ESPN’s 17th annual High School Football Kickoff will unfold over ten days in August, presenting a seven‑game schedule that pits the country’s elite high school programs against one another.
marquee matchups and dates
The opening contest on August 20 sees Baylor (Tennessee) host Brentwood Academy (Tennessee) in a rematch of last year’s state championship, while August 22 brings a clash between No. 3 Buford (Georgia) and No. 3 Gainesville (Georgia).
August 28 features Mount Carmel (Illinois) welcoming St. Joseph Regional (New Jersey), a meeting of two national contenders, and the final day, August 29, delivers two marquee games: No. 7 Bishop Gorman (Nevada) versus Christopher Columbus (Florida) in the afternoon, followed by No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) taking on No. 16 DeSoto (Texas) in the nightcap.
These games spotlight a roster of highly recruited players who have already committed to top college programs. Among them are David Gabriel Georges, headed to Baylor, Mark Matthews bound for Texas A&M, and Kharim Hughley choosing Clemson, each expected to be a catalyst for his team’s championship hopes.
Fans can catch the action live on ESPN and ESPN2, which will broadcast the entire slate, offering early insights into which squads are poised to dominate their states and contend for national titles in the 2026 season.