The pigskin will be finally kicked off this Friday night to open the 2014 football season in Kansas and many teams expect to be competitive all season and be in contention to make noise in their League's, Districts and even the playoffs.

As the season gears up the preseason rankings have been released and a few area teams find themselves in the rankings to start the season. VarsityKansas, Kpreps and Topeka Capital Journla have all released their preseason rankings, while Kansasprepfootball.com will have their first polls released after week one action.

The split in Class 4A, officially takes over in football this year, splitting it into two divisions and in Class 4A-Division II, the Holton Wildcats find themselves preseason ranked in a three of polls as VarsityKansas (Wichita Eagle), Kpreps and the Topeka Capital Journal all have the Wildcats preseason number two, behind Andale. Fellow, Big Seven League team the Jeff West Tigers are in the others category in both the VarsityKansas and Topeka Capital Journal polls, while Perry Lecompton in the others to watch category by the Topeka Capital Journal. 

In Class 3A, no area team is preseason ranked by Kpreps or VarsityKansas but the 2013 2-1A State Champs, Centralia-Wetmore Panthers who make the move to 3A this year are in all three polls released in the others to watch category. While, Big Seven schools Sabetha and Nemaha Central both are in the others to watch category in the VarsityKansas and Topeka Capital Journal polls.

Class 2-1A has one area team garnering attention in the preseason polls by VarsityKansas and Kpreps that is the Troy Trojans, who return quite a bit this season. Troy checks in at number five in the VarsityKansas and the Topeka Capital Journal polls, Top five teams in Class 2-1A in the preseason poll, while they are in the others to watch spot in the Kpreps, poll.

At the 8-Man level it's the Hanover Wildcats leading the charge in the rankings as they check in at number two in all three polls released in the 8-Man Division I preseason poll. The Wildcats move up to 8-Man DI with a stacked roster return this season. While in 8-Man DII on the VarsityKansas and Topeka Capital Journal polls the Axtell Eagles are getting preseason looks in the others to watch category.

Plenty of exceptions for all the area teams coming into the season and plenty of questions, also as the first night of Friday Night Lights looms this Friday.

Lists of Kansas High School Football Rankings:

Kansasprepfootball.com (first poll released after week one action) 

VarsityKansas

Kpreps

Topeka Capital Journal