Among the things high school football fans int he Coachella Valley should be excited for ahead of the 2026 season is the fact that more teams are playing non-league games against each other in the valley. They aren’t traveling out of the valley early in the season as often as we’ve seen them do in the past.
That means we’ll have a chance to see more local matchups and therefore some of the top players in the area will be lined up across from each other early in the season.
Then, later in the season, once league play begins, we’ll get to see even more of those matchups in consequential games that really matter. That should be fun.
So, which matchup are we looking forward to the most? Here’s a look at the top 10 local games that have caught our attention ahead of the 2026 season:
Rancho Mirage at Yucca Valley (Aug. 21)
The first week of the season opens with two teams that have a ton of collective speed and athleticism. Two of the valley’s fastest players will match up in Rancho Mirage’s Jesse Valle and Yucca Valley’s Ian Jarrett. Get your popcorn ready.
Desert Hot Springs at Xavier Prep (Aug. 28)
In our opinion, these two teams may be the biggest sleepers in the valley. Both teams look stacked with talent, and we cannot wait to see Saints edge rusher Jacob Vann, a Fresno State commit, against what should be one of the better offensive lines in the area.
Yucca Valley at Desert Christian Academy (Sept. 11)
Again, Yucca Valley’s athletes get to match up against some top tier athletes in the low desert. Trojans’ senior receiver and defensive back Aiden Pope will get to match up against another two-way star in the Conquerors’ Judah Garrison.
Rancho Mirage at Desert Hot Springs (Sept. 17)
Rattlers head coach LD Matthews goes back to where he got his coaching start, facing one of his former assistants in Roy Provost. That’s an intriguing storyline, but the matchup on the field should be a good one, too.
Xavier Prep at Yucca Valley (Sept. 17)
The Saints will travel here for what should be a really fun one. That turf at Yucca Valley seems to allow players to play faster, and both the Trojans and Saints will have plenty of speed to utilize.
Indio at Coachella Valley (Sept. 25)
The Arabs have dominated this rivalry game for years, but Indio has a new coaching staff that has proven itself at Xavier Prep. Now, the roster looks as solid as it has in many years, and this game could be competitive and still quite heated.
Coachella Valley at Desert Hot Springs (Oct. 16)
Arabs head coach Bill Johnson returns to the school where he used to coach, and this game will have a lot of meaning to it as both teams will look to win the Desert Valley League. We expect the energy of this game to be amped up.
Palm Desert at Palm Springs (Oct. 23)
A rematch of one of the best game of the year in the valley last season, these two defending Desert Empire League co-champions have a rich history together. This game will mean a lot to both teams.
Coachella Valley at Yucca Valley (Oct. 23)
This matchup has quickly turned into one of the most meaningful and intense rivalries in the valley. This matchup has determined the winner of the DVL for several years and it very well could again this season.
Palm Desert at La Quinta (Oct. 30)
The biggest rivalry in the valley, at least over the last couple of decades, this game could again be really fun. Palm Desert has had the edge in this series in recent years, but La Quinta is almost always solid and should make this a very competitive game this year.
Andrew John covers sports and recreation in the Coachella Valley for The Desert Sun. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com. Find him on Instagram at @desertwriter.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: These 10 must-see games have us stoked for 2026 high school football
Reporting by Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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By Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
