​Quarterback JRob Breen, 7, from Sterlington, faces Jena in the Division III nonselect LHSAA State Championship game as part of Friday’s slate, December 12, 2025. (SCOTT CLAUSE / USATODAY Network) Louisiana high school football is primed to return, and the 2025 season delivered plenty of excitement. Teams such as Ouachita, Edna Karr, Iowa, St. Charles Catholic, Sterlington, Dunham, Haynesville, and Riverside Academy captured LHSAA championships at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, leaving fans wondering which programs will cap their fall with another trip to the finals and which programs might rise to challenge for a title in the coming year.
The answers will unfold as the season progresses, but several key dates shape the 2026 LHSAA football schedule. Sterlington has set an ambitious goal for 2026: contend for a three-peat, aiming to extend its dominance in the postseason. Off the field, the calendar follows a clear progression. For players who did not participate in spring football, the first mandatory practice is scheduled for July 27. Those who took part in spring football will begin practicing on August 3. The regular season is slated to kick off on September 3 and will run through November 7, setting the stage for the playoffs and the championship weekend.
The LHSAA football championships are scheduled for December 10–12, with the marquee games unfolding at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. As fans look ahead, questions remain about whether the same programs can sustain their championship runs or if new contenders will emerge to challenge for state glory in 2026. This overview of the upcoming season, originally reported by Monroe News-Star under the SEO-friendly headline “Key dates to know about Louisiana high school football for 2026 season,” highlights the critical milestones and dates every program, player, and fan should mark on the calendar.