After eight long months, high school football has finally returned to Florida! Never mind that the kickoff classics won't count in the record books.
Some of the games on the schedule would fit right in with the state's first Open Division state playoffs. The biggest matchup pits St. Thomas Aquinas, the No. 1 team in the preseason Super 25 rankings, against fellow defending state champion Cardinal Mooney. Both start the season in the top eight in the MaxPreps rankings, which determine who would play in the new top-tier playoffs.
Preseason games began Thursday night, headlined by Buchholz vs. Lake Mary. The Friday night action also features West Boca vs. Carol City, two teams also in the Open Division field as the 2026 season gets rolling. And while the FHSAA is still in the preseason until next week, we do get regular-season action from the SSAA.
Sign up and save to watch NFHS Network
The USA TODAY Network - Florida has game updates on all teams big and small. Keep scrolling to check out all the high school football games across the Sunshine State.
#open
Some of the games on the schedule would fit right in with the state's first Open Division state playoffs. The biggest matchup pits St. Thomas Aquinas, the No. 1 team in the preseason Super 25 rankings, against fellow defending state champion Cardinal Mooney. Both start the season in the top eight in the MaxPreps rankings, which determine who would play in the new top-tier playoffs.
Preseason games began Thursday night, headlined by Buchholz vs. Lake Mary. The Friday night action also features West Boca vs. Carol City, two teams also in the Open Division field as the 2026 season gets rolling. And while the FHSAA is still in the preseason until next week, we do get regular-season action from the SSAA.
Sign up and save to watch NFHS Network
The USA TODAY Network - Florida has game updates on all teams big and small. Keep scrolling to check out all the high school football games across the Sunshine State.
#open
13 days ago
