The 2026 Texas high school football season kicked off on Thursday, Aug. 27, with a marquee matchup that pits a Texas program against an Oklahoma opponent, setting the tone for a year filled with high‑profile contests.
Among the early marquee games, Duncanville of Texas will host Allen on Saturday, Aug. 29, in a rematch of the UIL Class 6A Division I state semifinals, with rising sophomore Ty Snell spearheading the Eagles' offense.
The same weekend sees Jenks of Oklahoma travel to No. 19 Southlake Carroll in a State Line Showdown, marking the first appearance of Lee Munn as head coach for the Carroll squad.
In a highly anticipated Florida road test, No. 22 DeSoto will meet No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas, featuring USA TODAY Sports All‑America second‑team running back SaRod Baker, who is expected to make a major impact.
Rivalries and rising stars
Other notable contests include Aledo versus North Crowley, a debut 6A game for the latter, and Waxahachie taking on Ennis in the traditional Battle of 287, where Texas Tech commit JayQuan Snell anchors the defense.
The historic rivalry between Frenship and Lubbock‑Cooper, which went to overtime last season, is set to be renewed, while Inglewood (California) will visit Austin Westlake, a team returning 12 starters despite a 7‑4 record the previous year.
South Oak Cliff will host Richmond Dr. Thomas E. Randle, a move that places the program in Class 5A Division I, with Texas commit Landen Williams‑Callis among the players to watch.
The Jerry Jones Classic will showcase Highland Park versus Lewisville, a showcase game that draws attention from the Dallas Cowboys owner himself.
Finally, San Antonio Cornerstone will host IMG Academy, a program ranked No. 1 nationally, with former Mississippi State coach John Hevesy guiding the Cornerstone side.