The 2026 UIL football playoffs opened with a warning to every contender: regular-season records do not guarantee a second week. Three teams from my original 48 Final Four selections were eliminated, including one of my leading state championship contenders.
A&M Consolidated shocked unbeaten Richmond Randle, La Vernia eliminated Kerrville Tivy in a 127-point game, and Ozona sent district champion Post home. Meanwhile, several favorites delivered convincing performances, setting up an outstanding area-round schedule November 19-21.
A&M Consolidated Delivers the Biggest Upset
Richmond Randle entered the 5A Division I playoffs at 10-0, having dominated most opponents throughout the regular season. I ranked the Lions just behind DeSoto and picked them to reach the state championship game.
Instead, A&M Consolidated stunned Randle 28-24 in one of the biggest upsets of the opening round.
The Tigers jumped ahead 21-3 before Randle rallied, cutting the deficit to 21-17 at halftime. The Lions eventually took a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter.
However, with less than two minutes remaining, A&M Consolidated quarterback Holt Goodwin connected with Mari Moore for the winning touchdown on third-and-26.
The loss ended Randle’s undefeated season and a remarkable stretch that included the 2024 state championship and a return to the title game in 2025.
Randle running back Landen Williams-Callis rushed for 235 yards and two touchdowns, surpassing 10,000 career rushing yards in his final high school game. The Texas commit finished with an unofficial 10,206 career yards, one of the greatest rushing totals in state history.
A&M Consolidated (7-4) advances to face Goose Creek Memorial, which defeated Houston Milby 82-34. Angleton, College Station, La Porte and Port Arthur Memorial also remain in a Region III bracket that suddenly looks considerably different.
Two More Final Four Picks Fall
Two More Final Four Picks Fall
Kerrville Tivy’s elimination was nearly as dramatic. The Antlers lost 64-63 to La Vernia in the 4A Division I opener. Tivy led 63-56 late, but La Vernia quarterback Cooper Null scored on a 28-yard run and converted the go-ahead two-point attempt with 1:02 remaining.
Tivy was my Region IV selection, ahead of Calallen and Somerset. With the Antlers eliminated and Somerset also falling to Davenport, that region looks considerably different. Calallen remains in contention, while La Vernia advances to face Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway in the area round.
In 2A Division I, Ozona delivered another major upset, defeating Post 32-21. The Antelopes entered at 9-1 as district champions, while Ozona finished the regular season 5-5.
Post pulled within 24-21 before Isaac Vega returned an interception for a touchdown with 1:21 remaining. The result eliminated my Region I finalist and sent Ozona into a second-round meeting with Olton.
Three losses across three classifications have already changed my Final Four outlook. However, 45 of my original 48 projected state semifinalists survived the opening round.
Other Upsets and Close Calls
Waller’s 44-41 overtime victory over previously unbeaten Cedar Park was one of the biggest surprises in 6A Division II. The win gave Waller its first playoff victory since 2014.
Cypress Lakes also survived a dramatic finish, rallying from 17 points down to defeat Klein Collins 40-38 on Jose Campos’ last-second field goal.
In 6A Division I, Duncanville trailed Hewitt Midway 42-35 entering the fourth quarter before scoring 28 unanswered points to win 63-42. Bridgeland escaped Austin Vandegrift 30-28, while Harlingen defeated La Joya 51-50.
West Orange-Stark narrowly avoided joining the upset list. The Mustangs needed a late rally to beat Van 40-36 in 4A Division II. Montgomery, another projected semifinalist, survived a 62-55 test against Dayton in 5A Division II.
Elsewhere, Beaumont United’s 47-6 victory over Houston Madison came amid grief following the death of teammate Tayrn Duhon. The Timberwolves honored him while beginning their postseason run, with his mother in attendance.
State Championship Favorites Deliver
Allen opened its 6A Division I run by blanking Hebron 73-0. North Shore defeated Deer Park 62-14, while Waxahachie beat Copperas Cove 42-10. Cibolo Steele advanced with a 44-24 victory over San Antonio Reagan.
In 6A Division II, North Crowley overwhelmed Lake Belton 55-0. C.E. King defeated Clear Springs 77-14, Southlake Carroll beat Weatherford 56-14, and Austin Westlake shut out Hays 45-0. All four of my projected semifinalists advanced.
DeSoto defeated North Mesquite 72-6 in 5A Division I. Smithson Valley scored 77 against Laredo Nixon, and Frisco Lone Star beat Birdville 66-21. In 5A Division II, South Oak Cliff beat Whitehouse 46-7, Argyle defeated Frisco Panther Creek 65-17, and Mansfield Timberview routed Waco 77-6.
Stephenville began its 4A Division I title defense with a 51-14 victory over Navasota. Carthage defeated Quinlan Ford 56-15 in 4A Division II, while Brock and La Vega also won convincingly.
The smaller classifications produced their own decisive results. Gunter beat Groesbeck 64-13, Jefferson defeated Redwater 79-20, Shiner beat Freer 70-7, and Gruver defeated Plains 69-14. In six-man football, Gordon scored 90 against Northside, and Richland Springs put up 98 against Panther Creek.
Area-Round Matchups Worth Watching
The next round begins November 19, and several contenders will face much tougher opposition.
In 6A Division I, Lewisville meets Coppell after beating Prosper 34-24. Allen faces Euless Trinity, while Lake Travis and Cibolo Steele meet in one of the bracket’s most intriguing early matchups. Steele is my Region IV pick, but Lake Travis belongs in the championship conversation.
The 6A Division II matchup between C.E. King and Alvin Shadow Creek is especially important. I ranked King second overall and Shadow Creek fourth. Only one can advance to the regional round. North Crowley faces North Forney, which eliminated Wylie East 49-7.
DeSoto faces Melissa in 5A Division I, while Frisco Lone Star meets Lancaster. The latter matchup features two teams capable of making substantial playoff runs.
In 5A Division II, Argyle plays Abilene Wylie, Anna faces Abilene Cooper, and South Oak Cliff takes on Belton. Those games will begin separating a crowded field of contenders.
Carthage meets Glen Rose in 4A Division II, while Brock faces Big Spring. In 2A Division I, Shiner takes on Lovelady and Muenster meets San Saba. Strawn faces Knox City in a particularly significant 1A Division II area-round matchup.
The Predictions After Round One
My original championship picks remain alive in all 12 divisions. Losing Randle, Tivy and Post hurts three regional projections, especially the anticipated DeSoto-Randle championship game.
The first round reinforced how quickly a promising season can end. The favorites have generally survived, but the road to Arlington already looks different. With several highly ranked teams meeting next week, more changes are coming.
