High School Football Thursday Games return across the United States on September 24, 2026, with hundreds of varsity matchups scheduled before the larger Friday night slate.
Thursday's schedule stretches across the country, with particularly busy slates in Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, California, Colorado and Louisiana. The most common kickoff window is around 7:00 p.m. local time, although several games begin earlier.
Here are some of the notable matchups to follow Thursday night.
Best High School Football Thursday Games
Cherry Creek vs Cherokee Trail
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Colorado's Thursday schedule includes Cherry Creek vs Cherokee Trail during the main evening window.
Lakewood vs Villa Park
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Lakewood vs Villa Park is one of the selected California games to follow Thursday night.
Booker T. Washington vs Carol City
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Florida has more than 30 games listed for Thursday, including Booker T. Washington vs Carol City.
Forest vs Buchholz
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Forest vs Buchholz is another Florida matchup scheduled for the busy 7 p.m. window.
Holy Cross vs Edna Karr
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Louisiana has more than 20 games on the supplied Thursday schedule, with Holy Cross vs Edna Karr among the evening matchups.
Quince Orchard vs Seneca Valley
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m.
Maryland's Thursday slate includes Quince Orchard vs Seneca Valley in an earlier 6:30 p.m. window.
Aliquippa vs New Castle
Kickoff: 7:05 p.m.
Aliquippa vs New Castle is one of Pennsylvania's Thursday games, with a 7:05 p.m. listed kickoff.
American Fork vs Lone Peak
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Utah's schedule includes American Fork vs Lone Peak among its four Thursday matchups.
Prosper vs McKinney
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Texas carries by far the largest Thursday slate in the supplied schedule, and Prosper vs McKinney is one of the selected games from the state.
Byron Nelson vs Keller Central
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Byron Nelson vs Keller Central adds another North Texas matchup to the main Thursday night window.
Other Thursday Games to Follow
Other selected matchups include Parker vs Carver Montgomery, Chandler vs Brophy College Prep, West Forsyth vs North Forsyth, Omaha Westside vs Papillion-LaVista, Ursuline vs Farrell, Powell vs Knoxville Central, Bellingham vs Lynden and Glacier Peak vs Ferndale.
What Time Do Thursday High School Football Games Start?
Kickoff times vary by state and school, but 7:00 p.m. local time is the dominant evening window in the supplied September 24 schedule.
Fans will also find games beginning around 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., along with a smaller number of afternoon contests.
Because these games take place across multiple U.S. time zones, listed times should generally be treated as local to the game location.
How to Watch High School Football Thursday Games
A scheduled game does not automatically mean a livestream is available.
Fans looking for legitimate coverage should check the participating school's official athletics website, school or district media channels, the relevant state athletic association and authorized local broadcasters. NFHS Network may also carry certain matchups when officially listed.
Streaming availability can differ from one school and game to another.
How to Follow Live Scores
Fans who cannot watch can follow updates through official school and team accounts, athletic departments, established high school score services, state-association resources and reputable local sports media.
Always verify the latest kickoff time, venue and game status before kickoff because high school schedules can change.
High School Football Thursday Games on September 24
September 24 provides a substantial Thursday night slate before Friday's larger schedule arrives.
Games including Cherry Creek vs Cherokee Trail, Lakewood vs Villa Park, Booker T. Washington vs Carol City, Holy Cross vs Edna Karr, Prosper vs McKinney and American Fork vs Lone Peak are among the matchups to follow throughout the evening.
Schedule Disclaimer: Matchups and kickoff times are based on the supplied September 24, 2026 schedule and are subject to change. Confirm final information with the participating school, athletic department or another authoritative source.
