Mark your calendars: Here are some of the must-see games in 2026.

EASTERN IDAHO – Buckle up. The 2026 football season begins Friday with a host of Week 0 games ready to kick off all over Eastern Idaho.

Here’s a list of some of the must-see game this season, with matchups in every classification and conference and all the big rivalry games.

If you’re up for a road trip, the best Week 0 game is Saturday.

Sugar-Salem vs. Homedale, at Canyon Ridge High

Saturday at 4 p.m.
Defending 4A state champion Homedale handed Sugar-Salem a rare playoff loss last season, knocking the Diggers out in the semifinals 30-20. The loss snapped Sugar-Salem’s three-year championship run, but the Diggers are back with a chip on their shoulder for Saturday’s opener. The teams agreed to literally meet halfway, with the game being played at Canyon Ridge High in Twin Falls.

Rocky Mountain Rumble at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello

This has become a fun annual event with Idaho schools facing off against Utah teams. It’s a good early-season test for local teams under the dome and includes local 6A teams and one of the area’s best 8-man squads in Rockland.

Aug. 27
-Thunder Ridge vs. Bear River (UT), 5:30
-Madison vs. Riverton (UT), 8:15 p.m.

Aug. 28
-Rigby vs. Farmington (UT), 5:30 p.m.
-Highland vs. Box Elder (UT), 8:15 p.m.

Sept. 5
-Rockland vs. Dietrech, 4 p.m.

Aberdeen at Ririe

Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.
The battle for 3A supremacy gets started early as the Bulldogs, coming off their best season and runner-up state finish, take on the Tigers. Ririe beat Aberdeen twice last season on the way to the championship game.

Bonneville at Hillcrest

Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.
The Civil War game has been one-side as Hillcrest has won 11 of the past 12 matchups. The Bees should be much improved and the Knights are replacing 30 seniors, including an All-State QB.

North Fremont at Firth

Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.
The Nuclear Conference is always competitive, but could the Huskies and Cougars again be chasing Ririe for the title?

Pocatello at Highland

Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.
This is a game that used to rock the old Holt Arena with thousands of fans cheering on the Black and Blue Bowl. Highland is now a dominant 6A team and Pocatello is trying to make its mark as a newcomer the 5A High Country Conference. Even while the city of Pocatello revels in the rivalry, it’s become one-sided, with the Rams winning the past 15 matchups.

Idaho Falls at Skyline

Oct. 3 at 6 p.m.
Another big rivalry game, the Emotion Bowl relies on, well, emotion, no matter the teams’ records. Skyline has won 10 of the past 11 matchups and looks to keep the Ravsten Stadium goal post painted blue.

Preston at Snake River

Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

Preston moved down from 5A to the 4A South East Idaho Conference and might be the favorite going in. Of course four-time conference champ Snake River, which hasn’t lost a conference game in four years, will have something to say about that.

Rigby at Highland

Oct. 16, 7 p.m.
This might be the best 6A game of the year as both teams are poised to challenge for a state title. The Trojans and Rams have won the past five 6A/5A state titles, with Rigby taking four, including the past two. On paper, Highland returns more weapons, but Rigby’s younger, less-experienced squad should be firing by mid-October.

Hillcrest at Skyline

Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.
There always seems to be conference title and state playoff implications when the Knights and Grizzlies meet. This year will be no different. Blackfoot might be the favorite in the coaches’ preseason poll, but these are the two teams historically sitting atop the conference by the end of the regular season. The winner of this game has the edge the conference race, MaxPrep rankings, and bragging rights.

Aberdeen at West Side

Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.
It’s not really a cliché to say that every Friday night is a battle in the two 3A conferences in eastern Idaho. This will be just one of the competitive matchups as the Tigers and Pirates each reached the state semifinals a year ago. West Side had won five state titles since 2019 and will need to take care of business within its own conference to make another run.

Madison at Rigby

Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.
Rigby and Highland have an intense rivalry, but it doesn’t match the Trojans and Bobcats, who are separated by a 17 minute drive down US-20. Madison returns a core group of players, while Rigby has some holes to fill, but always finds a way to reload. The playoff picture should be clear by kickoff.

Grace at Butte County

Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.
Grace comes off a 9-2 season and the Pirates struggled at 1-8. Can Butte County bounce back? Is Grace still the team to beat? Challis enters the High Desert Conference as the third team. Will the Vikings be a spoiler?