The excitement is building in high school football circles as Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, prepares to host a preseason scrimmage against Buford, Georgia, on August 7, 2026. The game will be played at Philip Beard Stadium and marks the first meeting of two programs that finished the 2025 season unbeaten and ranked among the nation’s elite.
A clash of top‑ranked programs
Buford entered the 2025 season as the No. 1 team in the country, finishing with a perfect 15‑0 record and capping the year by defeating Carrollton 28‑21 for the GHSA Class 6A state championship. The Warriors’ dominance was reflected in their national ranking, which placed them at the pinnacle of the USA TODAY Sports Super 25.
Baylor, meanwhile, completed its 2025 campaign with a 12‑0 record and secured the TSSAA Division II‑AAA championship with a 28‑24 victory over Brentwood Academy. The Bears entered the rankings at No. 13, earning praise for a defense that held opponents to single‑digit points in eight of their twelve wins.
Key to Baylor’s offensive firepower will be five‑star running back David Gabriel Georges, who returns to lead the backfield, and newly pledged quarterback Keegan Croucher, a four‑star recruit who joined the program during the offseason. Both players are expected to play pivotal roles as the Bears look to translate their championship experience into a strong start to the 2026 campaign.
The preseason matchup will also serve as a preview of each team’s broader schedule. Buford is slated to open its regular season on ESPN on August 22 against Gainesville (GA), while Baylor will begin its season two days earlier in a rematch with Brentwood Academy, a game that promises another high‑profile showdown.