(KWAD) – The Minnesota State High School League has released the 2026 football schedule, giving Section 6AA teams a look at the road ahead this fall. Last season, Section 6AA was arguably the strongest section in Class AA, with four teams finishing ranked in the Top 8 in the final regular season polls. While section standings will once again be determined by district play, several intriguing crossover matchups and traditional rivalries are sprinkled throughout the eight-game regular season.
Staples-Motley (2025 record: 7-1, 1-1 playoffs)
The Cardinals open the season with a brutal travel schedule, starting the year with back-to-back road trips, visiting East Grand Forks on Sept. 3 before traveling to Roseau on Sept. 11. The Cardinals then return home to host Hawley in their home opener. District play ramps up with road games at Perham and Pillager and home contests against Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton and Barnesville. One of the most anticipated games on the schedule comes Wednesday, Oct. 14, when Staples-Motley travels to Pillager in the lone Section 6AA crossover contest between the neighboring rivals. The Cardinals close the regular season at home against Pelican Rapids on Oct. 20.
Pillager (8-1 in 2025: 8-0, 0-1 playoffs)
Pillager begins the year with consecutive home games against Warroad and Thief River Falls before diving into a challenging district schedule. The Huskies travel to Barnesville and Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton before hosting Hawley and later welcoming Staples-Motley on Oct. 14 in a marquee Section 6AA showdown. Pillager wraps up the regular season with a road trip to Park Rapids Area on Oct. 22.
Wadena-Deer Creek (2-6, 0-1 playoffs)
The Wolverines open the season at home against Long Prairie-Grey Eagle before beginning a stretch of Section 6A district games. Key matchups include home games against Lake Park-Audubon, Menahga and New York Mills, along with road trips to Otter Tail Central, Breckenridge, Frazee and Parkers Prairie. The Oct. 2 meeting with Menahga figures to have major implications in the Section 6A race.
Menahga (0-8, 0-1 playoffs)
Menahga starts the year hosting Maple Lake before opening district play with consecutive road games at Frazee and Lake Park-Audubon. The Braves host Parkers Prairie and New York Mills while making a key trip to Wadena-Deer Creek on Oct. 2. They finish the regular season with home games against Otter Tail Central and a road contest at Breckenridge.
Osakis (7-1, 2-1 playoffs)
Osakis faces a challenging schedule that begins against St. Cloud Apollo before district games against Minnewaska Area, Holdingford, Sauk Centre and Royalton. The Silverstreaks host Holdingford on Sept. 25 in what could be one of the defining Section 6AA games of the season before welcoming St. Cloud Cathedral and Melrose later in the year.
Holdingford (8-0, 4-1 playoffs)
Defending section champion Holdingford’s season ended in the State semifinals last year after dominant section playoff wins over Menahga (61-8), Staples-Motley (41-0), and Osakis (48-14). The Huskers also beat Barnesville 40-24 in the State quarters before being upset by Goodhue 24-7. This season, Holdingford opens with a marquee matchup against St. Cloud Cathedral before beginning section play Sept. 11 against Royalton. The Huskers also face Osakis, Minnewaska Area, Melrose and Sauk Centre during district competition, with the Sept. 25 trip to Osakis standing out as a likely early measuring-stick game.
Royalton (3-5, 0-1 playoffs)
Royalton’s schedule features several pivotal Section 6AA contests, beginning with a Sept. 11 trip to Holdingford. The Royals also host Sauk Centre and section-opponent Osakis before traveling to Melrose. Non-district games against Kimball Area, St. Cloud Apollo and Paynesville Area provide additional tests before the regular season finale against Minnewaska Area.
SportsCow’s Top Matchups
Several matchups immediately stand out after the schedule release:
- Sept. 25: Holdingford at Osakis (2025 Section Championship rematch)
- Sept. 25: Pillager at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton
- Oct. 2: Menahga at Wadena-Deer Creek
- Oct. 9: Barnesville at Staples-Motley
- Oct. 14: Staples-Motley at Pillager