With practice kicking off Monday, fans' appetites for Texas high school football are growing.
In need of a guide to the best games featuring Lubbock-area teams in 2026? Here's your roadmap to hit the top matchups of the regular season, week by week.
Best high school football games for Lubbock, South Plains in 2026
Week 1: Frenship at Lubbock-Cooper
The most competitive big-school rivalry in Lubbock gets the opening-night spotlight this season. The teams both replaced accomplished senior classes, but there's little question it will be another intense atmosphere as they look to get off on the right foot.
Six-man game of the week: Klondike vs. Strawn (at Jayton)
Best of the rest: New Home at Slaton; Sweetwater at Idalou; Bushland at Seminole; Coronado at Monterey; Lubbock-Cooper Liberty at Frenship Memorial
Week 2: Ropes at New Home
Ropes has to wait until September for its
first game, but it should be a doozy. The Eagles open as the No. 3 team in Class 2A Division II, so expectations will be high. New Home has hopes of a deep playoff run as well. The Leopards are prepping with one of the area's toughest non-district schedules, this included.
Six-man game of the week: Turkey Valley at Whiteface
Best of the rest: Seminole at Shallowater; Abilene Wylie at Monterey; Lubbock-Cooper Liberty at Frenship; Midland Greenwood at Lubbock-Cooper; Estacado at Sweetwater
Week 3: Midland Greenwood at Lubbock-Cooper Liberty
This has a better-than-average chance to be the area's best non-district game. Greenwood took down Liberty 34-14 last year after both teams entered 5-0. They finished with a combined three losses. The Patriots are aiming for a deeper playoff push in their third season, and that could include a second matchup against the Rangers.
Six-man game of the week: Paducah at Jayton
Best of the rest: Shallowater at Canadian; Seminole at Canyon West Plains; Plainview at Hereford; Lubbock-Cooper at Stephenville; San Angelo Lake View at Lubbock High
Week 4: Post at Slaton
Post has some of the highest outside expectations in the area. This will be another stern test to measure itself. The War on 84 has been quite tight the past couple of years, with the Antelopes winning 28-27 in overtime last season. Post came back for a 27-20 victory in 2024.
Six-man game of the week: Borden County at Rankin
Best of the rest: Panhandle at Ropes; Wink at New Home; Abernathy at Coahoma; Muleshoe at Farwell; Lubbock Christian at Bushland
Week 5: Idalou at Shallowater
Idalou resoundingly ended a three-game losing skid to Shallowater with a 45-20 victory last season. As usual, both squads are expected to be regional contenders. This rivalry is always a good tuneup before the playoff push begins.
Six-man game of the week: Whiteface at Borden County
Best of the rest: Hawley at Post; Frenship at Amarillo Tascosa; Levelland at Littlefield; Abernathy at Spearman; Snyder at Sweetwater
Week 6: Lubbock Christian at Trinity Christian
Lubbock's two 11-man football programs are back in the same district. It's only right they meet in the league opener. The teams haven't played since a 2021 playoff game, so both sides should be fired up to renew the friendly rivalry.
Six-man game of the week: Newcastle at Jayton
Best of the rest: Vernon at Idalou; Farwell at Wink; Dumas at Lubbock-Cooper Liberty; Ropes vs. Stinnett West Texas (at Hereford); Hale Center vs. Iraan (at Andrews)
Week 7: Hale Center at Farwell
The District 2-2A Division I title could be decided in a league opener. Farwell reached the second round with a young roster in 2025, and Hale Center has made district championships a recent habit. The Steers no longer have to deal with the likes of Gruver and Stratford as they chase their first district title since 2018.
Six-man game of the week: Westbrook at Klondike
Best of the rest: Monterey at Amarillo High; Lubbock-Cooper at Abilene Cooper; Plainview at Gunter; New Deal at Abernathy; Crosbyton at Tahoka
Week 8: Bushland at Shallowater
This matchup has not disappointed the past two years. Shallowater won both times, including 28-26 in the 2025 district opener. Bushland should be in the mix for the league crown as it looks to bounce back from an uncharacteristic season. The Falcons (5-7) posted a losing record for the first time since 2015.
Six-man game of the week: Paducah at Turkey Valley
Best of the rest: Abernathy at Post; Monterey at Amarillo Tascosa; Frenship Memorial at Frenship; Sudan at Seagraves; Clyde at Lamesa
Week 9: Post at New Home
This is premier small-school football. District 3-2A D-I is one of the deepest in the area, but this feels like the championship bout. Post won a 28-27 thriller over New Home last season, which played into a three-team tie at the top with New Deal.
Six-man game of the week: Klondike at Borden County
Best of the rest: Estacado at Lubbock-Cooper Liberty; Lubbock-Cooper at Abilene Wylie; Abilene High at Monterey; Slaton at Littlefield; Frenship at Amarillo High
Week 10: Wichita Falls Memorial at Lubbock-Cooper
Wichita Falls Rider-Lubbock-Cooper was one of the great local football rivalries until the former closed before the 2024 season. Still, the new iteration has proven to be quite consequential. The same should be true in this year's playoff race.
Six-man game of the week: Nazareth at Springlake-Earth
Best of the rest: Tahoka at Roscoe; New Home at Abernathy; Monterey at Frenship; Dalhart at Shallowater; Sudan at Ropes
Week 11: Slaton at Idalou
There may not be a team in District 2-3A D-II that can hang with Idalou. We'll find out in the regular-season finale. The most likely opponent to challenge the Wildcats is Slaton. The Tigers were second in the league last year and still lost 41-6.
Six-man game of the week: Paducah at Motley County
Best of the rest: Levelland at Estacado; Lubbock-Cooper at Amarillo Palo Duro; Post at New Deal; Plainview at Andrews; Whiteface at Nazareth
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: These are 2026's best high school football games in the Lubbock area
