We are mere days away from the kickoff of the 2024 Texas high school football season, with 1,471 of the 1,515 varsity teams across the Lone Star State scheduled to play in Week 1. And while the playoffs will determine the state champion, and district play will determine the playoffs, there's a unique thrill in a major non-district matchup — coaches are free to schedule who they want, when they want, where they want, and that sets up some colossal matchups that you otherwise would never get to see.

There are literally thousands of non-district games kicking off in Week 1, but let's narrow them down to a top 25. Before we start, a few caveats:

NO OUT-OF-STATE GAMES: It's becoming more and more common for Texas teams to play squads from outside the state lines — there were 94 such games in 2023. I'm going to exclude them from this list for two reasons. First: I'll plead ignorance on most of the out-of-state teams, so I can't make a fair and consistent assessment of the game quality; and second: I just prefer Texas vs. Texas games.

ONE GAME PER TEAM: In the interest of giving the widest possible berth, I'm limiting the list to one non-district game per team. So while we could put Celina's entire non-district schedule on this list pretty easily, the Bobcats only get one entry. To make up for it, I'll include some honorable mentions at the end.

On to the Top 25!

25. Austin Westlake vs. Humble Atascocita, September 13
24. Jonesboro vs. Abilene Christian, August 30
23. Sunray vs. Stratford, September 13
A saucy little matchup in the Panhandle between 2A teams that swapped divisions. Sunray is moving up to 2A Division I with eyes set on immediate contention, and why not? Record-obliterating quarterback Armando Lujan is back for his senior season, flanked by a talented group of skill guys and a defense that should take a step. Stratford, meanwhile, drops down to Division II after a run to the DI state semifinals last season, and two-way monster Bryce Braden and the Elks are ready to make their mark — they are, after all, the No. 1 team in DCTF's preseason rankings. This is a fascinating checkpoint for both of these teams, each of whom could list this as a signature win.

22. Brownwood vs. Glen Rose, September 13
21. Tidehaven vs. Ganado, September 20
20. Bushland vs. Canadian, September 6
19. Parish Episcopal vs. Bellaire Episcopal, September 6
18. Malakoff vs. Grandview, September 20
17. Pleasant Grove vs. Daingerfield, September 13
16. San Antonio Holy Cross vs. Dallas First Baptist, October 18
That is not a typo this non-district contest is happening in Week 8. Strange scheduling protocols aside (I think both teams just needed a tenth game and had mutual open dates here), this is an absolute blockbuster in the private school ranks, featuring (preseason) No. 3 Holy Cross against No. 6 First Baptist. For Holy Cross, coming off a run to the TAPPS Division III state championship has fueled tangible buzz in the Alamo City, and with 19 starters back in the fold — including all-state QB Gibby Alvarado — the Knights think this is the year they finish the job. But the mid-season clash with First Baptist will test their mettle, as the reigning TAPPS Division IV state champ should again have one of Texas' most potent offenses, headlined by towering receiver Kaleb Mitchell.

15. Stephenville vs. Waco La Vega, September 27
14. Whiteface vs. Klondike, September 20
13. Frisco Lone Star vs. Argyle, August 30
Right out of the chute, we get this Top 10 matchup of DFW Class 5A powerhouses, and frankly, an opportunity for both teams to launch themselves into the upper crust of their respective divisions. In Division II, much of the elite-tier conversation revolves around last year's state championship participants, Port Neches-Groves and South Oak Cliff; Argyle is knocking on the door, and if QB Maguire Gasperson can engineer a victory over Lone Star, they could enter that conversation with PNG and SOC. Similarly but not exactly in Division I, there is a clear upper echelon including Aledo and up to four other teams like Denton Ryan and Smithson Valley; Lone Star can absolutely announce itself as a certified contender with a season-opening win.

12. Poth vs. Shiner, September 13
11. Stamford vs. Albany, August 30
10. Edna vs. Refugio, September 13
Down on the coast, we'll get a dual-snapshot of two elite teams in some semblance of transition. For Refugio, life without coach Jason Herring begins as Drew Cox takes the headset, and he'll reload the usual stable of outstanding talent for the Bobcats, this year led by running back Jordon King. Edna's a bit more of a finished product at the outset — 15 starters return from last year's state semifinalists — but they importantly must replace do-everything QB Jaiden Clay, instead leaning more on the playmaking ability of folks like Braylen Harris. The winner here will be brimming with confidence that the reload is ahead of schedule.

9. Kilgore vs. Gilmer, September 13
Throw a rock in East Texas and you're sure to hit an absolute scorcher, and this Week 3 tilt is a good example. There are many parallels between these two ballclubs — both start the year in the Top 5, both will deal with tough district tests down the road (Chapel Hill for Kilgore, Pleasant Grove for Gilmer) — but the headline here is going to be how the game breaks down stylistically. Kilgore won a 24-23 slobberknocker last year, and with all-everything DB/WR Jaylen Sanders leading the way, the Bulldogs are happy to play that kind of game again. Gilmer will have the more explosive offense (because, well, they'll have one of the state's most explosive offenses), and QB Cadon Tennison and company may want to turn this into a track meet. This is must-see stuff.

8. Westbrook vs. Jayton, August 29
The headliner of the 21st annual Jayton Gridiron Classic, and if you're a six-man football fan, it doesn't get any better than this. Westbrook is anxious to get the bitter taste of the state championship game loss out of its mouth, and while there's reloading to do, Grayson Jeffrey is more than capable of carrying the load for the Wildcats. Aside from the homefield one, Jayton will enjoy the advantage of being the more finished product out of the gates — nine starters return from last year's regional finalist, including four-year two-way star Ayden Salazar. It's the best game in the state of Texas on the opening night of the season, and it's the second-best six-man non-district game that weekend (that's a tease for later).

7. DeSoto vs. North Crowley, September 6
OK, now we're cooking with gas — the two-time defending 6A Division II state champs against one of the fastest-rising programs in the state. North Crowley's ascent under Ray Gates has been nothing short of meteoric, taking over an also-ran 7-4 program and guiding them to 26 wins in two seasons. This could be the Panthers' big breakout year behind a star-studded offense, but they'll get the final boss in Week 2 with an opportunity to take on DeSoto. The Eagles are not without their questions — who replaces superstar QB DJ Bailey, most notably — but they finished 2023 as the finest pound-for-pound team in Texas, and they'll start their title defense with that crown as well. Come for DeSoto RB Tiger Riden and North Crowley QB Chris Jimerson; stay for the fabulous matchup in the trenches.

6. Texas High vs. Argyle Liberty Christian, September 6
The finest public-versus-private game in the state this season pits a team looking to climb the mountaintop against a team looking to remain there. Argyle Liberty Christian is coming off its TAPPS Division II state championship, and coach Jason Witten (yes, that Jason Witten) has his Warriors loaded for bear again with QB Brady Janusek and LB CJ Witten leading the charge. Meanwhile, out in Texarkana, there's a feeling that this could really be the year for the Tigers, boasting not just one of the finest young running backs in America in Tradarian Ball, but a total of 16 starters returning from a regional semifinal ballclub. The tricky part of these public-private matchups is sizing up the squads — where would Liberty Christian slot if they were in the UIL? My gut tells me that they'd be a Top 5 team in Class 5A, making this one of the best games in the state in Week 2.

5. Celina vs. Gunter, September 13
It's hard to pick a non-district game for both of these title contenders (both are loaded up with massive early-season games) but it turns out the right choice is the one against one another. What's fascinating here isn't just that these two teams are excellent — top-ranked Gunter against No. 4 Celina — but the size difference as well. Gunter is the two-time defending 3A Division II state champion, the undisputed king of that classification...punching up a full class to take on 4A DI Celina. The enrollment disparity here is striking, with Celina boasting 1,177 students, more than three times bigger than Gunter's 363. Can Gunter match up in the trenches against massive offensive line led by Zayden Dimas? Can Celina diagnose the new-look Tigers offense with Preston Tarpley taking the reins at QB? Intrigue abounds, for a myriad of reasons.

4. Bellville vs. Columbus, September 27
It's a 4A vs. 3A matchup of powerhouses, and by the time this game rolls around in Week 5, we should have a pretty decent feel for who these teams are. Bellville played in the 4A Division II title game last year, falling short to Gilmer, and while they graduate some key pieces, the star power is undeniable, especially superstar brothers defensive tackle DJ Sanders and running back DD Murray. But speaking of star-studded, there may be no more star-studded team per capita in Texas than Columbus. Whether it's QB Adam Schoebel, RB John Schoebel, TE/DE Anthony Shorter...or newcomer Grayson Rigdon, in from Benjamin after three of the best years of six-man football we've ever seen, the Cardinals are ready for prime time. If they can punch up a classification and get a win, it'll send a signal loud and clear through 3A that they're the team to beat.

3. Abbott vs. Oglesby, August 30
No classification in Texas is as fearless about scheduling outrageous non-district games as Class 1A, which leads us to six-man bangers like this, with the No. 1 team in 1A Division II (Oglesby) taking on the No. 2 team in 1A Division I (Abbott). You just don't see that in other classifications, at least with the frequency you see it in six-man. With the turmoil of Grayson Rigdon's departure from Benjamin, Oglesby — the state runner-up last season — surged into the top spot thanks to the finest player in six-man football in Kyler Fossett; he's an electric factory, and fully capable of taking the Tigers all the way. But their path to redemption starts with an opening contest against Abbott, which is a certified DI title contender thanks to guys like Joey Pavelka and Riley Sustala. Add in the fact that this will be the first game for new Abbott coach Kyle Crawford, and you've got a season opener with more storylines than you can count.

2. Duncanville vs. South Oak Cliff, September 6
Even if you're a Texas high school football casual, I probably don't have to work very hard to sell you on this game very hard — two household name squads, each of whom have played in the last three state championship games in their respective classifications and won two of them, loaded with prospects, squaring off in the second week of the season. The connection between these two head coaches is well-documented, and there's a lot of mutual respect in this game, but that doesn't mean it's going to be patty-cake. What I will be watching most in this game is how well these teams have addressed their relative weaknesses at this early juncture. Has South Oak Cliff found some playmakers, including a quarterback? What does Duncanville's defensive front look like? Who's the heir-apparent for running back Caden Durham at Duncanville? The star power here is off the charts with Dakorien Moore and Keelon Russell and Jayden Shelton and dozens of others, but the real beauty of this game is the measuring stick it'll be for these two programs moving forward, each of whom hope to be at AT&T Stadium in mid-December.

1. Tyler Chapel Hill vs. Carthage, September 20
To find the best of the best, you need to go east, which is no surprise considering the depth of quality out yonder. Carthage is no stranger to scheduling difficult non-district games, if only because the Bulldogs have trouble finding willing dance partners. And as the Bulldogs attempt to shake off the still-shocking loss to eventual state champ Gilmer, the Carthage Revenge Tour will hit full gear in this Week 4 tilt against a team that played for the 4A Division I title last season. Chapel Hill's electrifying run to AT&T Stadium may have ended contrary to what they'd hoped, but they return absolutely loaded with playmakers including QB Demetrius Brisbon and RB Rickey Stewart. Can they find a way past an experienced, hungry Carthage squad featuring RB Kash Edwards, QB Jett Surratt, LB Klayton Ingram and more? Though there's no actual consequence on the line, this feels like a high-stakes game — a Cartahge win would prove the Revenge Tour is officially on; a Chapel Hill win would be seismic in establishing them as a sustainable East Texas title threat. Tons to dissect, tons to learn, and that's why it's the biggest non-district game in Texas in 2024.

Honorable Mentions (Mostly Because They've Already Got Another Game In The Top 25): Tyler Chapel Hill vs. Gilmer, North Shore vs. South Oak Cliff, Kilgore vs. Carthage, Gunter vs. Houston Kinkaid, Celina vs. Bellville, Westbrook vs. Jonesboro, Jayton vs. Klondike, Celina vs. Franklin, Bellville vs. Hitchcock, Gordon vs. Fort Worth Covenant Classical, May vs. Oglesby, Pasadena First Baptist vs. Fort Worth Covenant Classical, Hawley vs. Albany, Decatur vs. Argyle Liberty Christian, Happy vs. Klondike, Whiteface vs. Happy, Austin LBJ vs. Parish Episcopal, Knox City vs. Jayton, Gordon vs. Follett, Glen Rose vs. Grandview, Knox City vs. Klondike, Celina vs. Waco La Vega, Poth vs. Falls City, Kilgore vs. Pleasant Grove, Newcastle vs. Jayton