ICYMI: How UIL Realignment Changed TXHSFB in 2026

From new classifications to new regions to new rivals, here are the biggest changes from UIL Realignment that will reshape the 2026 Texas high school football season.
Greg Tepper

The 2026 Texas high school football season is right around the corner, and while we here at Dave Campbell’s Texas Football have been locked in on all things TXHSFB year-round, we understand that many folks are just now reengaging with the sport. No problem — let’s get you up to speed in our “TXHSFB, ICYMI” series.

Today: How UIL Realignment Changed The Game

Check out our UIL Realignment coverage HERE!

CLASS 6A

Headlines

  • West Texas gets a 5-team District 2-6A — Odessa, Permian, Midland, Lee and San Angelo Central

  • Aledo lands with Arlington ISD in District 3-6A

  • Plano ISD splits from Allen again, lands with Richardson ISD and Coppell in District 7

  • North Crowley and Mansfield ISD flip to Region II, joins Duncanville and Waxahachie in 11-6A

  • Cy-Fair ISD changes: Cy Falls, Cy-Fair to District 16; Cy Ranch, Bridgeland to District 23 with Fulshear

  • Austin makeover: Leander ISD in District 24; Lake Travis and Westlake with Round Rock ISD in District 25; Dripping Springs with Austin ISD in District 26

  • Laredo schools and Del Rio join Southwest ISD in far-reaching District 30

Notable New 6A Teams: Aledo, Barbers Hill, Prosper Walnut Grove, San Antonio Pieper, PSJA North, Crosby, Cedar Park, Frisco Wakeland, Georgetown East View, Leander Rouse

https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2026/08/20/top-10-storylines-of-the-2026-txhsfb-season?ref=article_preview_img

CLASS 5A

Headlines

  • Abilene goes west, with Amarillo and Lubbock schools in District 2-5A DI

  • DeSoto, Lancaster and Cedar Hill land with Mansfield ISD, Midlothian in District 8-5A DI

  • Lufkin stays south, joining La Porte and Port Arthur Memorial in 9-5A DI

  • Richmond Randle, Iowa Colony get Angleton, Friendswood, Pasadena ISD in 11-5A DI

  • Georgetown flips to Region III, joining College Station ISD, Pflugerville ISD, Killeen ISD in 12-5A DI

  • Austin, San Antonio collide 13-5A DI — Smithson Valley, Boerne Champion, Austin Anderson, Manor

  • Celina, Frisco Panther Creek, Prosper Richland join Anna in high-powered 4-5A DII

  • Terrell goes east, joins Texas High, Marshall, Nacogdoches in 6-5A DII

  • Southeast-Central Swap: Port Neches-Groves, Nederland back in Region III; Waco, Brenham back in Region II

  • Liberty Hill moves to Region IV, joins Alamo Heights, Boerne in District 13-5A DII

Notable New DI Teams: DeSoto, Richmond Randle, Melissa, Alvin Iowa Colony, Lancaster, Mansfield Summit, Cedar Hill, Castroville Medina Valley

Notable New DII Teams: Celina, Fort Bend Crawford, Frisco Panther Creek, New Braunfels

https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2026/08/19/dctx-staff-preseason-state-championship-picks-for-every-classification-in-2026?ref=article_preview_img

CLASS 4A

Headlines

  • Major regional shakeup in Division I: Stephenville to Region III; Kilgore to Region II; Alvarado, Springtown and Decatur together in District 4-4A DI

  • Midland Greenwood lands in 4-team District 3-4A DI

  • Kilgore joined by Lindale, Chapel Hill in District 8-4A DI

  • Bay City, El Campo slide to Region III, join Sealy in District 11-4A DI

  • Stephenville meets with Lampasas, China Spring in District 12-4A DI

  • Carthage joins Pleasant Grove, Gilmer, Pittsburg in East Texas District of Doom in 8-4A DII

  • Athens, Van, Canton flip sides of the bracket, meeting in District 9-4A DII

  • La Vega on the move again, back in Region IV with Robinson, Brownwood and Waco Connally in 13-4A DII

  • Cuero gets a new-look district with Bandera and Geronimo Navarro in 15-4A DII

Notable New DI Teams: Midland Greenwood, Sealy, West Columbia

Notable New DII Teams: Houston Yates, Hitchcock, Brownwood

CLASS 3A

Headlines

  • DII state champ Wall lands in District 3-3A DI with former Region IV standouts Llano and Ingram Moore

  • Gunter joins new-look District 5-3A DI with Pottsboro, Pilot Point and Whitesboro

  • Edna swings to Region III, joins state power Columbus and drop-downs Sweeny and Wharton in 11-3A DI

  • 4A drop-down Lorena joins loaded 12-3A DI with Franklin, Little River Academy, Troy

  • DI state champ Yoakum switches to Region IV, to face Marion and Universal City Randolph in 13-3A DI

  • 4A drop-down Sinton lands in 15-3A DI alongside Goliad and Orange Grove

  • North Texas goes West in DII — Jacksboro, City View, Henrietta, Holliday meet Merkel, Breckenridge in 4-3A DII

  • Defending 2A DI champion Hamilton moves into 5-3A DII alongside Rio Vista, Comanche and Tolar

  • East Texas District 9 (Edgewood, Grand Saline, Lone Oak) stays intact, but flips to Region II as 8-3A DII

  • Blanco moves into District 15-3A DII with perennial Region IV contender Poth

Notable New DI Teams: Wall, Gunter, Sinton

Notable New DII Teams: Hamilton, Corsicana Mildred, Hardin

https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2026/08/20/2026-who-are-the-top-ranked-3a-prospects-in-texas-high-school-football?ref=article_preview_img

CLASS 2A

Headlines

  • Region II makeover in Division I: Cisco, Anson, Hawley join DeLeon in District 5; two-time defending DII champ Muenster moves into District 6 with Alvord; Mason and San Saba swing into District 7 with newcomer Brady

  • Breakout Tom Bean and Wolfe City programs pivot to Region III, joining Honey Grove and Cooper in 9-2A DI

  • Frankston, Price Carlisle, Cayuga and Kerens move as a bloc to Region III as District 10-2A DI

  • DII move-ups Lovelady and Iola in 14-2A DI, joining Region IV newcomers Jewett Leon and Centerville

  • DII state finalist Shiner to square off with Ganado in District 15-2A DI

  • Power-packed District 1-2A DII with Stinnett West Texas joining Gruver and Stratford

  • DI drop-down Stamford to face Albany, Goldthwaite in District 7-2A DII

  • Mart flips sides of the bracket to Region II with Santo, Frost and drop-down Crawford in 8-2A DII

  • Lindsay, Collinsville and Era flip to Region III in District 9-2A DII

  • Bremond and Chilton move to Region IV with Burton in star-studded 13-2A DII

Notable New DI Teams: Muenster, Shiner, Granger, Lovelady, Iola, Farwell

Notable New DII Teams: Stinnett West Texas, Stamford, Crawford

https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2026/08/20/2026-who-are-the-top-ranked-2a-prospects-in-texas-high-school-football?ref=article_preview_img

CLASS 1A

Headlines

  • Major shakeup in Division I — 33 teams change regions

  • Three of four state semifinalists flip regions — three-time champ Gordon moves from Region IV to Region III; state finalist Rankin from Region I to Region II; and Union Hill from Region III to Region IV

  • Two other regional finalists change regions — Region IV finalist May moves to Region III, and Region III finalist Aquilla moves to Region IV

  • Two-time DII champion Jayton lands in District 4-1A DI with Hermleigh and Aspermont

  • Klondike, Sands, Borden County, Westbrook and Ira headline a loaded District 5-1A DI

  • Division II state finalist Richland Springs flips sides of the bracket, moving from Region IV to Region II

  • 2023 Division II state champion Benjamin flips the bracket as well, going from Region II to Region III

Notable New DI Teams: Jayton, Lamesa Klondike, Oglesby, Ackerly Sands, Bluff Dale, Whitharral

Notable New DII Teams: Turkey Valley, Hart, Knox City, Runge

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