When does the 2026 high school football schedule start? Here are opening dates & Top teams in each of all 50 states, plus D.C.
The 2026 high school football season is nearing kickoffs across the U.S.
The 2026 high school football season will kick off in August, beginning with action in Hawaii. From there, the action picks up across the country, with IMG Academy (FL), the No. 1 team in the USA TODAY Sports preseason Super 25 national high school football rankings, kicking off its season on Aug. 21.
To help ring in the 2026 schedule and all the anticipation of gridiron glory, we're looking at the start dates for all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and how to stream this year's games.
In this regard of the high school football schedule, we've compiled an opening kickoff guide for each state. Below you'll find start dates, the current top-ranked team in each state according to USA TODAY Sports, and how to watch games live if you can't make it to the field.
High school football season 2026 schedule starting dates, Top teams for all 50 states.
Alabama high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 20
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Thompson (Alabaster)
Alaska high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 13
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Soldotna
Arizona high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
USA TODAY Sports' Top Team: Basha
Arkansas high school football
Start Date: Monday, Aug. 24
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Bryant
California high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 21
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Colorado high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 20
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village)
Connecticut high school football
Start Date: Friday, Sept. 11
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford)
Delaware high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Sept. 3
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Middletown
Florida high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 21
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: IMG Academy (Brandenton)
Georgia high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 13
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Buford
Hawaii high school football
Start Date: Monday, Aug. 3
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Mililani
Idaho high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 21
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Bishop Kelly (Boise)
Illinois high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 20
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Mount Carmel (Chicago)
Indiana high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 21
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Brownsburg
Iowa high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines)
Kansas high school football
High School Football Start Date: Wednesday, Sept. 2
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Manhattan
Kentucky high school football
Start Date: Monday, Aug. 17
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Trinity (Louisville)
Louisiana high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Sept. 3
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Ruston
Maine high school football
Start Date: Friday, Sept. 4
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Thornton Academy (Saco)
Maryland high school football
Start Date: Friday, Sept. 4
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
Massachusetts high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Sept. 10
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury)
Michigan high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Catholic Central (Novi)
Minnesota high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Sept. 3
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Maple Grove
Mississippi high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Tupelo
Missouri high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 28
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Blue Springs South
Montana high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Frenchtown
Nebraska high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Millard South (Omaha)
Nevada high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 13
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
New Hampshire high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Sept. 3
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Phillips Exeter Academy
New Jersey high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey)
New Mexico high school football
Start Date: Monday, Aug. 17
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Cleveland (Rio Rancho)
New York high school football
Start Date: Monday, Aug. 17
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Iona Prep (New Rochelle)
North Carolina high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 21
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Hough (Cornelius)
North Dakota high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 20
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Kindred
Ohio high school football
Start Date: Monday, Aug. 17
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Anderson (Cincinnati)
Oklahoma high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Bixby
Oregon high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 28
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: West Linn
Pennsylvania high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 28
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: La Salle College (Wyndmoor)
Rhode Island high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Sept. 3
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Bishop Hendricken (Warwick)
South Carolina high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 21
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Dutch Fork
South Dakota high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 21
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Brandon Valley
Tennessee high school football
Start Date: Monday, Aug. 17
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Baylor (Chattanooga)
Texas high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Waxahachie
Utah high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 20
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Orem
Vermont high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Sept. 3
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Middlebury
Virginia high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 28
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: St. James Performance Academy (Springfield)
Washington high school football
Start Date: Friday, Sept. 4
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Pallyup
West Virginia high school football
Start Date: Tuesday, Aug. 25
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Martinsburg
Wisconsin high school football
Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 20
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Arrowhead (Hartland)
Wyoming high school football
Start Date: Friday, Aug. 28
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: Star Valley (Afton)
Washington D.C-area high school football
Start Date: Saturday, Aug. 22
USA TODAY Sports' Top-Ranked Team: St. John's
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