The 2026 high school football season in South Carolina kicked off with official practice on July 30, marking the first day teams could take the field under the new classification system.
Offseason Realignment Shakes Up South Carolina High School Football
Berkeley High School, still smarting from a playoff exit, began its conditioning program in early December, using the extra time to fine‑tune schemes before the summer heat.
Pinewood Prep, the two‑time SCISA 3A state champion, has stepped up to 4A for this year and is slated to meet defending champion Northwood Academy in a marquee early‑season showdown.
Meanwhile, Stratford High School has moved from 5A Region 7 to 5A Region 5, finding itself paired with Ashley Ridge, Fort Dorchester, James Island, R.B. Stall, Summerville and West Ashley.
The realignment also reshuffled Lucy Beckham, which dropped from 5A to 4A Region 6, now grouped with Beaufort, Bluffton and Colleton County, while Hanahan remains in 3A Region 5 alongside Bishop England, Georgetown, North Charleston and Oceanside Collegiate.
Smaller programs such as Philip Simmons, Timberland, Woodland, Academic Magnet and Battery Creek will compete in 2A Region 5, rounding out a diverse slate of matchups across the state.
The South Carolina High School League and the South Carolina Independent Schools Association are overseeing the changes, ensuring that eligibility rules and scheduling standards stay consistent as schools adapt.
Veteran coaches like Eric Lodge, former player DeVonte Holloman and administrator Dennie McDaniel are among those watching the shifts closely, ready to guide their teams through the new landscape.