While many eyes will be focused on Las Vegas, there are 3,556 other games across the country this weekend.
From ranked teams and college prospects to amazing performances, 2026 is sure to give high school football fans reasons to cheer.
On the eve of the football season, we take a look at stories to follow in 2026.
It would take a Herculean effort but Randle running back Landen Williams-Callis could break the career rushing mark in Texas. His quest is among a handful of intriguing storylines to start the 2026 high school football season. (PHOTO: Rhonda Taormina)
Williams-Callis record watch
The next Myles McLaughlin?
Myles McLaughlin of
Knox (Ind.) shattered the single-season national record for rushing yards (4,846) and rushing touchdowns (71) in 2025. McLaughlin finished his career as the third leading rusher in national history with 11,839 yards only trailing Kelvin Taylor (12,063) and Derrick Henry (12,124). He is one of five players in high school football history to rush for over 11,000 yards. Could we see another under-the-radar player rise up and put the football world on record watch?
Florida vs. everybody
The Broward County National High School Football Showcase will see teams from Florida take on opponents from California, Georgia, Texas and elsewhere. The headliner is arguably a battle between defending state champions next Saturday with
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) taking on
DeSoto (Texas).
Can Buford repeat?
Defending national champion
Buford (Ga.) opens the season ranked No. 7 after finishing
15-0 in 2025 and beating Carrollton 28-21 for the
Class 6A state title, the 15th in program history. While 16 is possible graduation losses present a challenge. The Wolves open the season Aug. 22 against Gainesville in a tough battle with a Class AAAAA contender.Can anyone challenge DeSoto?
Country star’s son is QB1
Can Alcoa keep rolling?
Alcoa won its 11th straight state championship in Tennessee, becoming the third program in history to accomplish such a feat. The Tornadoes beat
Pearl-Cohn (Nashville 47-27 in the Division I Class 4A final and opens the quest for No. 12 on Friday at
Maryville.
Another Adrian Peterson
Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas) freshman Adrian Peterson Jr. is son of the Hall of Fame football player who ran for nearly 15,000 yards in an 18-year NFL career. While it’s too early to say if the younger Peterson will make the NFL, he already holds offers from schools like Miami and Baylor. The Panthers open their season Aug. 28 at Dickinson.
What will Palmer, Santa Margarita do for an encore?
It might be hard to top his first season after winning the Open Division title but Carson Palmer and Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) enter 2026 at No. 6 in the MaxPreps Top 25. The Eagles had significant graduation losses, including state POY Trent Mosley, but last year’s MaxPreps National Coach of the Year looks to navigate a schedule that includes the Trinity League gauntlet.
Florida to crown Open Division champion
Florida will join a handful of other states in crowning an Open Division champion. The FHSAA approved the plan for an eight-team Open bracket that will battle in pool play until a champion is crowned at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. One of the most talent-rich areas of the country will finally be able to settle it all on the field.
Southern California program pays coach $200,000
Beverly Hills (Calif.), a team that hasn’t had a winning season in more than 15 years, ponied up nearly $200,000 to hire Jeff Bailey in the offseason. The former UCLA football player had built a consistent winner at
Yorba Linda that included 18 playoff appearances and 11 league titles. The Normans are coming off an 0-9 season and open the schedule Aug. 21 against
Valencia.
Marshall Manning Era begins
While
Marshall Manning is not expected to start this season for
Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.), there is a buzz for the quarterbacking son of Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Just like many sons of famous athletes, everyone is looking to see if he has the same skillset that made his father a legend. Right now, Marshall is QB2 behind Ole Miss commit
Keegan Croucher and can take his time learning the offense for the defending Division II Class AAA champions.
Lahainaluna, Paradise come together
High school football is all about community and the Lahainaluna (Lahaina, Hawaii) and Paradise (Calif.) communities are coming together on the gridiron to play and heal. Each program has dealt with a devastating fire — the Lahaina Fire in 2023 and the Camp Fire in 2019. They will meet Sept. 5 on Maui and next season in California. This year, Aaron Rodgers helped the Bobcats with a $15,000 donation for travel costs to the islands.
Speed City
Kiffin follows dad to Louisiana
After throwing for more than 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns splitting quarterback duties as a sophomore in
Oxford (Miss.),
Knox Kiffin is expected to take the starting job at
University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.). He followed his father to Baton Rouge after Lane Kiffin took the LSU head coaching job.
Kevin Smith Jr., the son of running backs coach
Kevin Smith, joins Knox at University Lab after playing alongside him in Mississippi.
Will Mater Dei or St. John Bosco reclaim supremacy?
Massillon vs. Valdosta
Few brands in high school football carry the weight of
Massillon (Ohio). The Tigers remain a nationally-recognized program and every season brings enormous expectations. Massillon is chasing legendary Georgia program
Valdosta for the all-time wins in high school football history. The two are separated by three wins and a dominant title run could strengthen the lead for Wildcats or erase the deficit for Tigers.
Columbia, Red Lake look to break historic skids
Can Columbia (Huntsville, Ala.) finally win? After more than a decade and 101 consecutive losses, former Auburn and NFL receiver Sammie Coates enters year two trying to deliver the program its first victory since 2015. And while it was thought their losing streak was the longest, MaxPreps writer Kevin Askeland uncovered the tale of Red Lake (Minn.) and its 150-game skid. The Warriors haven’t won since 1999. Columbia opens the season Aug. 22 while Red Lake starts Sept. 4.
