​The Arizona high school football season begins the third week of August. Here is a look at what could be the matchups each week of the season. Top games may well change week to week depending on how the teams are doing, but based on the AIA schedules for 2026, these look like bets to be big games.Vote in our poll for the matchup you think is best from our list. Print readers can find the poll online with this story at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.Week 1: Scottsdale Christian at Pima, Aug. 21This is the start of the small schools’ season. The bigger schools, 6A, 5A and 4A, get going in full the following week. This has become a great 2A rivalry with the two teams meeting for the state championship in 2023 and ’24, SCA winning both years. SCA, which will be led by receivers Caleb Murphy and Dom Dickerson, won its third straight title last year, beating St. Johns. Week 2: Chandler at Basha, Aug. 28Nothing like a rematch of the 2025 Open Division state championship game to kick off the big-school football season. Basha won last year’s state final showdown, 34-7, with quarterback Jake Rogers having a big game. Rogers is back and will be facing the No. 1-ranked quarterback in the state, Will Mencl, in a game between Top 25 teams in the nation.Week 3: Corner Canyon (Utah) at Liberty, Sept. 4Liberty wants payback after traveling to Utah last year, only to lose to Corner Canyon 45-14. Coach Colin Thomas could be going with a two-quarterback system again, this time with senior Kenny Raymond and sophomore Jason Haines. They shared reps during June 7-on-7 passing tournaments.Week 4: Round Valley at St. Johns, Sept. 11One of the greatest and old-school rivalries you will find in Arizona. These schools are bitter enemies in the White Mountains. Round Valley captured the 3A title last year, beating Benjamin Franklin 13-10. St. Johns lost to Scottsdale Christian 27-22 in the 2A final. Both should be very good again. Round Valley won last year’s meeting in Eager, playing in its dome stadium, 38-21Week 5: Liberty at Basha, Sept. 18It was a defensive battle last year in the Open state semifinals, with Basha holding on for a 19-16 win, with Basha kicker Mikey Barth accounting for the only points in the final quarter with his field goal that broke the tie. Expect another tough heavyweight battle between these elite teams.Week 6: Chandler vs. Brophy at Central, Sept. 24This is a Thursday night game that could have the making of a classic. By then, Brophy will know how well the offense is running behind junior quarterback Noah Stewart. Brophy coach Jason Jewell will put his offensive line against any other in the state. Chandler’s line is pretty good, too, and it has speed and playmakers on offense to make this a great game.Week 7: Perry at Higley, Oct. 1This game has a chance to be special. Higley coach Eddy Zubey feels this is his strongest team since being in 6A. And Perry feels the page might be turning under new coach Jeremy Hathcock, who will have quarterba