​Madison’s Elijah Brito (28) runs the ball in for a third quarter touchdown against the Reagan Rattlers at Jerry Comalander Stadium in San Antonio, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News)
Texas high school football fans could have another way to watch Friday night games on television if a proposed UIL rule change is approved.The UIL Legislative Council approved a proposal Monday that would allow live television broadcasts of regular-season Friday night football games beginning Aug. 1, 2027, according to The Chron. The change still needs approval from Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath before it can take effect.  Under the proposal, both participating schools would have to agree to a television broadcast. Schools can already livestream Friday night games online, but UIL rules have prohibited live television broadcasts. The Texas High School Coaches Association pushed for the change, arguing that television broadcasts could help promote the sport amid growing competition for viewers from college football.”The reason it was banned is because we wanted people to attend our home games. We wanted to protect Friday night lights. We wanted people in the stands,” THSCA Executive Director Joe Martin said during Sunday’s Legislative Council meeting.ALSO READ:Quarterback Jayden Garcia leads Churchill over LEE to keep playoff hopes aliveMartin said the association’s board unanimously supported lifting the restriction, arguing that Texas high school football needs more exposure.”Our coaches believe that we need to promote Texas high school football as many places as we possibly can, whether it’s on linear TV or it’s live streaming,” Martin said.The Texas Association of Broadcasters and the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association also supported the proposal. If approved, the rule would give schools the option to work with broadcasters while leaving the decision to televise a game up to the participating schools.The proposal marks a potential shift from decades of restrictions intended to protect attendance at Friday night football games across Texas.SubscribeThere’s more to San Antonio with the Express-News. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Texas high school football could make its Friday night TV debut under UIL proposal.