The 2026 Ohio high school football season is getting ready to kick off in 15 days.

The season opens Thursday, Aug. 21, with East Palestine traveling to Shadyside in a battle of Division VII squads.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 6-5 season, their first winning season since 2017. The six victories came against teams that combined for 10 victories.

Shadyside made the playoffs with a 3-7 record, beating three teams that combined for 13 wins. None of the current Tigers were in school when Shadyside reached the Division VI state championship game in 2010.

All the rest of the area teams will open Friday, Aug. 22.

The Ohio football playoffs start Friday, Oct. 31, and will be hosted by the higher-seeded team through the first three weeks.

The regional finals will be held at neutral sites Friday, Nov. 21, as will the state semifinals on Friday, Nov. 28.

The state championship games return to Canton’s Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium from Dec. 4-6.

There is a long way to go before then.

Football practice officially started June 1 leading up the first scrimmages this week.

2025 Football

Scrimmages

BEAVER LOCAL

Friday, Aug. 8, host Crestview, 6 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 15, at Orange, 6 p.m.

COLUMBIANA

Thursday, Aug. 7, host Indian Creek, 10 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 14, host Jackson-Milton, 6 p.m.

CRESTVIEW

Friday, Aug. 8, at Beaver Local, 6 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 15, host East Liverpool, 6 p.m.

EAST LIVERPOOL

Friday, Aug. 8, host Girard, 6 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 15, at Crestview, 6 p.m.

EAST PALESTINE

Saturday, Aug. 9, at Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas, 10 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 14, at Mathews, 7 p.m.

LEETONIA

Friday, Aug. 8, at Ashtabula St. John, 6 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 15, host Ridgedale, 4 p.m.

LISBON

Friday, Aug. 8, host Steubenville Central, 6 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 15, at Lowellville, 6 p.m.

OAK GLEN

Friday, Aug. 15, at Wheeling Central (W.Va.), 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 20, host Cameron (W.Va.), 6 p.m.

SALEM

Friday, Aug. 8, host Canfield, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 14, at Springfield, 7 p.m.

SOUTHERN LOCAL

Saturday, Aug. 9, at Harrison Central, 10 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 14, at Mineral Ridge, 7 p.m.

UNITED

Saturday, Aug. 9, host East Canton and Carrollton, 10 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 14, at Conotton Valley, 6 p.m.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN

Friday, Aug. 8, at Springfield, 6 p.m.

WELLSVILLE

Friday, Aug. 8, at Conotton Valley, 6 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 15, at Shadyside, 7 p.m.

WEST BRANCH

Friday, Aug. 8, at Uniontown Lake, 11 a.m.

Friday, Aug. 15, at South Range, 7 p.m.