Minnesota high school football tips off its 2026 season on September 3, and the Minnesota State High School League’s scheduling system means most teams will face virtually the same district rivals as last year, only with the home-and-away schedule reversed. This consistency makes it easier to follow the storylines that carry over from 2025, and there’s a major one at the top of the state.
A Team Seeking Redemption
Osseo Maple Grove begins the season as one of the most talked-about programs in the state after a stunning end to 2025. The Crimsons went deep into the postseason with a 23-game winning streak and one of Minnesota’s best offenses, only to fall unexpectedly to Lakeville South in the state quarterfinals. A loss like that tends to leave a mark, and Osseo Maple Grove will be looking to prove that last November was the exception, not a sign that the program has declined.
Programs to Watch
Eden Prairie begins 2026 seeking its first 6A state title since 2019, a nearly nine-year drought for a program with such a storied history. This year’s schedule doesn’t favor the Eagles: five games against teams ranked in the state’s top 15 make it one of the toughest in Minnesota football. Eden Prairie lost its top prospect, Jayden Bates, to a transfer, but has the return of defensive end Philip Moita, a 6’5″ prospect from the class of 2027, who has attracted interest from Wisconsin and Miami (Ohio).
Minnetonka finished last season ranked 11th in the state with a 9-4 record and begins 2026 with a key game against St. Michael-Albertville. Anoka also deserves attention: despite finishing 0-9 in 2025, including four narrow defeats, the Tornadoes return with one of the most talented rosters in the state, featuring Division II-committed players in the starting lineup, and they kick off the year against a powerful Eden Prairie team.
Starting Season Matchups
Weeks 1 and 2 already feature some key matchups: Eden Prairie vs. Anoka, St. Michael-Albertville vs. Minnetonka, and Byron vs. Orono headline the early part of the season. Albany, after a painful 23-6 loss to Litchfield in last year’s Section 6 final, starts the year against that same Litchfield team in a rivalry rematch with high revenge potential.
Where to Find the Schedules
The MSHSL sets section and district alignments every two years, with the most recent being in July 2025. This means that most Minnesota programs retain the same conference schedule as last season. Complete schedules for each team are available through the MSHSL and the Minnesota football section of MaxPreps, broken down by all seven classifications, from Class 6A through Nine Player.
Following the Season
Minnesota plays a truly massive number of games each week—more than 150 on a typical fall Friday once the season is in full swing—with a significant proportion of teams ranked among the top 25 in the state. We will be tracking these results as the 2026 season progresses.
Check our Scores page for weekly Minnesota results, and our Rankings page for how the state’s Top 25 shifts throughout the season.
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