Garden County opens title defense at home as 2026 football schedules released

SIDNEY, Neb. — The Nebraska School Activities Association released the 2026 high school football schedules Wednesday.

Garden County, the defending Class D6 state champion, will begin its title defense at home in Week 1 against Hay Springs. The Eagles will have a bye in Week 2 before traveling to Southwest in Week 3. Key district matchups include road games against South Platte in Week 6 and Potter-Dix in Week 7. Garden County closes the regular season at home in Week 9 against Leyton.

Sidney, the defending Class C1 state runner-up, opens the year on the road at Broken Bow in Week 1. The Red Raiders host Sterling, Colorado, in Week 2 before traveling to Gering in Week 3. Other highlights include home games against Adams Central, Ogallala and Kearney Catholic. Sidney closes the regular season at Alliance in Week 8 before returning home for Cozad in Week 9.

Bridgeport returns to 11-man football in Class C2 and opens at home against Wood River. The Bulldogs face early road tests at Wheatland, Wyoming, and St. Paul before hosting Hampton/Heartland in Week 4. Bridgeport’s schedule also includes matchups with Valentine, Mitchell, Chase County, Chadron and Hershey.

Bayard begins its first season in the new Class D3 with a Week 0 road game at Sandhills Valley. The Tigers host Hemingford in Week 1 and Kimball in Week 4. Bayard closes its regular season with a Week 9 bye.

Kimball, competing in Class D1, opens at Gordon-Rushville and hosts Perkins County in Week 2. In D6, Banner County, Creek Valley, Leyton, Potter-Dix and South Platte round out district schedules, with several rivalry games spread throughout the nine-week regular season.

2026 and 2027 NSAA Football Schedules:

Class A | Class B | Class C1 | Class C2 | Class D1 | Class D2 | Class D3 | Class D6