How many high school football teams from the Lubbock area will have Decembers to remember? Who will be the quarterbacks to make names for themselves?
Those are among the biggest questions for the South Plains in 2026. Let's examine them and others as the regular season sits two weeks away.
How will Lubbock teams fare in a new-look 5A?
Get used to hearing it this school year, because it's true in all sports: Class 5A for Lubbock schools is quite different. With its division split, football underwent more dramatic change.
There's no greater example than Coronado's drop to 5A Division II. The Mustangs were separated from their Lubbock ISD brethren, but that opened opportunities for non-district contests with rivals Lubbock High and Monterey.
In Coronado's place enters Frenship and Frenship Memorial. The latter is a question mark in itself with the program's inaugural varsity season. The former 6A Tigers are new to the scene as well.
What's formed is a District 2-5A D-I in which half the teams will be finished come early November. Abilene High enters as the favorite, with traditional powers Amarillo High and Amarillo Tascosa looking to improve upon 2025. If those three make the playoffs, that leaves one spot for the Lubbock area.
Coronado and Lubbock-Cooper face a similar level of challenge in D-II. Amarillo Palo Duro is expected to compete for the region title, and Abilene Cooper also reached the 2025 area round.
Who will emerge as the top passers in the Lubbock area?
Between graduation and a transfer, the Lubbock area's top four in passing yards are gone. Eight of the top 10 didn't return. That opens the door for new blood.
Jonah Reed enters his senior year at Monterey as the returning leader from the regular season. He threw for 2,245 yards, 26 TDs and nine interceptions in his first season with the Plainsmen. Littlefield's Sammy Saenz, a dual threat who was thrust into action after an injury, was ninth with 1,697 yards, 19 TDs and seven picks.
Among the returners who could be in the mix are Levelland's Ethan Salazar and Farwell's Kolson Allen. Each surpassed 1,200 yards passing in the 2025 regular season.
Which team will make the deepest playoff run?
The South Plains is no stranger to the six-man football state championships. At least one team from the area has made it to AT&T Stadium the past two seasons and three of the past five.
It's been a different story in the UIL 11-man ranks, but this year begins with more outside optimism. The closest calls in the past five seasons were state-semifinal appearances by New Home (2022), Lubbock-Cooper (2021) and Roosevelt (2021).
Four Lubbock-area teams begin ranked in their classification's top 10, led by 2A D-II No. 3 Ropes. That doesn't always predict playoff success, especially given the usual strength of Region I.
Dave Campbell's Texas Football projected Idalou (3A D-II) and Post (2A D-I) to reach at least the semifinals. Could either take it a step farther? Is there a local state contender flying under the radar?
Who will win the most competitive districts in the Lubbock area?
As far as paper tells us, most districts involving Lubbock-area teams have consensus favorites. That's not to say there won't be surprises along the way.
The tightest races at the top appear to be in smaller classifications. In fact, the deepest district in the South Plains is in six-man.
In a classification in which two teams make the playoffs, District 5-1A D-I has four teams in DCTF's preseason top 25. Borden County, Klondike and Sands are capable of deep postseason runs, but at least one won't get that chance.
Farwell and Hale Center should decide District 2-2A D-I. Shallowater, Bushland and Dalhart could be in for another three-team battle royale in 1-3A D-I. New Deal, New Home and Post split the 3-2A D-I title last year, although the Antelopes enter as the frontrunner in the competitive league.
Which first-year head coach will have the most success?
It was a relatively quiet offseason for local coaching changes, with seven taking place at the 11-man level. Lamesa, Abernathy, Floydada, Crosbyton, Lockney, Ralls and Lubbock Christian will have new guys in charge.
Four of those — Lamesa, Abernathy, Lockney and Lubbock Christian — made the playoffs last season. That group also includes the better situations awaiting those coaches. The others combined for four wins.
The most successful transitions of power often come from internal hires. Abernathy and Lubbock Christian did just that with Keith Bloskas and Sam Collins, respectively. Each was previously his program's offensive coordinator.
Collins enters with the biggest shoes to fill. The Eagles won the 2025 TAPPS Division III state championship.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 5 burning questions for Lubbock's 2026 high school football season