The final pieces of the 2025-26 high school football schedules are coming together.
After the TSSAA first placed each school into classifications, then made region assignments and ultimately produced region schedules, the final part of the process – coming to agreements with non-region opponents for the next two year cycles – has been completed by many.
In Region 1-6A, which went from a six-team membership to just five, six non-region opponents must be scheduled in order to have a full allotment of ten games.
It’s been proven to be a difficult task for Dobyns-Bennett and Science Hill, which at last communication with Hilltopper coach Stacy Carter, is still one game short.
Dobyns-Bennett coach Joey Christian drew a circle on the map that extended as far north as Roanoke, as far east as Spartanburg, as far south as Chattanooga and as far west as Nashville in search of games.
Coming off a Region 1-6A title and second-round playoff appearance, the Tribe found few willing parties.
Farragut? No. Tennessee High? No thanks. Not even recently crowned Class 5A state champion Sevier County was interested.
And Greeneville, Elizabethton and David Crockett weren’t coming back on the schedule either.
Christian was able to work out an agreement to continue the recent series with Asheville. Dobyns-Bennett played in Asheville last season, just one week before Hurricane Helene devastated the town and the area around the school.
Combining that uncertainty along with North Carolina’s complete overhaul of its classification system that’s not due to be completed until next spring, another two year cycle looked doubtful even before the hurricane.
However, North Carolina plays all of its non-region games in the early part of the season, saving region competition for at least the back of the season. So Christian did have to move the game to week two of the season.
The Tribe will open the 2025 season at Knox Central on Friday, August 22, followed by a visit from Asheville. The Indians will then play at Gate City, facing the ‘Devils on September 5 for the first time since October 2, 1970. Dobyns-Bennett has never won at Gate City.
Oak Ridge, which lobbied to replace William Blount inside the region but failed to garner unanimous support amongst the other five schools, will play the Indians anyway in Kingsport on September 12.
Following three weeks of Region play (Morristown East, at West Ridge, Jefferson County), the most interesting non-region game is set for week eight.
Left with no other willing dance partner and finding Class 3A Claiborne in a similar situation the Bulldogs will come to J. Fred Johnson Stadium for a game the TSSAA says will be Thursday, October 9.
Additionally, note that Claiborne, per agreement, will also come to Kingsport in 2026.
After Dobyns-Bennett’s requested open date in week nine, the Indians will close with road trips to Region 2-6A foe Bearden on October 24 and to Science Hill, initially set by the TSSAA for Thursday, October 30.
The ‘Toppers will maintain their traditional opener with Elizabethton before traveling to Morristown West and Tennessee High. Cocke County comings to Johnson City on September 19 followed by Region 1-6A games at Jefferson County and Morristown East.
After its requested open date in week eight, the ‘Toppers go to Maryville and then close with home region games against West Ridge and Dobyns-Bennett.
If you are counting, that’s just nine games with Friday, September 12 or even the planned open date as possibilities for a tenth game. Reportedly, Science Hill had an agreement with Knox Catholic, which back out before signing the contract and has been in contact with Chattanooga area private schools in hopes of completing the schedule.
One unconfirmed report has Science Hill also playing Gate City.
West Ridge was able to renew non-region opponents Tennessee High, David Crockett and Daniel Boone for the next two years. The Wolves replaced Volunteer and Lakeway Christian with Elizabethton, Hardin Valley and added Morristown West.
In Class 5A, Daniel Boone coach Jeremy Jenkins reports the Trailblazers will face non-region foes West Ridge, South Greene, Jefferson County, Union (VA), and Volunteer.
Meanwhile, David Crockett coach Hayden Chandley has scheduled Unicoi County, West Ridge, Morristown East and Cherokee but is still searching for a final non-region contest.
Tennessee High’s non-region opponents thus far include West Ridge, Elizabethton, Science Hill, leaving the Vikings with still two spots to fill.
Region 1-4A squads required only three non-region games for a complete schedule. Elizabethton will play its three non-region games to open the season - at Science Hill, at Tennessee High and its home opener against West Ridge.
Greeneville will open at Morristown West, then play an intriguing home game against Upperman before traveling to Sevier County on September 26.
Note that all Class 4A games in Week 11 are scheduled for Thursday, October 30, including the Cyclones game against the Greene Devils in Greeneville.
Volunteer’s non-region schedule includes Daniel Boone, Claiborne and Chuckey-Doak; Cherokee will face Pigeon Forge, Campbell County and David Crockett; and Sullivan East gets Johnson County, Chuckey-Doak and Eagleton Academy.
Here are the current 2025 high school football schedules for area schools. Note that dates are subject to change. Also, schedules are flipped per location for the 2026 season.
CLASS 6A
DOBYNS-BENNETT
Friday, August 22 – at Knox Central
Friday, August 29 – Asheville
Friday, September 5 – at Gate City
Friday, September 12 – Oak Ridge
Friday, September 19 – Morristown East*
Friday, September 26 – at West Ridge*
Friday, October 3 – Jefferson County*
Thursday, October 9 – Claiborne
Friday, October 17 – Requested Open Date
Friday, October 24 – at Bearden
Thursday, October 30 – at Science Hill*
SCIENCE HILL
Friday, August 22 – Elizabethton
Friday, August 29 – at Morristown West
Friday, September 5 – at Tennessee High
Friday, September 12
Friday, September 19 – Cocke County
Friday, September 26 – at Jefferson County*
Friday, October 3 – at Morristown East*
Friday, October 10 – Requested Open Date
Friday, October 17 – at Maryville
Friday, October 24 – West Ridge*
Thursday, October 30 – Dobyns-Bennett*
WEST RIDGE
Friday, August 22 – Tennessee High
Friday, August 29 – at David Crockett
Friday, September 5 – at Elizabethton
Friday, September 12 – Hardin Valley
Friday, September 19 – at Daniel Boone
Friday, September 26 – Dobyns-Bennett*
Thursday, October 2 – at Morristown West
Friday, October 10 – Requested Open Date
Friday, October 17 – Morristown East*
Friday, October 24 – at Science Hill*
Thursday, October 30 – at Jefferson County*
CLASS 5A
DANIEL BOONE - (Jefferson County, Union TBD)
Friday, August 22 – at Volunteer
Friday, August 29 – South Greene
Friday, September 5
Friday, September 12 – Sevier County*
Friday, September 19 – West Ridge
Friday, September 26 – Cocke County*
Friday, October 3
Friday, October 10 – Requested Open Date (Jeff County?)
Friday, October 17 – at Morristown West*
Friday, October 24 – at David Crockett*
Friday, October 31 – Tennessee High*
DAVID CROCKETT
Friday, August 22 – at Unicoi County
Friday, August 29 – West Ridge
Friday, September 5 – at Morristown East
Friday, September 12 – Morristown West*
Friday, September 19 – at Sevier County*
Friday, September 26
Friday, October 3 – at Tennessee High*
Friday, October 10 – Requested Open Date
Friday, October 17 – Cherokee
Friday, October 24 – Daniel Boone*
Friday, October 31 – Cocke County*
TENNESSEE HIGH
Friday, August 22 – at West Ridge
Friday, August 29 – Elizabethton
Friday, September 5 – Science Hill
Friday, September 12 – at Cocke County*
Friday, September 19 – Requested Open Date
Friday, September 26
Friday, October 3 – David Crockett*
Friday, October 10 – Morristown West*
Friday, October 17 – at Sevier County*
Friday, October 24
Friday, October 31 – at Daniel Boone*
CLASS 4A
ELIZABETHTON
Friday, August 22 – at Science Hill
Friday, August 29 – at Tennessee High
Friday, September 5 – West Ridge
Friday, September 12 – at Volunteer*
Friday, September 19 – at Cherokee*
Friday, September 26 – Northview Academy*
Friday, October 3 – at Grainger*
Friday, October 10 – Requested Open Date
Friday, October 17 – Sullivan East*
Friday, October 24 – Seymour*
Thursday, October 30 – at Greeneville*
GREENEVILLE
Friday, August 22 – at Morristown West
Friday, August 29 – Upperman
Friday, September 5 – Northview Academy*
Friday, September 12 – at Seymour*
Friday, September 19 – at Sullivan East*
Friday, September 26 – at Sevier County
Friday, October 3 – Cherokee*
Friday, October 10 – Requested Open Date
Friday, October 17 – at Volunteer*
Friday, October 24 – Grainger*
Thursday, October 30 – Elizabethton*
VOLUNTEER
Friday, August 22 – Daniel Boone
Friday, August 29 – at Claiborne
Friday, September 5 – Grainger*
Friday, September 12 – Elizabethton*
Friday, September 19 – at Seymour*
Friday, September 26 – Requested Open Date
Friday, October 3 – at Northview Academy*
Friday, October 10 – at Chuckey-Doak
Friday, October 17 – Greeneville*
Friday, October 24 – at Cherokee*
Thursday, October 30 – Sullivan East*
CHEROKEE
Friday, August 22 – at Pigeon Forge
Friday, August 29 – Campbell County
Friday, September 5 – Sullivan East*
Friday, September 12 – at Grainger*
Friday, September 19 – Elizabethton*
Friday, September 26 – Seymour*
Friday, October 3 – at Greeneville*
Friday, October 10 – Requested Open Date
Friday, October 17 – at David Crockett
Friday, October 24 – Volunteer*
Thursday, October 30 – at Northview Academy*
SULLIVAN EAST
Friday, August 22 – at Johnson County
Friday, August 29 – Chuckey-Doak
Friday, September 5 – at Cherokee*
Friday, September 12 – Eagleton Academy
Friday, September 19 – Greeneville*
Friday, September 26 – at Grainger*
Friday, October 3 – Seymour*
Friday, October 10 – Requested Open Date
Friday, October 17 – at Elizabethton*
Friday, October 24 – Northview Academy*
Thursday, October 30 – at Volunteer*
CLASS 3A
UNICOI COUNTY
Friday, August 22 – David Crockett
Thursday, August 28 – at Northview Academy
Friday, September 5 – Gatlinburg-Pittman
Friday, September 12 – at Chuckey-Doak
Friday, September 19 – at Happy Valley
Friday, September 26 – at Pigeon Forge*
Friday, October 3 – Requested Open Date
Friday, October 10 – Grainger
Friday, October 17 – at Claiborne*
Thursday, October 23 – West Greene
Friday, October 31 – Johnson County*
JOHNSON COUNTY
Friday, August 22 – Sullivan East
Friday, August 29 – at Hampton
Friday, September 5 – South Greene
Friday, September 12 – at Claiborne*
Friday, September 19 – at Cloudland
Friday, September 26 – at Chuckey-Doak*
Friday, October 3
Friday, October 10 – Pigeon Forge*
Friday, October 17
Friday, October 24 – Gatlinburg-Pittman*
Friday, October 31 – at Unicoi County*
CLASS 2A
HAPPY VALLEY
Friday, August 22 – at Unaka
Friday, August 29 – Cloudland
Friday, September 5 – at Claiborne
Friday, September 12 – Hampton
Friday, September 19 – Unicoi County
Friday, September 26 – at Thomas Walker (VA)
Friday, October 3 – Hancock County
Friday, October 10 – at Cumberland Gap*
Friday, October 17 – West Greene*
Friday, October 24 – Requested Open Date
Thursday, October 30 – at South Greene*
CLASS 1A
CLOUDLAND
Friday, August 22 - at Midway
Friday, August 29 – at Happy Valley
Friday, September 5 – Open Date
Friday, September 12 – at Hancock County*
Friday, September 19 – Johnson County
Friday, September 26 – at Jellico*
Friday, October 3 – Cosby*
Friday, October 10 – at Sunbright*
Friday, October 17 – at North Greene*
Friday, October 24 - Unaka*
Friday, October 31 - Hampton*
HAMPTON
Friday, August 22
Friday, August 29 – Johnson County
Friday, September 5 – at Sunbright*
Friday, September 12 – at Happy Valley
Friday, September 19 – Jellico*
Friday, September 26 – North Greene*
Friday, October 3 – at Unaka*
Friday, October 10
Friday, October 17 – Hancock County*
Friday, October 24 – at Cosby*
Friday, October 31 – at Cloudland*
UNAKA
Friday, August 22 – Happy Valley
Friday, August 29 – J.I. Burton (VA)
Friday, September 5 – at Twin Springs (VA)
Friday, September 12 – at Cosby*
Friday, September 19 – Hancock County*
Friday, September 26 – at Sunbright*
Friday, October 3 – Hampton*
Friday, October 10 – Jellico*
Friday, October 17 – Open Date
Friday, October 24 – at Cloudland*
Friday, October 31 – at North Greene*
