The 2025 Texas high school football season is fast approaching — just five weeks until stadium lights flip on and Friday nights come alive again across the state. With familiar district races back for a second go-around, the stage is set for rivalries to deepen, storylines to build, and postseason hopes to hang in the balance.

District showdowns remain the heart of Texas high school football, the weekly battles that decide playoff spots, shape legacies, and turn local heroes into legends. And while every district game counts, some carry a little more weight...and a lot more drama.

So clear your fall calendar: these are the 50 must-see district games in the 2025 Texas high school football season.

Editor's note: we limited this list to one game per district.

50. DeLeon at Hamilton — November 7 (District 5-2A DI)
There was perhaps no wilder region in Texas high school football last season than Region II of Class 2A Division I. Now, in a regular season finale, we'll get a showdown of the two frontrunners to bring home the regional crown — Hamilton, the reigning regional champ with plenty of fire but questions about experience; and DeLeon, whose new coach Brennan Whitaker takes over a team with 17 starters back, including star quarterback Heston Jobe. Last year, Hamilton scored a thrilling 35-28 win over the Bearcats (one of four one-score wins in their remarkable 14-1 season); the winner here takes the district and establishes itself as a team to beat for a spot in the state semifinals.

49. Stamford at Hawley — November 7 (District 4-2A DI)
48. Argyle vs. Colleyville Heritage — September 26 (District 3-5A DII)
47. Daingerfield at DeKalb — October 3 (District 10-3A DII)
46. Holliday vs. Jacksboro — November 7 (District 6-3A DII)
45. Waco La Vega vs. Robinson — October 24 (District 12-4A DII)
La Vega was a relatively surprising state finalist last season, but we probably should've seen it coming considering how they soared through District 12-4A DII, one of the state's most treacherous groupings. There's a lot to like about this Pirates team, especially quarterback Kourtney Parr and coach Don Hyde's traditionally excellent defense, but Robinson will provide their toughest challenge for the district crown. Quarterback Brice McCurdy is coming off a terrific sophomore season and running back Evan Moreno gives them plenty of firepower. If new coach Kevin Brown can establish continuity and cohesion, the Rockets could be ready to blast off.

44. Carthage vs. Athens — October 17 (District 8-4A DII)
43. Anna vs. Lucas Lovejoy — September 19 (District 4-5A DII)
42. Edna at Goliad — October 24 (District 15-3A DI)
Region IV of Class 3A Division I has a tendency to be a bit rough-and-tumble, and nowhere is that more evident than in District 15-3A DI. Edna — the reigning regional champ — has some reloading to do without star athlete Braylon Harris and underrated quarterback Chase Schubert, but should have a strong defense to hold things up. Goliad lurks as a district party-crasher, though, thanks in large part to the electrifying Lamont Franklin. There are lots of implications here, but more importantly, zoom out — the winner of this game wouldn't have to face Llano (No. 8 in the state) until the regional final, while the loser would likely see the Yellowjackets on Thanksgiving weekend.

41. Lovelady at Grapeland — November 7 (District 11-2A DII)
40. Ganado at Weimar — October 10 (District 15-2A DI)
39. West Orange-Stark vs. Silsbee — October 24 (District 9-4A DII)
38. Water Valley vs. Robert Lee — October 24 (District 8-1A DI)
Structurally, a high-stakes six-man game looms even larger than its 11-man brethren. The reason: with just two teams making the playoffs, finishing first in district is of the utmost importance to securing the best possible playoff path. Hence, this colossal clash in District 8-1A DI. Water Valley is on the short list of teams with eyes on AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with eight starters back from a state semifinalist squad, including the spectacular Boston Wiese. But Robert Lee won't go quietly — coach Lee McCown welcomes back the remarkable Brenner Sherwood, who will become a household name this season. And to make things even dicier: the loser of this game likely gets Westbrook in the first round of the playoffs — Robert Lee, for example, lost 116-110 to the Wildcats in bi-district last year. Better win this one! 

37. Gruver at Stratford — October 10 (District 1-2A DII)
36. Bremond vs. Mart — September 26 (District 10-2A DII)
35. College Station vs. A&M Consolidated — September 19 (District 12-5A DI)
34. Canyon West Plains vs. Canyon Randall — October 24 (District 2-4A DI)
Here's a hot take: football has never been stronger in Randall County than it is right now. And with respect to Canyon High (which could surprise some folks this season), this is the premier matchup of the season out in that neck of the woods. Randall will boast one of the Panhandle's best defenses, led by the sensational Drayven Patton at linebacker, while West Plains has legitimate state championship aspirations thanks in large part to quarterback Reid Macon's return to the driver's seat. There will be fireworks, and chippiness, and an absolute asylum at Happy State Bank Stadium. Get your tickets yesterday.

33. Huntsville vs. Port Neches-Groves — October 3 (District 8-5A DII)
32. Highland Park vs. Midlothian — November 7 (District 7-5A DI)
31. La Vernia at Bay City — October 17 (District 15-4A DI)
We could spill a thousand words about these two teams and how they match up — Bay City's spectacular defense led by James Copeland and Davont'a Harris, or La Vernia's remarkable Sean Garza back for second-year coach Brian Null — but all you really have to do is look at last year's results (plural). In the regular season: Bay City 40, La Vernia 21. In the regional final: La Vernia 42, Bay City 24. So yeah, there's some history here, and it'll make for a thrilling — and telling — matchup once again.

30. May at Jonesboro — November 7 (District 14-1A DI)
29. Lexington at Blanco — October 24 (District 13-3A DII)
From the outset, Region IV of 3A Division II feels like one of the state's most difficult to parse. District 14 has plenty of upside (we'll get to them in a bit), and Poth looms very large in District 15. But we'll really start to get a sense of the region's shape with this Week 9 showdown almost certainly for the District 13 crown. Quarterback Kase Evans is back for Lexington, and he is every bit as good as advertised — and with 12 other starters back from last year's state quarterfinalist, the Eagles are a real threat. But lest you forget, it was Blanco that won the district last year by virtue of a 29-28 thrill-ride victory over Lexington, and coach Jamie Dixon's got a workhorse in the backfield in Trey Atchley. All of Blanco County — and lots of Lee County — will be at Panther Stadium on this evening.

28. Malakoff vs. Winnsboro — November 7 (District 7-3A DI) 
27. Klondike vs. Sands — November 7 (District 4-1A DII)
The best district game in the UIL's smallest division can be found in what can only be described, lovingly, as a place halfway between Patricia and Fivemile, two places you've probably never heard of unless you're from that part of the world. Up on the South Plains, Klondike has bona fide state championship aspirations under coach Dalton DeGraffenreid, with all but one player back from last year's state semifinalist squad. But first thing's first: capturing the District 4-1A Division II crown, and longtime nemesis Ackerly Sands stands in the way. The Mustangs have similar experience — eight starters are back in tow, including super-sophomore running back Gordo Soliz, who may have been six-man football's finest freshman in 2024. Region I is treacherous, with Motley County and Whitharral looming, which makes winning the district title all the more critical.

26. Shiner at Falls City — October 17 (District 15-2A DII)
25. Fort Worth Covenant Classical at Abilene Christian — November 7 (TAPPS 6M DII-1)
Our first private school entry on this list, this is the best district game in TAPPS six-man Division II. Fort Worth Covenant Classical is the reigning state champs, and have eyes set on a fourth Division II state title in five seasons. But this is the squad that Abilene Christian has been waiting for — a special senior class, led by Pierson Walters and Caleb Thyne — and considering they knocked off Covenant Classical in a heart-stopping regular season finale last season, the Panthers are brimming with confidence. Nazarene Christian will have a say in this district as well, but don't be surprised if this for the crown.

24. Brock vs. Graham — October 31 (District 3-4A DII)
23. Garrison at Joaquin — November 6 (District 11-2A DI)
A Thursday nighter in Week 11 for the district title? Sign us up! There was no bigger surprise in 11-man Texas high school football last season than Joaquin, which went from fourth-place finisher to state semifinalist with a magical playoff run...and now coach Jared Jones, back in his second season, brings back a team filled with both confidence and speed (like running back/safety Cooper Bragg). But it was Garrison that won the district title last year, and it's Garrison that starts the year ranked No. 4 in the state, and it's Garrison that brings back RB/LB Avery Yarbrough and QB/DB Riley McGuire as part of 14 returning starters. Tons of storylines here on a Thursday night in the woods.

22. Kilgore vs. Tyler Chapel Hill — October 10 (District 9-4A DI)
21. Houston Kinkaid at Bellaire Episcopal — October 17 (SPC Class 4A)
In the Southwest Preparatory Conference, the postseason is pretty easy to understand: top two teams play for the title. As such, you're guaranteed a rematch for the state championship, and spoiler alert: this feels like the first of two meetings between these two. Kinkaid edged out Episcopal, 16-14, in the regular season last year, then trounced them 49-10 in the title game. So what's changed? Episcopal's defense, especially defensive back Rodney Thomas and linebacker Travis Johnson, seems especially fearsome, while Kinkaid probably has the single-most dynamic playmaker in this game in running back Wayne Shanks Jr. The winner likely clinches a title game berth, and more importantly, they set the tone for what could be a second meeting three weeks later.

20. Tidehaven vs. East Bernard — November 7 (District 14-3A DII)
19. Smithson Valley vs. San Antonio Pieper — September 25 (District 13-5A DI)
Here's a fun fact: Smithson Valley — you know, the 5A Division I state champs — didn't win its district last season. Nope, that honor belonged to the Pieper Warriors, who knocked off the Rangers in a 39-36 instant classic in Week 5. Of course, Pieper would gladly trade places with Smithson Valley, but it does add an extra layer of intrigue to this District 13-5A DI contest. We have a fair number of questions about Smithson Valley, especially on offense, but the defense should be rock-solid with superstar edge-rusher Hudson Woods back in the fold. Pieper is out to prove the district still runs through it, with running back Brady Hopper serving as the tip of the spear. If their second meeting is anything like their first, it'll be close, exciting and consequential.

18. La Porte vs. Angleton — October 31 (District 11-5A DI)
17. Aquilla vs. Abbott — November 7 (District 11-1A DI)
The District 11-1A Division I title will come down to the final Friday night of the season, when longtime rivals square off in a Central Texas showdown, and the fact that this act goes on last means there's plenty to learn between here and there. At the outset, Aquilla looks poised to finally snap a six-game losing streak to the Panthers, including two losses — regular season and regional final — last season. With nine starters back including the remarkable TC Hennig, who dazzled as a freshman, the Cougars are decidedly the more finished product right now. Abbott brings back just two starters from last year's state semifinalist team, but coach Kyle Crawford has high hopes for the next generation of Panthers. This game will be fascinating, if only because we'll see if Aquilla can live up to its considerable hype and if Abbott can finish its rebuild in time.

16. Whiteface vs. Borden County — November 7 (District 3-1A DI)
15. Galena Park North Shore vs. Humble Summer Creek — November 7 (District 23-6A)
We've reached the first entry where we had to choose between multiple games within the same district, as the H-Town District of Doom rears its head (all due respect to Atascocita and C.E. King, who will decidedly have something to say about how this district shapes up). Both of these teams followed up state finalist finishes in 2023 with state semifinalist finishes in 2024, and both have major questions coming into the season. North Shore will have a new look on defense and under center with Kaleb Maryland taking over; Summer Creek will begin life without do-everything quarterback Blake Thomas and a relentless defensive line. So how far have these teams come in their development between preseason and the regular season finale? It's unlikely that playoff seeding will be impacted here — North Shore will go to the Division I bracket, and Summer Creek will go Division II — but a district title could hang in the balance.

14. Sealy vs. Bellville — October 10 (District 11-4A DII)
13. Southlake Carroll vs. Euless Trinity — September 19 (District 4-6A)
How about a Top 15 matchup — likely for the district title — in Week 4? Our preseason No. 1 team in Class 6A, the Southlake Carroll Dragons enter the season with sky-high expectations coming off of a run to the state championship game. With quarterback Angelo Renda, receiver Brock Boyd and a ferocious defense among 19 starters returning for coach Riley Dodge, they're loaded for bear. But they'll get a huge test right out of the chute against Trinity, a consistent power that could be on the verge of a return to the statewide (and national) stage. Running back JT Harris spearheads a running game behind a traditionally massive offensive line led by Toa Katoa (all 6-4 and 350 pounds of him), and the defense should be exceptional, as well. We will learn not just about the shape of this district, but about the playoff chase in Class 6A — in both divisions — after this early season affair.

12. Newton at Woodville — October 10 (District 12-3A DII)
11. Jefferson vs. Texarkana Liberty-Eylau — October 31 (District 8-3A DI)
Way, way, way out east, it's a Halloween treat for the District 8-3A DI crown. Jefferson feels like a program on a state championship trajectory — from a 7-3 season in 2023 to a 12-1 breakthrough 2024 — and the balance of talent here, from linebacker Kobin Tomlinson to QB/DB Chance Washington — belies a complete roster. Liberty-Eylau's rise to a remarkable regional final run last year set them up in the driver's seat for 2025, though an offseason transfer of their superstar receiver is certainly not ideal. Still, DL Zamanthyre Haire will lead a ferocious defense certainly capable of taking the Leopards to the next level. In a high-powered Region II, every inch matters, and there's a gold ball waiting for the winner of this one.

10. Austin Westlake vs. Lake Travis — October 24 (District 26-6A)
If you didn't think this was going to be on the list, you must be new here. The famous Battle of the Lakes is always must-see action in the greater Austin area, and this year has the added spice of being the third meeting in 12 months — remember, it was Westlake who knocked off Lake Travis in the regular season, and then knocked them out of the playoffs in the Division I regional final. Westlake has the edge with the return of quarterback Rees Wise, but Lake Travis could claim it's better in the trenches, at least from the outset. But so much will change between now and October 24 that it's hard to predict. But rest assured: this will be a tight ballgame with big-game energy, and it could be the first of two meetings.

9. Texarkana Pleasant Grove vs. Gilmer — October 24 (District 7-4A DII)
The most anticipated district game in East Texas, and that's saying something. Gilmer is no stranger to big games or tough districts, and while coach Alan Metzel's team is a bit short on experience (just four starters back from last year's area finalist), they're long on upside, especially in the trenches where big Tyler Hagler resides. Conversely, Pleasant Grove — on paper — appears to have its strongest team in years, with a rock-solid defense led by Jamarion Richardson, a booming youth movement led by sophomore edge-rusher Kedrid Smith (who earned his first offer as an eighth grader), and a reloaded offense highlighted by quarterback Colt Yancey, who moved in from Whitewright when his dad was hired onto the PG staff. But Gilmer has traditionally given even the best Pleasant Grove teams fits, and with a district title hanging in the balance, this year figures to be no different.

8. Duncanville vs. DeSoto — October 10 (District 11-6A)
This year's showdown of I-20 powers feels a bit different. For just the third time since 2016, the game will not feature at least a reigning state finalist. And both teams were hit pretty hard by graduation — fewer than half of the players who started last year's Duncanville-DeSoto game are slotted to suit up this year. But make no mistake: there's star power galore here, especially in the receiver corps, where Duncanville's Zachery Turner and Ayson Theus square off with DeSoto's SaRod Baker and Boobie Feaster. And we know both defenses will turn it up, with KJ Ford leading Duncanville's charge and DeSoto's DJ Rumph looking the part of a menace. The biggest question here: which team can develop a quarterback? They've got a little more than two months to answer it, before the District 11-6A title is decided between these two.

7. Columbus vs. Hitchcock — October 24 (District 12-3A DI)
What's the value of star power? That question will be put to perhaps its most extreme test in this District 12-3A DI showdown, almost certainly for the district title. Columbus rode to its first state championship on the backs of one of the most explosive set of playmakers we've ever seen in Class 3A — between quarterback Adam Schobel (Mr. Texas Football himself), running back Grayson Rigdon, linebacker John Schobel and others. Hitchcock battled through injuries to their stars in a what-could've-been 2024 season, with quarterback Lloyd Jones III, receiver Kelshaun Johnson and defensive lineman Malcolm Simpson highlighting a special senior class. All of those guys are gone, each signed to FBS letters of intent, but interestingly, their respective teams remain very solid. Folks like Hitchcock DB Brian Harris and Columbus WR Braylon Fisher now take center stage for their squads, and last year's heart-stopping matchup could have some competition this year. It may not have the name recognition, but the District 12-3A DI title game will be every bit the box office attraction.

6. Pasadena First Baptist vs. Houston Emery-Weiner — November 8 (TAPPS 6M DI-4)
It is not an overstatement to say that the winner of this game — the regular season finale in District 4 of TAPPS six-man Division I — is the favorite to win the state championship in that division. Take last year, for example: Pasadena First Baptist stunned reigning state champ Emery-Weiner in a 69-66 instant classic...five weeks later, they were state champions for the first time. And you know the Jaguars would love another shot at the Eagles, especially with the dynamic Sasha Fiterman back for his junior season. But there's reloading to do defensively for Emery, which could open the door for the one-two rushing attack of Liam Larsen and Gabriel Richard for First Baptist. Plenty to sort out between now and Week 11, but right now, this is the best private school six-man football game on the schedule in 2025.

5. Muenster vs. Collinsville — October 31 (District 8-2A DII)
Why bury the lede? This is one of the best quarterback matchups in all of small-school Texas high school football this season, with Muenster's Casen Carney — fresh off leading his Hornets to a state championship — duking it out with Collinsville's Jaxon Jenkins — who threw for 3,518 yards and 38 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. But it's not like these guys are alone out there, as both will lead experienced, balanced teams. Collinsville welcomes back 16 starters in total, including receiver Chad Davidson and two-way lineman Russell Carney (no relation to the Muenster Carneys). Muenster's title defense comes loaded for bear as well: 12 starters, including towering tight end Garrett Hess and playmaking linebacker Simon Johnson. A district title hangs in the balance, as well as the most advantageous path through a difficult Region II. Both will be state title contenders; only one will be district champ.

4. Celina vs. Frisco Panther Creek — September 26 (District 7-4A DI)
Should District 7-4A Division I be in the conversation for the toughest in Texas? There's a fair argument — between these two teams and Sulphur Springs and Aubrey, the district won a combined 11 playoff games last year, tied for second-most among all districts only behind District 23-6A. And while it's hard to pick just one matchup in this district, there's no doubt this is the one worth spotlighting. Celina — you know, the one from the cover of the magazine — is looking to go back-to-back as state champs, and they have the playmakers to do it, including all-everything quarterback Bowe Bentley and linebacker Luke Biagini. But if there's a team in 4A Division I that can match (or surpass) the Bobcats' star power, it might be Panther Creek, what with safety Donovan Webb and receiver Jalen Lott leading the charge (not to mention star quarterback Graylyn Fry). Class 4A Division I should be one of the state's most competitive classifications, and in many ways, the party starts on September 26.

3. Richmond Randle vs. Alvin Iowa Colony — September 25 (District 9-5A DII)
Sometimes the storylines write themselves. Richmond Randle went undefeated last season, a perfect 16-0, en route to its first state championship. Iowa Colony went undefeated last year against every team outside of Randle — a perfect 12-0. A 30-10 loss in district play, and a 21-14 loss in the regional final were the only blemishes on the Pioneers' sensational 2024 season. Both teams figure to be different in 2025, but no less powerful and no less dangerous. Randle welcomes back all-universe running back Landen Williams-Callis among 10 starters looking to run it back, while Iowa Colony boasts 12 returning starters, including the pass-catch combo of Carson White and Jayden Warren. The questions here are both physical — like "can Randle reload its defensive line, which was a demolition team last year?" — as well as mental — like "can Iowa Colony get over the hump against the team that's had its number?".

2. Plano Prestonwood at Argyle Liberty Christian — October 10 (TAPPS DI-1)
The only matchup of preseason No. 1 vs. No. 2 in district play in all of Texas high school football. And consider this: Prestonwood and Liberty Christian aren't just the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in TAPPS Division I; they're the top two teams in all of 11-man private schools, across all leagues. So even putting aside the playoff ramifications (the winner here would get an easier path through the postseason), this is essentially a high-profile non-district game that just so happens to be (likely) for the district title. Liberty Christian is the defending champion, and the Warriors have the name recognition — most notably two-way dynamo Cooper Witten, the son of head coach Jason Witten, and quarterback Quinn Murphy — but Prestonwood starts the year on top of the rankings. Why? Completion — the Lions welcome back 14 starters, including WR/DB Matthew McLain and QB Luke Glass. Simply put, there are more holes to fill for Liberty Christian than for Prestonwood. With that said, with this likely district decider still two-plus months away, a lot can change, and the winner of this game will be the clear favorite to win the private schools' top prize.

1. Aledo vs. Denton Ryan — October 3 (District 3-5A DI)
It was more than three years ago that the UIL placed Denton Ryan and Aledo in the same district, and the Texas high school football world salivated at the idea of two perennial 5A powers squaring off in a consequential way. Then they started playing the games, and Ryan became just another number in Aledo's state record district winning streak. 2022 — Aledo wins, 35-21. 2023 — Aledo wins, 25-19. 2024 — Aledo wins, 42-27. The beat goes on, and the Bearcats' district winning streak, which stretches back to 2007, currently stands at 127 wins in a row. Ryan would meet Aledo in a regional final rematch, but a funny thing happened on the way to the Raiders' fourth straight loss to the Bearcats: they won — a stunning 31-21 win over Aledo, both in that it happened and the relative thoroughness of the victory. All of that is pretense to what is now the most anticipated district game in Texas high school football in 2025, as Aledo looks not only to continue its winning streak, but get revenge on the team that bested them. The Bearcats should be good in all the Aledo ways — excellent up front with OL Payton Williams, excellent on defense with LB Chase Wilburn, excellent at the skill spots with WR Kaydon Finley — but the quarterback spot remains a mystery. No such mystery for Ryan, which welcomes Quin Henigan back under center among 12 starters, not to mention DL Cookie Warmate and RB Tre Reynolds. It's a heavyweight fight with storylines galore, including a district title hanging in the balance, and it makes for perhaps the most anticipated game in Texas high school football this season.