Colorado high school football returns in 2026, and one program’s sustained dominance is the state’s biggest story heading into the season.
Cherry Creek’s Historic Streak
Cherry Creek begins the year on a 28-game winning streak and is gearing up for a rematch of last year’s 5A championship game, having defeated Ralston Valley 56-28 in December to capture the title—the 13th state championship in legendary head coach Dave Logan’s career. This achievement places a coach in an elite group nationally, not just in Colorado. Ralston Valley opened its 2026 season with a decisive victory over Castle View and will have a chance to avenge its loss to Cherry Creek in an early-season matchup.
A Major Format Change
A structural change worth noting for 2026: The Colorado High School Activities Association (CSAA) will adopt a ranking formula this season based exclusively on MaxPreps, eliminating RPI rankings as a factor in both state rankings and playoff seeding. Four of the five defending state 11-a-side football champions began the 2026 season ranked No. 1 in their respective rankings; only in Class 3A did a different team start atop the standings.
Teams Standing Out Early
Montrose has boasted one of the most potent offenses in the state through the first two weeks of the season, racking up 94 points in its first two games, including a dominant 54-14 victory over Grand Junction Central, and now faces a significant road test against Palisade. Meanwhile, Valor Christian, with a 2-0 record to start the season, travels for a highly anticipated interstate matchup against California’s powerhouse Mater Dei—the kind of non-conference test that serves as a true benchmark for Colorado’s top programs against national competition.
Where to Find the Schedules
The 2026 CHSAA football season began with early practices in August, and Week Zero kicked off on August 21. Complete schedules for every team in all classifications (2A through 5A, plus the 8- and 6-a-side divisions) are available on the CHSAA website and in the Colorado football section of MaxPreps.
After the Season
In Colorado, 80 to 100 games are typically played statewide on a Friday in the fall, with rivalry games and matchups between ranked teams increasing as the playoffs approach in November.
Check our Scores page for weekly Colorado results, and our Rankings page for how the state’s Top 25 develops as the season unfolds.