The 2026 high school football season kicks off in three weeks around the state of Washington with several marquee games — but, that’s only the beginning.

Each week of the nine-week regular season features matchups in every classification that could impact the playoff picture this November.

Here are some of the top games to watch this fall — including the game of the week, more can’t-miss matchups, games with league title implications, the best games in the 4A-3A, 2A-1A and 2B-1B classifications, and more.

WEEK 1 (Sept. 3-5)

Chiawana (4A) vs. Camas (4A)

7 p.m. Friday, Doc Harris Stadium, Camas

Lots of worthy options, but this matchup might slide under the radar. It shouldn’t. And it’s all about how the Papermakers’ multi-faceted offense matches up against Chiawana’s pressure-oriented “amoeba” defense in Labor Day weekend tilt.

Another can’t-miss matchup: Richland (4A) at Moses Lake (4A), 7 p.m. Friday

League title implications: Northwest Christian of Colbert (2B) vs. Newport (2B), 7 p.m. Friday

4A-3A: Graham-Kapowsin (4A) vs. Lake Stevens (4A), 7 p.m. Friday

2A-1A: Franklin Pierce (2A) vs. Lynden Christian (1A), 6 p.m. Thursday

2B-1B: Toledo (2B) vs. Adna (2B), 7 p.m. Friday

Five more to watch: Cheney (3A) vs. Southridge (3A), 6 p.m. Friday; Puyallup (4A) vs. Rocky Mountain (Idaho), 7 p.m. Friday; La Center (1A) vs. Montesano (1A), 7 p.m. Friday; Seton Catholic (1A) vs. Onalaska (2B), 7 p.m. Friday; Bellevue (3A) vs. Kennedy Catholic (4A), 1 p.m. Saturday

WEEK 2 (Sept. 10-12)

Cashmere (1A) vs. Royal (1A)

7 p.m. Friday, David Nielsen Memorial Field, Royal City

It’s not often a small-school rivalry gets a lead part, but did you watch the Class 1A championship-game thriller between these two 1A SCAC powerhouses last season? As one rival coach put it, these two teams have a “hunger” to win others don’t.

Another can’t-miss matchup: Bellevue (3A) vs. Puyallup (4A), 7 p.m. Saturday

League title implications: Napavine (2B) vs. Onalaska (2B), 7 p.m. Friday

4A-3A: Graham-Kapowsin (4A) vs. Richland (4A), 7 p.m. Friday

2A-1A: Mount Baker (1A) vs. North Kitsap (2A), 7 p.m. Friday

2B-1B: Almira-Coulee-Hartline (1B) vs. Liberty Christian (1B), 7 p.m. Friday

Five more to watch: Kennedy Catholic (4A) vs. Mount Tahoma (3A), 7 p.m. Thursday; Lake Stevens (4A) vs. Bothell (4A), 7 p.m. Friday; Gonzaga Prep (4A) vs. Kennewick (3A), 7 p.m. Friday; W.F. West (2A) vs. Lakes (3A), 7 p.m. Friday; Adna (2B) vs. Seton Catholic (1A), 7 p.m. Friday

WEEK 3 (Sept. 17-19)

Puyallup (4A) vs. Lake Stevens (4A)

7 p.m. Friday, Lake Stevens High School, Lake Stevens

Could this be a preview of the Class 4A championship game? Could be, especially if these two teams follow the same map from the early Sumner-Lake Stevens showdown from Week 1 last year. Both offenses are so potent that 100 combined points could be tallied.

Another can’t-miss matchup: Archbishop Murphy (2A) vs. Anacortes (2A), 7 p.m. Friday

League title implications: Adna (2B) vs. Onalaska (2B), 7 p.m. Friday

4A-3A: Mount Tahoma (3A) vs. Sumner (4A), 7 p.m. Friday

2A-1A: Nooksack Valley (1A) vs. King’s (1A), 7 p.m. Friday

2B-1B: DeSales (1B) vs. Almira-Coulee-Hartline (1B), 7 p.m. Friday

Five more to watch: Glacier Peak (4A) vs. Bothell (4A), 7 p.m. Thursday; Kamiakin (4A) vs. Kennewick (3A), 7 p.m. Friday; Mount Si (4A) vs. Tumwater (2A), 7 p.m. Friday; Enumclaw (3A) vs. White River (3A), 7 p.m. Friday; Lynden (2A) vs. Ferndale (3A), 7 p.m. Friday

WEEK 4 (Sept. 24-26)

Kennewick (3A) vs. Richland (4A)

7 p.m. Friday, Fran Rish Stadium, Richland

Richland coach Josh Jelinek saw the gap in physicality between his club and Class 4A favorites in last year’s playoffs. The Bombers have worked on that aspect in the offseason, but their mettle will be immediately put to the test against the Lions.

Another can’t-miss matchup: Rainier Beach (3A) vs. O’Dea (3A), 7 p.m. Friday

League title implications: Federal Way (3A) vs. Enumclaw (3A), 7 p.m. Friday

4A-3A: Glacier Peak (4A) vs. Ferndale (3A), 7 p.m. Thursday

2A-1A: La Center (1A) vs. Lynden Christian (1A), 2 p.m. Saturday

2B-1B: Colfax (2B) vs. Reardan (2B), 7 p.m. Friday

Five more to watch: Franklin Pierce (2A) vs. Fife (2A), 6 p.m. Thursday; Tahoma (4A) vs. Auburn (4A), 7 p.m. Thursday; Mead (4A) vs. Cheney (3A), 6 p.m. Friday; Kamiakin (4A) vs. Southridge (3A), 7 p.m. Friday; Zillah (1A) vs. Royal (1A), 7 p.m. Friday

WEEK 5 (Oct. 1-3)

Monroe (3A) vs. Sedro-Woolley (3A)

7 p.m. Thursday, Tom Mullen Stadium, Sedro-Woolley

Because the reconfigured 3A Wesco is now in three divisions, no longer is there a Week 9 crossover championship between divisional winners. This matchup might be the closest thing as the Wing-T-based Cubs host pass-happy Monroe.

Another can’t-miss matchup: Gig Harbor (3A) vs. Lincoln of Tacoma (3A), 7 p.m. Friday

League title implications: Auburn (4A) vs. Kennedy Catholic (4A), 1 p.m. Saturday

4A-3A: Seattle Prep (3A) vs. O’Dea (3A), 7 p.m. Friday

2A-1A: West Valley of Spokane (2A) vs. Selah (2A), 7 p.m. Friday

2B-1B: Newport (2B) vs. Colfax (2B), 7 p.m. Friday

Five more to watch: Eastlake (4A) vs. Skyline (4A), 7 p.m. Friday; Graham-Kapowsin (4A) vs. Olympia (4A), 7 p.m. Friday; Washougal (2A) vs. W.F. West (2A), 7 p.m. Friday; Cashmere (1A) vs. Zillah (1A), 7 p.m. Friday; Onalaska (2B) vs. Mount Baker (1A), 1 p.m. Saturday

WEEK 6 (Oct. 8-10)

Lincoln of Tacoma (3A) vs. Mount Tahoma (3A)

7 p.m. Friday, Mount Tahoma Stadium, Tacoma

At worst, this is likely for the city championship of Tacoma Public Schools. But it also could be for the 3A PSL Narrows crown. Can top quarterback prospect Sione Kaho solve the T-Birds’ defensive riddle? He was dominated in both losses a year ago.

Another can’t-miss matchup: Anacortes (2A) vs. Lynden (2A), 7 p.m. Friday

League title implications: Lake Stevens (4A) vs. Glacier Peak (4A), 7 p.m. Friday

4A-3A: Cheney (3A) vs. Gonzaga Prep (4A), 6 p.m. Friday

2A-1A: Archbishop Murphy (2A) vs. Lynden Christian (1A), 7 p.m. Friday

2B-1B: Colfax (2B) vs. Northwest Christian of Colbert (2B), 7 p.m. Friday

Five more to watch: Pullman (2A) vs. West Valley of Spokane (2A), 6 p.m. Friday; Bethel (4A) vs. Graham-Kapowsin (4A), 7 p.m. Friday; Kamiakin (4A) vs. Chiawana (4A), 7 p.m. Friday; Nooksack Valley (1A) vs. Mount Baker (1A), 7 p.m. Friday; Adna (2B) vs. Forks (2B), 7 p.m. Friday

WEEK 7 (Oct. 15-17)

O’Dea (3A) vs. Eastside Catholic (3A), Oct. 16

7 p.m. Friday, Charlie Acosta Field, Sammamish

As if this juicy 3A Metro League rivalry needed a jolt — it got one when the Crusaders rehired ex-coach Jeremy Thielbahr during the offseason. Before Thielbahr left for Idaho in 2018, his team had beaten the Irish in six of the past seven games.

Another can’t-miss matchup: Puyallup (4A) vs. Sumner (4A), 7 p.m. Friday

League title implications: Skyview (4A) vs. Camas (4A), 7 p.m. Friday

4A-3A: Gonzaga Prep (4A) vs. Mead (4A), 6 p.m. Friday

2A-1A: North Kitsap (2A) vs. Olympic (2A), 6:30 p.m. Friday

2B-1B: Wilbur-Creston-Keller (1B) vs. Almira-Coulee-Hartline (1B), 7 p.m. Friday

Five more to watch: Mount Spokane (3A) vs. Cheney (3A), 6 p.m. Friday; Timberline (3A) vs. Lakes (3A), 7 p.m. Friday; East Valley of Yakima (2A) vs. Prosser (2A), 7 p.m. Friday; Montesano (1A) vs. Rochester (1A), 7 p.m. Friday; La Center (1A) vs. Seton Catholic (1A), 7 p.m. Friday

WEEK 8 (Oct. 22-24)

Bellevue (3A) vs. Mount Si (4A), Oct. 23

7 p.m. Friday, Mount Si High School, Snoqualmie

The 2023 Class 3A championships have enjoyed their stay in KingCo’s top division playing the 4A programs, going 9-1 (only loss was to Bothell last season). Now, Bellevue’s Wing-T machine will try and break the wall that is Mount Si’s defense.

Another can’t-miss matchup: DeSales (1B) vs. Liberty Christian (1B), 7 p.m. Friday

League title implications: Franklin Pierce (2A) vs. Orting (2A), 7 p.m. Thursday

4A-3A: Kennewick (3A) vs. Chiawana (4A), 7 p.m. Friday

2A-1A: Selah (2A) vs. Prosser (2A), 7 p.m. Friday

2B-1B: Napavine (2B) vs. Adna (2B), 7 p.m. Friday

Five more to watch: Eastmont (4A) vs. Moses Lake (4A), 7 p.m. Friday; Ferndale (3A) vs. Sedro-Woolley (3A), 7 p.m. Friday; White River (3A) vs. Federal Way (3A), 7 p.m. Friday; Gig Harbor (3A) vs. Mount Tahoma (3A), 7 p.m. Friday; Mount Baker (1A) vs. Lynden Christian (1A), 7 p.m. Friday

WEEK 9 (Oct. 29-31)

4A SPSL championship game

TBD

It’s no secret that whoever advances to — and wins — this game will likely have home-field advantage throughout the Class 4A playoffs. Last season, Puyallup defeated Graham-Kapowsin in this game, and it very well could lead to a rematch.

Another can’t-miss matchup: 3A PSL championship game, TBD

League title implications: Tumwater (2A) vs. W.F. West (2A), 7 p.m. Friday

4A-3A: Kennewick (3A) vs. Southridge (3A), 7 p.m. Friday

2A-1A: Lynden (2A) vs. Archbishop Murphy (2A), 7 p.m. Friday

2B-1B: Naselle (1B) vs. Wahkiakum (1B), 7 p.m. Friday

Five more to watch: Richland (4A) vs. Chiawana (4A), 7 p.m. Friday; Kelso (3A) vs. Evergreen of Vancouver (3A), 7 p.m. Friday; Colville (1A) vs. Riverside (1A), 7 p.m. Friday; Reardan (2B) vs. Newport (2B), 7 p.m. Friday; Eastside Catholic (3A) vs. Rainier Beach (3A), noon Saturday