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Move over, Red River Rivalry: high school football is momentarily stealing the spotlight — and the venue.
Carroll will kick off its 2026 varsity season with a marquee non-district matchup against Oklahoma powerhouse Jenks at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas. Scheduled for Aug. 28, the interstate showdown brings together two of the most storied programs in their respective states on one of football’s most iconic stages.
A 7 p.m. kickoff is planned at the Cotton Bowl, best known as the annual home of the Texas – Oklahoma college rivalry.
The Dragons, eight-time Texas state champions, are coming off a 14-1 campaign and a deep playoff run that ended in the state semifinals. They’ll be led into the high-profile opener by new head coach Lee Munn, who previously served as Carroll’s defensive coordinator.
Jenks, one of Oklahoma’s premier high school football programs, boasts 18 state championships and a long-standing tradition of postseason success. The Trojans have consistently competed at the highest level in Oklahoma, making the matchup a true battle of blue-blood programs from both sides of the Red River.
For high school football fans in both states, the late-August clash offers an early-season measuring stick — and a rare opportunity to see two powerhouse programs square off under the bright lights of a historic venue.