomers will have to step up.

Contenders - Elkhorn, Kearney, Lincoln East, Omaha Central, Papillion-La Vista South

Tough row to hoe - Millard North is the only rated team whose schedule ranks among the 10 toughest, based on winning percentage of opponents last year. The Mustangs' opponents won 64 percent of their games. Six of the teams in the ratings - Creighton Prep, Omaha North, Grand Island, Millard West, Papillion-La Vista and Lincoln North Star - are in the top 10 of the easiest schedules.

CLASS B

(With 2008 record, rank)

1. Aurora (12-1, 1st) - Won its first Class B state title last year and will return five starters on offense and six on defense, including Husker recruit Andrew Rodriguez in both lines. The Huskies will need to find a QB, but veteran RB Nate Suck and standout receiver Josh Bart should make the job easier.

2. Omaha Skutt (6-5, 7th) - Will be led by QB Christian Dudzik, who coach Matt Turman says should be a 1,000-yard runner and passer. He will benefit from having Myles Jablonski, who is moving from TE to WR. The SkyHawks have experience in the line as well.

3. Waverly (8-2, 8th) - Will be led by Husker recruit Tyler Evans, the Class B 100-yard champ who can make things happen when he runs. With seven starters back on offense and six on defense, the Vikings have a solid nucleus.

4. Beatrice (11-2, 2nd) - Returns three offensive line starters, including Jesse Hinz, so that will give Phil McClure, who started part-time last year, time to settle in at QB. Quickness will be an asset for the Orangemen, along with depth at RB.

5. McCook (11-1, 3rd) - Has just four players with starting experience but the cupboard is far from bare. RB Andy Smith returns to the backfield but will need to carry the offense until others step up.

6. Lincoln Pius X (9-3, 4th) - Rarely has many starters return but nearly always contends and this year is no different. Three starters in the Thunderbolts' O-line, including Sam Dunbar, will pave the way for a new backfield.

7. Adams Central (6-3, unrated) - Will look to Ryan Behmer, who rushed for 1,455 yards last year, to spur the offense. The Patriots' defense, with six starters back, should hit the ground running.

8. Crete (5-5, 6th) - Will be young again, but expectations are up. Junior Ryne Reeves, who has already committed to Nebraska, will anchor both lines. The Cardinals' defense, which has five starters returning, will carry the load early.

9. Omaha Gross (9-2, 5th) - Will look to starters in the two lines to give the Cougars a leg up. QB Kyle Dostal is back at the helm, but Gross must replace Husker fullback recruit C.J. Zimmerer's leadership and yardage.

10. Columbus (5-5, unrated) - Returns five starters on offense and seven on defense, but the Discoverers will need young players to mature quickly to move into starting roles. The defense will be anchored by the line, led by Tim Morris.

Contenders - Gering, Ralston, Schuyler, Seward

Tough row to hoe - Crete had the toughest schedule in Class B last year. The Cardinals' foes had a .670 winning percentage. Pius X is the only other rated team among the top 10 toughest schedules. Its opponents won better than 59 percent of their games.

CLASS C-1

Team (2008 record)

1. Hastings SC (10-1)

2. Boys Town (12-1)

3. Syracuse (11-1)

4. Norfolk Catholic (10-1)

5. Chadron (11-1)

6. Pierce (12-1)

7. Bishop Neumann (8-3)

8. Gothenburg (9-2)

9. Grand Island CC (8-2)

10. Crofton (6-4)

Contenders - Bennington, Fairbury, Minden, Mitchell, Wahoo.

The case for No. 1 - This could be the most hotly contested class this fall, with the top seven teams all receiving first-place votes from opponents. Hastings St. Cecilia gets the nod because of overall returners. Seven starters are back, six more have lettered three times and 11 more have lettered twice. Senior linebacker Paul Goedert is receiving attention from Division I coaches and Dalton Sealey was all-state in soccer and helped the Blue Hawks win back-to-back state basketball titles.

Quarterback experience - Syracuse (Adam Vogt) and Bishop Neumann (Dylan McGill) have the advantage of returning QBs, both of whom earned all-state honors last year.

Experienced rookie - Rich Rethwisch has been officiating sporting events for the past few years, but he is back in the football fold. He takes over the reigns at Wayne, and the Blue Devils' first win this year will be his 100th career victory. He guided St. Mary's to the C-2 title in 1984 and coached Pierce's Class B runner-up in 1989.

Tough row to hoe - Bishop Neumann has the second-toughest schedule in Class C-1, based on the winning percentage of opponents last year. The Cavaliers' opponents won better than 61 percent of their games.

CLASS C-2

Team (2008 record)

1. Archbishop Bergan (10-3)

2. Hartington CC (8-2)

3. Blue Hill (12-1)

4. Ravenna (8-3)

5. Elmwood-Murdock (11-1)

6. Elm Creek (10-1)

7. Ponca (5-5)

8. Creighton (8-2)

9. Stanton (10-1)

10. Plainview (9-3)

Contenders - Aquinas, Cambridge, Laurel-Concord, Lourdes Central Catholic, Malcolm, Oakland-Craig.

The case for No. 1 - Archbishop Bergan's offense will have to bear the load in the beginning as the Knights retool their defens after losing all but one of their front eight. The offense is decidedly more experienced, starting with QB Riley Gross who came into his own during the Knights' trek to the runner-up spot. All-state defensive back Josh Boggs also returns.

Tough row to hoe - Bergan won't have an easy run to the title. The Knights, Ponca and Plainview have among the 10 toughest schedules in C-2. Ponca's foes were at .638, Plainview's at .560 and Bergan's .553.

Skill players abound - Josh Crowell was an all-stater after running for 1,867 yards at QB for Ravenna, Chad Koch was an all-state RB with 1,451 yards and both all-state receivers return. Andy Fedoris of Lourdes Central Catholic had 39 catches for 707 yards and tight end Paul Ganow of Malcolm had 336 yards in receptions and was also a force at DE.

Don't count out these guys - Blue Hill is 13-2 in the last three years of the playoffs. The Bobcats were the runners-up in 2006 and 2007 before earning their first state championship last year.

CLASS D-1

Team (2008 record)

1. Howells (13-0)

2. Axtell (9-4)

3. Giltner (9-2)

4. Shelby (9-2)

5. Clarkson (10-2)

6. Bancroft-Rosalie (8-3)

7. Overton (5-4)

8. Burwell (9-1)

9. Palmer (5-4)

10. Maxwell (9-3)

Contenders - Arapahoe, Clearwater/Orchard, Eustis-Farnam, Franklin, Freeman.

The case for No. 1 - Clint Belina was the state's leading rusher with No. 2,478 yards for Howells' state championship team. That would normally be enough to be a favorite, but Howells has more, including QB Brian Prusa and some solid linemen, including all-stater Mitch Tomka. The Bobcats were the prohibitive favorites of D-1 coaches.

Battle of the QBs - Axtell and Giltner are considered the top challengers, and it's because of returning starters at QB. Axtell features Spencer Fecht, who threw for 1,769 yards last year, and Giltner boasts all-stater Nate Most, who threw for 2,531 yards. The teams will likely meet for the District 7 title Oct. 16.

Depth to spare - Overton returns six starters on offense and seven on the defensive side, while Burwell returns nine starters overall, including both lines.

Tough row to hoe -Maxwell and Clarkson have the toughest schedules among rated teams, based on the records of opponents from last year. Maxwell's opponents had a .595 winning percentage and Clarkson's foes had a .590 mark.

CLASS D-2

Team (2008 record)

1. Ewing (12-1)

2. Humphrey SF (12-1)

3. Chambers (4-5)

4. Hampton (7-2)

5. Sterling (8-2)

6. Elgin (11-1)

7. Shickley (6-3)

8. Hay Springs (4-4)

9. Lawrence-Nelson (8-3)

10. Pope John (7-3)

Contenders - Allen, Hayes Center, Pleasanton, Sargent, SMC (Stapleton/McPherson County), Wynot.

The case for No. 1 - Replacing all-state QB Brett Kaczor won't be easy, but if Philip Thramer gets the job, his task is made easier because he will have all-state WR Austin Kaczor as a big, sure-handed target. Austin caught 52 passes for 1,087 yards and 19 TDs last year. The experience for younger players will also serve the Tigers well.

Hot on their heels - Humphrey St. Francis, with all-state RB Matt Korus (1,644 yards) returning, will have QB Trent Classen in the backfield with him again and all-state lineman Nick Krings up front.

Murderer's row - The team that survives the rigors of its District 6 schedule should emerge as a favorite in the postseason. No. 1 Ewing, No. 3 Chambers, No. 6 Elgin and No. 10 Pope John are in that district, along with Cedar Rapids and Spalding/Spalding Academy.

Tough row to hoe - That is why Chambers' schedule ranks among the 10 toughest in the class. The Coyotes, the only rated team on the list, played opponents with a winning percentage of .566.