We are one week away from the start of the 2026 football season in Idaho, with plenty of dates to circle on the calendar.
To see the schedules for each of the 3A schools, follow this link and click your school.
We decided to highlight some of the 3A matchups that stood out to us on first glance.
Logos at Wendell
Saturday, August 22 at 7 p.m.
This game is intriguing for a couple of reasons. Let’s start with Logos, the private Christian school in Moscow. Long known as a school with successful cross country, basketball, and track and field programs, the Knights started playing varsity football for the first time in 2021. In five years of existence, Logos has 36 wins, 18 losses, 2 league championships, three playoff appearances and one championship game appearance. That all came as a 2A school playing eight-man football, though. Despite having the enrollment of a 2A school, Logos anticipates student population growth as they construct a new campus that can accommodate more kids, and thus, the Knights have voluntarily moved up to 3A and are playing 11-man football for the first time. They’ll face Wendell in their first 11-man game. The Trojans are seeking redemption after low numbers and injuries forced them to cancel their varsity season after just two games in 2025.
Declo at Nampa Christian
Friday, August 28 at 7 p.m.
WATCH ON IDAHOSPORTS.COM
Nampa Christian has not beaten Declo since 2021, going 0-5 against the Hornets since a 28-20 win. The losing streak included a 25-18 setback in August of last year. And yet, it was Nampa Christian who outlasted Declo on the bracket once the postseason rolled around. Declo was bounced by Nampa Christian’s Western Idaho Conference rival New Plymouth in the quarterfinals, while the Trojans went all the way to the top of the mountain, dispatching Ririe in overtime to win the 3A championship. The Trojans were hit hard by graduation, while Declo’s losses were more muted. So put me down for another Declo win here. However, I’m most interested to see how Nampa Christian looks with an almost entirely new group of players, and a new head coach in Daniel Miller.
Buhl at New Plymouth
Friday, August 28 at 7 p.m.
New Plymouth only lost twice a year ago: to eventual champ Nampa Christian in the regular season, and to eventual runner-up Ririe in the 3A semifinals. Led by junior running back/linebacker Braxton Mowder (a 1st Team All-Conference selection at both positions), the Pilgrims are ready to take the next step in Brody von Brethorst’s second season as head coach. We’re used to seeing Buhl compete as a 4A school, but the Indians just sneaked under the enrollment cutoff line and will be a 3A program for the next two years (for what it’s worth, Buhl officials anticipate their enrollment will place them back in 4A after this two-year cycle). Due to larger numbers than most other programs, and some talented athletes returning, the Indians instantly become a threat to advance deep into the playoffs. This will be a great measuring stick game for both squads.
Declo at Aberdeen
Friday, September 4 at 7 p.m.
WATCH ON IDAHOSPORTS.COM
Declo and Aberdeen have played some entertaining ballgames against each other over the past couple of seasons. Last year, the Hornets earned a 21-14 win. The 21 points allowed by Aberdeen’s defense? It was the highest total they gave up all year. The offensive playmakers come and go, but the one constant with Aberdeen lately has been suffocating defense. This will be a great measuring stick game for both of these squads.
Aberdeen at Ririe
Friday, September 18 at 7 p.m.
Another measuring stick game, but this time it’s for Ririe. The Bulldogs nearly achieved their first football championship in school history last season, but bitterly fell to Nampa Christian in overtime in the state title game. 13 seniors graduated off of that team, though, so the jury is out on whether Ririe has enough waiting in the wings to replace all of that production. Ririe defeated Aberdeen last season 20-8, so the Tiger will be ready for payback.
West Side at Declo
Friday, September 25 at 7 p.m.
WATCH ON IDAHOSPORTS.COM
For the past several seasons, the statewide 3A football landscape has been dominated by punishing running games on offense and smothering defenses. Just look at some of the scores from last year we have been highlighting in the games mentioned above: 21-14, 20-8, etc. Most teams are fortunate to get to 21 points, and that’s certainly the case with these two. Last year’s final score between West Side and Declo? 20-8 in favor of the Pirates. West Side was toppled in last year’s semifinals by Nampa Christian, and then said goodbye to a lot of talent in graduation. By this point in the season, the new Pirates should be well-integrated, and so this game is shaping up to be another defensive classic.
North Fremont at Firth
Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m.
The Nuclear Conference has typically been won by either North Fremont or Firth. The two rivals have traded blows over the past several seasons, and their contests usually seem to come down to a well-timed turnover in a critical moment. Last year represented a slight departure from the norm, as Ririe stormed to the Nuke title, pushing North Fremont to second. Firth fell even further, behind West Jefferson into fourth place. All four of those teams watched serious talent walk away in graduation gowns this past spring, which means the Nuke title is officially there for the taking? Who will seize the moment? Call me crazy, but I think we’re due for a throwback to North Fremont and Firth. I think the winner of this game wins the league.
Aberdeen at West Side
Friday, October 16 at 7 p.m.
West Side shut out Aberdeen last season, 21-0, which in 3A football parlance might as well be 45-0. The Pirates return All-State running back Crew Sage but not much else. Aberdeen, meanwhile, will turn to quarterback Isaac Driscoll, who saw valuable playing time in last year’s run to the 3A semifinals after starting QB Lupe Ortiz went down with an injury. The winner of this game most likely wins the South East Idaho Conference as well, so there will be a lot on the line.
Priest River at Grangeville
Friday, October 23 at 7 p.m.
Priest River rudely interrupted Grangeville’s string of dominance in the Central Idaho League last season, defeating the Bulldogs 42-6 on their way to a perfect 4-0 season in the CIL. That win came on September 5th, and I’ll admit, I like that this year’s battle is reserved for the final week of the regular season. There’s no doubt in my mind that the CIL championship will be on the line. The question is: will Grangeville take it back, or will Priest River make it two in a row?
Buhl at Declo
Friday, October 23 at 7 p.m.
After a two-year sojourn to the South East Idaho Conference in District 5, Declo and Wendell are reestablishing the Canyon Conference, which is exclusive to District 4 members. They were able to do so because Buhl has dropped a level from 4A, making the Canyon Conference a three-team affair. With Wendell still rebuilding, the winner of this game wins the conference.