As Central Texas high school football kicks off its 2026 season, the Austin American-Statesman’s coverage team will provide weekly predictions for 15 major regional matchups. Sports reporter Colby Gordon, who won last year’s prediction competition, will be joined by correspondent Jay Plotkin and sports editor Richard Tijerina in offering their forecasts throughout the campaign.
The opening week features seven games on Thursday, with Anderson traveling to Johnson highlighted among those contests. Friday’s full schedule includes several compelling matchups, notably Westlake hosting California’s Inglewood High School. The visiting Bulldogs, despite losing a key defensive player to injury, feature college-bound talent that poses challenges for Westlake quarterback Patton Jones in his first varsity start. Other standout Week 1 contests include Weiss facing Round Rock and Vandegrift traveling to San Antonio Brennan.
Multiple teams are navigating significant transitions heading into the season. Stony Point welcomes a new head coach after 23 years of continuity, while Legacy Ranch begins its varsity program as the second high school in Liberty Hill ISD. Meanwhile, Cedar Park makes its Class 6A debut after competing in Class 5A last season.
Gordon’s predictions favor Anderson over Johnson, Inglewood over Westlake, and Weiss over Round Rock, among others. The complete Week 1 slate also includes matchups between programs that haven’t faced each other in recent years, including Hays and San Marcos, who last played in 2021.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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