The 2026 Georgia High School Football Season will open up with several high profile matchups in week one, including a battle between the Alabama 6A and Georgia 4A State Champions from last season.
Clay Chalkville and Creekside is our top-ranked must see season opening game which will take place in Fairburn on Saturday August 22nd.
Both Clay Chalkville and Creekside finished the 2025 season with identical 15-0 records, ending with each team winning their state championship.
Other top matchups include Colquitt County at Thomas County Central in the season opener for both teams. The game will mark the first meeting of the two south Georgia Blue Blood programs since 2012, when Colquitt defeated the Yellow Jackets 35-33.
Here are all of our Top 10 week one matchups.
Georgia High School Football’s Best Week One Matchups
- Clay Chalkville at Creekside
One of the most attractive season openers will take place at “The Swamp” as the defending Georgia Class 4A State Champion Creekside Seminoles host the Alabama Class 6A State Champion Clay Chalkville.
Both teams finished 15-0 last year, and for Clay Chalkville it was their third state title in the past five years.
2. Colquitt County at Thomas County Central
Seven state championship game appearances between these two teams since 2000, with Thomas County Central having won two titles in the past three years, including last season’s 5A title to cap off an undefeated season. Colquitt last won championships in 2014 and 2015.
A monster of a game to start the season.
3. Gainesville at Buford
This will mark the debut of Santavious Bryant as the Red Elephants new head coach, as he replaces Josh Niblett. Both teams are coming off state championship appearances, with Buford capturing the state 6A state title as well as a national championship, and Gainesville falling to TCC in the 5A title game.
4. Carrollton at Rome
It’s the first season opener without John Reid leading Rome onto the field in 11 seasons. Reid announced his retirement from coaching after last season.
His replacement is former North Gwinnett head coach Bill Stewart, whose first game as the Wolves new coach will be against Joey King and the Carrollton Trojans.
Carrollton lost to Buford in last year’s Class 6A state championship game, which also served as a national championship battle.
5. Coffee vs Parkview Georgia State
This promises to be one of the best regular season North Georgia vs South Georgia matchups, and the fact that it’s the first ever matchup between these two historically rich programs makes it that much better.
For Parkview and 2nd year head coach Adam Clack, this is an opportunity to show that Parkview is back and ready to once again compete with the best in the state.
Coffee and head coach Mike Coe are also trying to return to the dominance they displayed in 2023 and 2024, when they finished as state champion (‘23) and semifinalist (‘24) before falling back to a 4-7 season last year.
6. Grayson vs North Gwinnett
The Greg Carswell era begins with a matchup against the Bulldogs and Eric Godfree as part of the Corky Kell Dave Hunter Classic. Carswell will make his debut as the Rams new head coach after being elevated from Defensive Coordinator to replace Santavious Bryant.
7. Camden County at Brunswick
Both of these SE Georgia coastal programs will open the season with new head coaches as Tucker Pruitt takes over the Wildcats and Byron Slack takes over at Brunswick.
This game marks the fifth straight season that the two programs have faced each other, with the last three meetings coming in week one for each program. Camden has defeated Brunswick in the last two season openers. T
8. Hapeville Charter at Lee County
Lee and Hapeville will each have perhaps their most talented team in recent years, as they meet for the fifth straight season.
Hapeville Charter advanced to the class 2A state finals last year after starting the season 1-4, and they return a ton of talent this season. This year’s Trojans of Dean Fabrizio will feature one of their deepest teams in recent years, with a deep rushing attack, LB corps, and one of the state’s top receivers in senior WR Jaden Upshaw
Hapeville Charter returns tip rusher Ray Damond Stiggers and QB Keylan Pope.
9. Toombs County at Benedictine
A battle of two state finalists from last year who each finished as runner ups in their championship matchups.
Toombs, who finished 13-2 after falling to Worth County in the Class A D-II finals, will move to 3A this season. Benedictine is coming off their state finals loss to Creekside after their 11-3 season. Benedictine will move up to Class 5A with reclassification this season.
10. Brooks County at Worth County
Worth County is coming off a perfect 15-0 season while winning the Class A D-I State Championship last year. Coach Jeff Hammond’s team moves to class 3A this season, and will start the season against the Brooks County Trojans, who also have moved out of Class A. Josh McFathers’ team joins class 2A this season.
This matchup will feature two of the top QB’s in South Georgia as Lyndon Worthy leads the Rams and Junior Burruss runs the Brooks County offense.
