High school football is back. Across the country, teams kick off the 2026 season between early August and mid September, and this free printable gives you a blank schedule template to map out your team’s season game by game, plus a weekly pick’em sheet. Below you will also find the 2026 regular season start date for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., so you know exactly when Friday nights begin near you.
Quick Facts: 2026 High School Football Schedule
- Hawaii kicks off first, opening the 2026 season on August 7.
- The biggest opening wave is the weekend of August 20 to 22, when more than a dozen states start.
- Texas and much of the Northeast and Midwest open August 27, the following weekend.
- A few New England states start latest, in early to mid September.
- The printable includes a blank 11-game schedule template and a weekly pick’em sheet, free to print.
What Is in the Printable
The download is a two-page kit. The first page is a blank team schedule template with a header for your team name, coach, class or division, and colors, then an 11-game grid for the date, day, opponent, home or away, kickoff time, location, and result, plus a record box for your overall, district, home, and away marks. The second page is a weekly pick’em sheet with room for 16 games, a confidence column, and a tiebreaker, which is perfect for a team fundraiser, a class contest, or a family pool. Both pages are built to print low-ink and work for any school in any state.
When Does High School Football Start in 2026?
Start dates are set by each state’s athletic association, so the first Friday of the season varies widely. Hawaii goes first in early August, a large group of states opens the weekend of August 20, another big wave including Texas follows on August 27, and a handful of New England states wait until September. The table below lists the 2026 regular season opening date for every state and Washington, D.C. A few states stagger their openings by classification, so confirm your team’s exact first game with your school or state association.
| State | 2026 Season Opens |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Aug 20 |
| Alaska | Aug 13 |
| Arizona | Aug 27 |
| Arkansas | Aug 28 |
| California | Aug 13 |
| Colorado | Aug 20 |
| Connecticut | Sep 10 |
| Delaware | Sep 3 |
| Florida | Aug 21 |
| Georgia | Aug 12 |
| Hawaii | Aug 7 |
| Idaho | Aug 21 |
| Illinois | Aug 20 |
| Indiana | Aug 21 |
| Iowa | Aug 27 |
| Kansas | Sep 4 |
| Kentucky | Aug 20 |
| Louisiana | Sep 3 |
| Maine | Sep 4 |
| Maryland | Sep 4 |
| Massachusetts | Sep 10 |
| Michigan | Aug 27 |
| Minnesota | Sep 3 |
| Mississippi | Aug 14 |
| Missouri | Aug 27 |
| Montana | Aug 27 |
| Nebraska | Aug 27 |
| Nevada | Aug 13 |
| New Hampshire | Sep 3 |
| New Jersey | Aug 27 |
| New Mexico | Aug 20 |
| New York | Aug 20 |
| North Carolina | Aug 20 |
| North Dakota | Aug 20 |
| Ohio | Aug 20 |
| Oklahoma | Aug 27 |
| Oregon | Aug 27 |
| Pennsylvania | Aug 27 |
| Rhode Island | Sep 3 |
| South Carolina | Aug 20 |
| South Dakota | Aug 20 |
| Tennessee | Aug 20 |
| Texas | Aug 27 |
| Utah | Aug 13 |
| Vermont | Sep 3 |
| Virginia | Aug 27 |
| Washington | Sep 4 |
| Washington, D.C. | Aug 21 |
| West Virginia | Aug 27 |
| Wisconsin | Aug 20 |
| Wyoming | Aug 28 |
How to Use the Schedule Template
Print the schedule page and fill in your team at the top, then add each game as the schedule is released: date, opponent, whether you are home or away, kickoff time, and location. As the season goes, write in each result and update the record boxes at the bottom. It is a simple way for players, parents, and fans to keep the whole season on one page and on the fridge. Print one for your team, or one for every team you follow.
Run a Weekly Pick’em Pool
The second page turns Friday nights into a contest. List the week’s matchups, have everyone circle their pick for each game, and add confidence points if you want a tiebreaker beyond the total-points guess in the nightcap. It is an easy fundraiser for a booster club or a fun weekly game for a class or family. Print a fresh sheet each week all season long.
2026 High School Football FAQ
When does high school football start in 2026?
It depends on the state. Hawaii opens first on August 7, a large group of states starts the weekend of August 20, another wave including Texas begins August 27, and some New England states start in early to mid September. See the state-by-state table above for every date.
Which state starts high school football first?
Hawaii kicks off the 2026 high school football season first, on August 7, earlier than any other state.
How many games are on the schedule template?
The blank schedule template has room for 11 games, which covers a typical high school regular season, plus a record box to track your results.
Is the printable free?
Yes. Both the schedule template and the weekly pick’em sheet are free to download and print, designed low-ink for standard letter-size paper.
More Free Printables
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