The 2026 Idaho high school football season opened with surprising results, as defending 6A champion Rigby surged to the top of the state media poll after a commanding victory in Utah.
Opening Weekend Upsets
Six new programs—Lewiston of the 5A class, Bonners Ferry in 4A, Declo and Melba in 3A, and the small‑school standouts Deary and Hansen—earned spots in the latest rankings, underscoring the breadth of competition across the state.
Top‑five matchups defined the opening weekend, with several favored teams dropping points and reshaping the early hierarchy. The volatility promises a tightly contested season ahead.
Veteran journalist Michael Lycklama, who has covered Idaho high school sports since 2007 and earned national recognition for his investigative reporting on athlete welfare, noted that the early upsets reflect both rising parity and the impact of off‑season transfers.
Looking Ahead
Coaches say the early rankings will influence playoff seeding and could affect recruiting dynamics, especially as teams from smaller classifications make early statements. The coming weeks will test whether Rigby can maintain its lead or if challengers will emerge.