High school football season kicks off in the Texas Panhandle on Thursday, Aug. 27.
After an entertaining 2025 season, there should be multiple teams in the Amarillo area who will compete for district titles in 2026, including defending champions Canadian and Palo Duro, among others.
Before teams kick off their league slates, though, the region will host a handful of interesting non-district games.
Here’s a look at the top five non-district matchups in the Amarillo area this season.
Aug. 28: Spearman at Wellington
The Lynx reached the Region I-2A Division I semifinals in 2025 and return multiple key players for the 2026 campaign.
Starting quarterback Jailen Vasquez, alongside skill position players Hudson Swan, Brayson Goodheart and Landon Sonnenberg, should help Spearman to another strong season.
Wellington also returns its starting quarterback, Callen Kane, as well as 2025 Amarillo Globe-News Newcomer of the Year Kamron Brooks and fellow Super Team honoree Conner Bowen, following a 9-3 season in 2025.
The matchup should be an early test for both teams, who could compete for district championships in 2026.
Aug. 28: Amarillo High vs. Palo Duro
Fresh off a District 2-5A Division II title in 2025, the Dons meet Amarillo High on opening night at Dick Bivins Stadium.
Palo Duro should be in for another strong season, as four-star quarterback Julian Reese II and Texas commit Kyron Brown return for their senior campaigns alongside a strong roster.
For Amarillo High, the Sandies will be debuting multiple new faces on offense after losing veteran quarterback Jett Lopez, standout running back Jude Dunavin and star wide receiver Austin Sluder.
The Dons defeated Amarillo High 35-14 in 2025.
Aug. 28: West Plains at Wall & Sept. 25: Stephenville at West Plains
Similar to Amarillo High, the Wolves lost multiple key players from last year’s squad.
After reaching the Region I-2A Division I title game in 2025 and a trip to the state semifinals in 2024, West Plains is forced to replace multiple receivers, offensive linemen and the team’s starting quarterback, entering the 2026 campaign.
The Wolves also have a new head coach, Jeff Lofton, who will meet two defending state champions in his first season at the helm.
West Plains begins its season on the road against Wall, who won the Class 3A Division II state championship in 2025. Later in the year, the Wolves will meet Stephenville in Lubbock after defeating the Yellowjackets in the 2024 playoffs and falling to head coach Sterling Doty’s team in the 2025 postseason.
Sept. 4: Tascosa at Canyon
Ken Plunk’s team heads to Happy State Bank Stadium early in the season for a showdown against Canyon.
After going 7-5 in 2025, Tascosa is replacing multiple key players, including starting quarterback Coltyn Fulton and star defensive lineman Krush Johnson, who is now on Texas Tech’s roster.
Following a midseason coaching change in 2025, Canyon finished 8-5 and reached the Region I-4A Division I semifinals under the tutelage of new head coach Matt Lovorn. The Eagles bring back starting quarterback Brox Hacker and standout running back Austin Turner from that team, and should be competitive again in 2026.
Sept. 18: Canadian at Randall
Canadian won District 1-3A Division II and went 11-2 in 2025, reaching the Region I-3A Division II semifinals.
The Wildcats return quarterback Weston Mitchell, but will be tasked with replacing seniors like Riggs Pennington, Mark Haygood, Junior Cervantes and others from Canadian’s 2025 team.
Randall went 10-3 last season en route to an appearance in the Region I-4A Division I semifinals and should be formidable again in 2026.
The Raiders return honoree Super Team honoree Isael Medina, quarterback Braylen Preciado, wide receiver Phoenix Sherwood, running back Drayden Ray and linebacker Jevin Gallegos, among others.
Canadian and Randall is the first game of a doubleheader at Happy State Bank on Sept. 18, accompanied by Liberty and West Plains.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Here are the Amarillo area’s top non-district football games in 2026
Reporting by Randall Sweet, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Randall Sweet, Amarillo Globe-News | USA TODAY Network
