All offseason, Aug. 28 felt far away.
Not anymore.
Game week has officially arrived in San Joaquin County, with teams preparing for the first kickoffs of the 2026 high school football season.
Rivalries, league showdowns and matchups with some of the section’s best are waiting.
Here are The Record's 25 must-see games.
Tokay at Lodi (Week 0 - Aug. 28)
The legendary fog game. The mystery of the burning letterman's jacket. Two rivals once called the Grape Bowl home. This rivalry has just about seen it all, with Tokay taking bragging rights last season in a 13-7 win.
Jesuit at Lincoln (Week 0 - Aug. 28)
Jesuit was a 31-15 halftime lead away from the CIF SJS semifinals before St. Mary's stormed back and eventually won Stockton's first state football title.
Can Lincoln hand the Marauders another stunner?
Chavez at Escalon (Week 1 - Sept. 4)
Chavez celebrated last year's 37-30 victory as the "biggest win in program history." For Escalon, avenging it could be the first step toward returning to its place among California's best small-town programs.
Stagg at Ripon Christian (Week 1 - Sept. 4)
Welcome to head coaching, Sopeter Mao. After Stagg's best season in more than a decade, its first-year coach gets thrown into the fire early against defending section finalist Ripon Christian.
St. Mary’s at Central Catholic (Week 1 - Sept. 4)
Four years, four St. Mary's wins, and an 86-point scoring advantage over Central Catholic. The Rams have dominated a series against a program accustomed to being among California's top 100.
Serra at St. Mary’s (Week 2 - Sept. 11)
Tom Brady's alma mater was 2:41 away from knocking St. Mary's out of the CIF State Division 2-AA NorCal Regional final. Instead, the Rams pulled off another last-minute miracle.
Edison at Marin Catholic (Week 2 - Sept. 11)
Talent has rarely been the question. Proving this program is different from years past. A road test against a top-75 team in California gives Edison an early chance to do exactly that under first-year coach Eric Crocker.
Chavez at Manteca (Week 2 - Sept. 11)
Another "biggest win in program history" for Chavez, or a Manteca beatdown? Knocking off a nine-time section champion could show the Titans are ready to finally break through for their first playoff win.
Tracy at Lathrop (Week 2 - Sept. 11)
Different leagues, similar ambitions. Lathrop is chasing a third straight WAC title under first-year coach Justin Muschott, while Tracy wants to make its move in the TCAL.
De La Salle at St. Mary’s (Week 3 - Sept. 18)
Back-to-back CIF State Open Division runner-up De La Salle crushed St. Mary's 36-7 last season and finished No. 6 in California, according to MaxPreps.
Stagg at Tokay (Week 3 - Sept. 18)
Tokay was three points away from second place last season. Stagg's 24-21 win took it instead, and with Chavez entering as the favorite, both teams may need this one to have a chance at the title.
Ripon Christian at Escalon (Week 4 - Sept. 25)
Six section championships between them since 2019. Escalon owns four, Ripon Christian has two, and the two small-school powers meet in quite the way to open TVL play.
Marin Catholic vs. St. Mary’s (Week 4 - Sept. 26)
Who needs College Football Saturday? St. Mary's has taken down Marin Catholic two straight years, 28-7 and 35-22, and this year's matchup doubles as a measuring stick for just how close Edison is to the Rams.
Tokay at Chavez (Week 5 - Oct. 2)
How wide is the gap between third place and the top of the SJAA? Tokay is about to find out again after Chavez beat the Tigers 33-7 in 2024 and 55-27 last season.
Central Catholic at Manteca (Week 6 - Oct. 9)
Manteca is chasing a third straight VOL title, and with Oakdale and East Union losing plenty, Central Catholic may be the biggest obstacle standing in the way.
Edison at Tracy (Week 6 - Oct. 9)
Everyone in the TCAL is chasing St. Mary's first league loss since 2013, and these may be the two teams with the best shot. Edison finished second last season after beating third-place Tracy 38-19.
Oakdale at East Union (Week 7 - Oct. 16)
Defense was optional the last time the mentor met his protégé. Oakdale and East Union combined for 126 points and 18 touchdowns, with the mentor coming out on top, 71-55.
Lincoln at Edison (Week 7 - Oct. 16)
Lincoln pushed Edison harder than any TCAL team outside of St. Mary's last season before falling 19-14. With key playmakers back on both sides, flip the result and second place could be within reach.
Tracy at Lincoln (Week 8 - Oct. 23)
Want to know why second place wasn't quite within Lincoln's reach last year? Tracy handed the Trojans a 48-26 loss, another example of why St. Mary's coach Tony Franks says the TCAL is the most loaded he's seen in years.
Edison at St. Mary’s (Week 8 - Oct. 23)
Is this the game that finally ends St. Mary's reign atop the TCAL after 14 consecutive league championships? Edison hopes so, but the Rams have won both meetings since the Vikings joined the league, 35-23 and 44-27.
Oakdale at Manteca (Week 8 - Oct. 23)
The VOL title ran through this matchup last season, with both teams entering 5-0 before Manteca took it 40-26. Different week, but who's to say the stakes can't be just as high?
Calaveras at Linden (Week 9 - Oct. 30)
Twice, Linden ran into Calaveras last season. Twice it ended in heartbreak. A 42-12 loss handed the Lions their first MLL defeat before Calaveras did it again, 27-12, in the CIF SJS Division VII championship.
Lincoln at St. Mary’s (Week 10 - Nov. 6)
More than 70 years of history and only three miles separating them. St. Mary's has owned the rivalry lately, beating Lincoln 54-41 last year, and will chase its 21st consecutive win over the Trojans.
Chavez at Stagg (Week 10 - Nov. 6)
The history favors Stagg. The recent results belong to Chavez. After last year's 42-0 rout with both teams 6-0 and two trophies on the line, another meeting could decide between a Chavez repeat and Stagg's first league title since 2017.
Manteca at East Union (Week 10 - Nov. 6)
Even East Union's best season in program history couldn't change the balance of power in Manteca. The Buffaloes won 56-20 for their 14th straight over the Lancers and improved to 20-1 in the rivalry since 2004.
This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin County high school football 2026: Top 25 games to watch
