Here for Texas teams and hometowns, Huntington Bank presents your guide to the 2026 high school football season.
The Friday night lights come on in late August culminating with UIL state championships scheduled at AT&T Stadium for Dec. 16-19.
Read on for a look at the state’s top teams, must-see players and biggest games.
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Duncanville
2025 record: 12-2, Conference 6A Division 1 state runner-up
Head coach: Reginald Samples
State championships: 3 (1998, 2022, 2023)
Why the Panthers are fired up for 2026: The Panthers have reached the 6A Division 1 state championship game six times since 2018 and return enough talent to do it again led by Trenton Yancey, Kendrick Harris and Brayden Arnold.
2. Allen
2025 record: 14-1, Conference 6A Division 1 state semifinalist
Head coach: Lee Wiggington
State championships: 5 (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017)
Why the Eagles are fired up for 2026: Class of 2029 quarterback Ty Snell takes over under center as the Eagles head into the season with one of the most complete teams in the state.
3. North Shore (Houston)
2025 record: 14-2, Conference 6A Division 1 state champion
Head coach: Willie Gaston
State championships: 6 (2003, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2025)
Why the Mustangs are fired up for 2026: There are a lot of pieces to replace for the defending champs but expect the Mustangs to be heavily in the mix as Gaston enters his fourth season as head coach.
4. Southlake Carroll (Southlake)
2025 record: 14-1, Conference 6A Division 2 state semifinalist
Head coach: Lee Munn
State championships: 9 (1988 1992, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011)
Why the Dragons are fired up for 2026: Munn takes over for Riley Dodge and has a lot of firepower with Blake Gunter, Brody Knowles, Tristan Dare and Luke Wilson returning plus Dez Bryant Jr. joining the program.
5. DeSoto
2025 record: 13-3, Conference 6A Division 2 state champions
Head coach: Claude Mathis
State championships: 4 (2016, 2022, 2023, 2025)
Why the Eagles are fired up for 2026: Boobie Feaster will be impossible to replace but with Texas Tech-bound running back SaRod Baker back, expect the Eagles to be in contention to win their fourth state title in the past five seasons.
6. South Oak Cliff (Dallas)
2025 record: 15-1, Conference 5A Division 2 state champions
Head coach: Jason Todd
State championships: 3 (2021, 2022, 2025)
Why the Golden Bears are fired up for 2026: Todd has led the Golden Bears to five consecutive 5A Division 2 state title game appearances. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Dallas power makes it six straight in 2026.
7. Waxahachie
2025 record: 11-2, Conference 6A Division 1 regional semifinalist
Head coach: Lawrence Williams
State championships: 1 (1992)
Why the Indians are fired up for 2026: Williams enters his first season as head coach. JayQuan Snell, Sedrick Marsh Jr., Jerry Meyer III and Taylen Strange are a great foundation for a program that reached 11 wins in a season for the first time since 2009.
8. North Crowley (Fort Worth)
2025 record: 12-2, Conference 6A Division 1 regional semifinalist
Head coach: DeMarcus Harris
State championships: 2 (2003, 2024)
Why the Panthers are fired up for 2026: Harris takes over as head coach of a program that has established itself as one of the best in the state, going 54-4 over the last four years.
9. Aledo
2025 record: 14-1, Conference 5A Division 1 state semifinalist
Head coach: Robby Jones
State championships: 12 (1974, 1998, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023)
Why the Bearcats are fired up for 2026: The Bearcats have won more UIL football state titles than any other school and will have a chance to add No. 13 in 2026.
10. King (Houston)
2025 record: 13-3, Conference 6A Division 2 state runner–up
Head coach: Cory Laxen
State championships: 0
Why the Panthers are fired up for 2026: Looking to return to the state final after coming up short in 2025, Dillon Mitchell, Antwon Sanders, Braylon Lane and Khy Davis make King one of the most explosive teams in the state.
TOP 10 PLAYERS
Senior | Committed to Texas Tech
Rushed
for 1,619 yards and 21 touchdowns in six games during the playoffs
leading DeSoto to its third state championship in four years.
Senior | Committed to Texas
At 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, he’s the complete package on the offensive line. He anchored a Buckeyes unit that that paved the way for a ground attack that netted nearly 200 yards per game.
Junior | Uncommitted
A
threat to score anytime he touches the ball and one of the fastest
player in the country, Mitchell has already landed over 30 offers.
Senior | Committed to Oregon
The disruptive force stuffed the stat sheet with 76 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, eight sacks and two interceptions.
Senior | Committed to Texas A&M
Led
the school to its most wins since 2009 last season. The four-star Texas
A&M pledge checks all the boxes at the safety position.
Sophomore | Uncommitted
One
of the top quarterbacks in the Class of 2029 takes over as QB1 for one
of the premier programs in the country and has already landed 35 offers.
Landen Williams-Callis, RB, Randle (Richmond)
Senior | Uncommitted
The four-star running back enters his senior season 3,835 rushing yards away from breaking the state’s all-time mark.
Senior | Committed to Oklahoma
Before
joining his father with the Sooners, the four-star linebacker looks to
lead the Warriors to their third state title over the last four years.
Trey Wright, QB, Lone Star (Frisco)
Junior | Uncommitted
Sophomore All-American a year ago after accounting for 5,860 yards of total offense and 54 touchdowns for 5A Division 1 runner-up.
TOP 10 GAMES
Aug. 28 — Duncanville at Allen
The top two teams in the state face off to start the season.
Aug. 28 — South Oak Cliff (Dallas) at Randle (Richmond)
These programs have split a pair of meetings in the Conference 5A Division 2 state championship game over the past two years.
Aug. 28 — Aledo at North Crowley (Fort Worth)
This will be the first meeting between the two since 2007. Expect fireworks between two of the best teams in the state.
Sept. 10 — Waxahachie at Guyer (Denton)
Elite talent goes head-to-head as Texas A&M pledge JayQuan Snell leads Waxahachie and four-star Oregon commit Zane Rowe headlines the Guyer roster.
Sept. 11 — Allen at Southlake Carroll (Southlake)
The Eagles close out a challenging three-game stretch against Southlake Carroll after meetings with Duncanville and DeSoto.
Sept. 12 — DeSoto vs. Duncanville
Dallas area’s biggest rivalry heads to the Cotton Bowl for 2026 meeting.
Sept. 12 — North Shore (Houston) at South Oak Cliff (Dallas)
Second game of Roland Parrish Classic at the Cotton Bowl is a showdown between defending state champions with Dallas-Houston bragging rights on the line.
Sept. 25 — Lone Star (Frisco) at Melissa
Realignment has brought these two programs together in what could be a battle for District 5-5A supremacy.
Oct. 9 — Lovejoy (Lucas) at Argyle
The Eagles bounced Lovejoy from the playoffs last season but legendary coach Todd Dodge is in his second full season with the Leopards.
Oct. 23 — Westlake (Austin) at Lake Travis (Austin)
The “Battle of the Lakes” is one of the state’s best rivalries. The schools have championship pedigree and are separated by just 12 miles.
2025 STATE CHAMPIONS
6A-2 — DeSoto
5A-1 — Smithson Valley (Spring Branch)
5A-2 — South Oak Cliff (Dallas)
4A-1 — Stephenville
4A-2 — Carthage
3A-1 — Yoakum
3A-2 — Wall
2A-1 — Hamilton
2A-2 — Muenster
1A 6-Man 1 — Gordon
1A 6-Man 2 — Jayton
TAPPS I — Parish Episcopal (Dallas)
TAPPS II — All Saints (Fort Worth)
TAPPS III — Lubbock Christian (Lubbock)
TAPPS IV — First Baptist (Dallas)
TAPPS 6-Man I — First Baptist Christian (Pasadena)
TAPPS 6-Man II — Alpha Omega Academy (Huntsville)
TAPPS 6-Man III — Valor Preparatory Academy (Waco)
Southwest Prep 3A — Oakridge (Arlington)
Southwest Prep 4A — Kinkaid (Houston)
TAIAO I — Texas Wind (Waco)
TAIAO II — Harvest Christian Academy (Bartonville)
TAIAO III — Grace Academy (Georgetown)
TCAF 6-Man — Faustina Academy (Irving)
TCAL 6-Man I — El Paso Leadership Academy East (El Paso)
TCAL 6-Man II — Waco Christian (Waco)
