The 2026 South Carolina High School League () football season is set to begin with Week 1 games scheduled for August 20 and August 21. Scrimmages and jamborees have concluded, paving the way for the official kickoff of the season.
Several Aiken area teams are slated for matchups. On August 21, Lakeside will play Aiken, Midland Valley will face Lexington, and North Augusta is scheduled to compete against Strom Thurmond. Silver Bluff will take on South Aiken, and Ridge Spring-Monetta is set to play Ware Shoals. Wagener-Salley will also be in action against Great Falls.
Other notable games on August 20 include Wade Hampton at Carolina Academy, Kingstree at Marion, and Denmark-Olar at Blackville-Hilda.
The extensive schedule for August 21 features numerous contests across the state. Abbeville will play Saluda, Allendale-Fairfax will face Calhoun County, and American Leadership is scheduled against Cardinal Newman. Aynor will compete with Georgetown, Bamberg-Ehrhardt will play Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, and Barnwell will take on Buford. Beaufort is set to play Hardeeville, while Blythewood will face Catawba Ridge. Brookland-Cayce will compete against Chapin, and Camden is scheduled to play Dillon. Carolina Forest will face West Florence, and Central will take on Lewisville. Cheraw is set to play Andrew Jackson, and Christ Church will compete against Mauldin. Clover will face Fort Mill, and Columbia is scheduled against Eau Claire. Colleton County will play Hampton County, and Crestwood will take on Manning. Darlington is set to play Lamar, and Dillon Christian will compete against Florence Christian. Dixie will face Southside, and Dreher is scheduled against North Central. Easley will play Pickens, and East Clarendon will take on Scott’s Branch. Eastside is set to play Chapman, and Emerald will compete against Crescent. Fairfield Central will face Lower Richland, and First Baptist School is scheduled against Academic Magnet. Fort Dorchester will play Goose Creek, and Fountain Inn will take on Greenville. Fox Creek is set to play Orangeburg-Wilkinson, and Gilbert will compete against Nation Ford. Gray Collegiate Academy will face Chambers, and Green Sea Floyds is scheduled against East Columbia. Hammond will play Brookland-Cayce, and Harding will take on Indian Land. Hartsville is set to play Wilson, and Heathwood Hall will compete against Pinewood Prep. Hillcrest will face Dorman, and Hilton Head is scheduled against Bamberg-Ehrhardt. Hough will play Northwestern, and Independence will take on Byrnes. Jefferson Davis Academy is set to play Andrew Jackson Academy, and John Paul II will compete against Augusta Christian. Johnsonville will face Lake View, and Keenan is scheduled against Swansea. King Academy will play Wardlaw Academy, and Lake City will take on Hannah-Pamplico. Lancaster is set to play Chester, and Latta will compete against Carver’s Bay. Laurens will face J.L. Mann, and Lee Central is scheduled against Military Magnet. Loris will play Conway, and McBee will take on Hemingway. McCormick is set to play Greenwood Christian, and Myrtle Beach will compete against Marlboro County. Newberry Academy will face Cambridge Academy, and Ninety Six is scheduled against Mid-Carolina. North Charleston will play Ridgeland, and Northside Christian will take on Thornwell. Northwood Academy is set to play Bethesda Academy, and Orangeburg Prep will compete against Wilson Hall. Palmetto will face Pendleton, and Pelion is scheduled against Airport. Philip Simmons will play Hanahan, and Porter-Gaud will take on Bishop-England. Richard Winn Academy is set to play Laurens Academy, and Ridge View will compete against South Pointe. Rock Hill will face Irmo, and Riverside is scheduled against Greenwood. Savanna Country Day will play Bluffton, and Seneca will take on Powdersville. Socastee is set to play North Myrtle Beach, and South Florence will compete against Hilton Head Island. Spartanburg will face Gaffney, and Spartanburg Christian is scheduled against Asheville Christian. Spartanburg Day will play Calhoun Academy, and St. James will take on Waccamaw. St. John’s is set to play Cross, and St. Joseph’s will compete against Blue Ridge. Spring Valley will face Richland Northeast, and Stall is scheduled against Goose Creek. Stratford will play Berkeley, and Sumter will take on Summerville. T.L. Hanna is set to play Belton-Honea Path, and Trinity Collegiate will compete against Pee Dee Academy. Union County will face Newberry, and Walhalla is scheduled against Landrum. Wando will play West Ashley, and West-Oak will take on Calhoun Falls Charter. Westside is set to play Ashley Ridge, and Westwood will compete against York. Woodmont will face Greer, and White Knoll is scheduled against A.C. Flora. Whitmire will play Branchville, and Wren will take on Daniel.