The national showcase will be streamed free of cost on the MaxPreps YouTube channel.
St. John Bosco and Bishop Gorman have combined for four MaxPreps National Championships and were the top schools in the newly released MaxPreps Top 25 rankings.
No. 1 St. John Bosco at No. 2 Bishop Gorman
Date: Friday, Aug. 21, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. PT
Streaming: MaxPreps YouTube, MaxPreps.com, NFHS Network
Location: Bishop Gorman High School
“It is a privilege to open the 2026 high school football season against Bishop Gorman as the MaxPreps Game of the Week,” St. John Bosco head coach Jason Negro said. “MaxPreps provides an unparalleled platform for high school athletics, and being selected as the featured matchup is a significant recognition that elevates our program’s national presence.”
“It’s been a decade since we’ve played St. John Bosco and we’re excited for the opportunity to play a program with that kind of history again,” Bishop Gorman head coach Brent Browner said. “Being featured as MaxPreps Game of the Week is a great platform to showcase our program and what these kids put into it. This is exactly why players come to Bishop Gorman – to play in big games, in front a national audience, against Division I talent on the other side of the ball. It’s a preview of what the college game looks like and our guys get to experience that now.”
The MaxPreps Game of the Week showcases the nation’s premier high school
football matchups while highlighting the players, coaches and
communities that make high school sports special. Fans can follow
comprehensive coverage before, during and after the game
at MaxPreps.com, including live updates, highlights, photo galleries,
statistics and postgame analysis. Additional content will be distributed
across MaxPreps social media platforms throughout the week.
St. John Bosco was crowned national champions in 2019 and 2022 while Bishop Gorman finished No. 1 in 2016 and 2023.
“This is exactly the kind of game the MaxPreps Game of the Week was created to showcase,” MaxPreps Director of Content Steve Montoya said. “When the nation’s No. 1 and No. 2 teams meet on opening weekend, the entire high school football world is watching. It’s an opportunity to celebrate elite competition while telling the stories of the athletes, coaches and communities that make high school football so compelling.”
Additional MaxPreps Game of the Week matchups will be announced next week.
For continuing coverage, rankings, scores, schedules and highlights from across the country, visit MaxPreps.com.
About PlayOn Sports
PlayOn Sports is the nation’s leading technology company powering youth and high school athletics, serving thousands of schools and millions of fans. PlayOn unites the most trusted brands in high school sports — GoFan, MaxPreps and the NFHS Network — so every game reaches more fans and generates more community support. With PlayOn, fans and families can experience and celebrate local sports across tickets, broadcasts, highlights and stats. To learn more, visit playonsports.com.
About MaxPreps
Since 2002, MaxPreps has been America’s source for high school sports information, serving millions of athletes, parents, coaches and administrators monthly. Dedicated to covering every team, game and player, MaxPreps supports local sports communities with its tools and award-winning photography, video, articles and social channels. For more information about MaxPreps and for the latest high school sports news, scores and expert analysis, visit maxpreps.com.
