Folsom, Vista del Lago, Oak Ridge, Granite Bay and Cordova prepare for the 2026 season with non-league tests just around the corner
Friday night lights are just a few weeks away, and across the region, preparations are intensifying as local high school football programs gear up for the start of the 2026 season.
From perennial Sac-Joaquin Section contenders to programs looking to build momentum this fall, five schools in our readership area will soon take the field with hopes of successful campaigns in some of Northern California’s most competitive leagues. The schedules are set, practices are underway, and communities are preparing to gather under the lights once again for another season of one of the region’s most celebrated traditions.
While each school faces a different path, every schedule presents its own blend of challenging non-league matchups and meaningful league contests that will shape the road toward the postseason.
Below is a look at each team’s 2026 regular season schedule.
Hello Newman…Bulldogs begin against Cardinal team
Friday night lights are less than a month away, and the Folsom Bulldogs are preparing to take to their blue field once again as the 2026 varsity football season kicks off with a 10-game schedule featuring four non-league contests before Sierra Foothill League play begins in late September.
Competing once again in the Sac-Joaquin Section’s Division I, the Bulldogs will split the regular season evenly between five home games and five road contests. The opening month features four non-league opponents before Folsom begins another demanding Sierra Foothill League campaign.
The Bulldogs begin the season at home on Friday, Aug. 28, welcoming Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa to Prairie City Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. A week later, Folsom remains at home to host Mission Viejo on Sept. 4 before heading on the road for consecutive weeks, traveling to Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco on Sept. 11 and Inderkum High School in Sacramento on Sept. 18. Those four contests conclude the Bulldogs’ non-league schedule and provide the final preparation before league play begins.
Sierra Foothill League competition opens Sept. 25 when longtime rival Rocklin visits Prairie City Stadium. Folsom then travels to Granite Bay on Oct. 2 before returning home to host Whitney on Oct. 9. The second half of league play includes a road trip to neighboring Oak Ridge on Oct. 16, a home matchup against Del Oro on Oct. 23, and concludes after a bye week with a Nov. 6 road contest at Jesuit High School in Carmichael.
The Bulldogs’ schedule once again features a mix of respected non-league opponents and familiar Sierra Foothill League rivals, giving Folsom fans five opportunities to cheer on the team at Prairie City Stadium before postseason play begins later in November.
2026 Folsom Bulldogs Schedule
Non-League
Aug. 28 – Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), Prairie City Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4 – Mission Viejo, Prairie City Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 – at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (San Francisco), Kezar Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 – at Inderkum (Sacramento), Inderkum High School, 7:15 p.m.
Sierra Foothill League
Sept. 25 – Rocklin, Prairie City Stadium, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 – at Granite Bay, Granite Bay High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 – Whitney, Prairie City Stadium, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 – at Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), Oak Ridge High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 – Del Oro (Loomis), Prairie City Stadium, 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 – at Jesuit (Carmichael), Jesuit High School, 7 p.m.
Vista del Lago Eagles
Just across town, Vista del Lago enters the 2026 season with a new opportunity to build momentum in the Capital Valley Conference after assembling a schedule that combines familiar conference opponents with several early-season tests.
The Eagles open their campaign on the road Friday, Aug. 28, making the short trip to Granite Bay before returning home the following week to host Antelope on Sept. 4. Vista remains at home on Sept. 11 when it welcomes Reed High School of Sparks, Nevada, giving the Eagles a chance to face an out-of-state opponent before conference play begins.
Capital Valley Conference competition gets underway Sept. 25 with a road game at Bella Vista in Fair Oaks. The Eagles return home the following week to host Rio Americano before consecutive road trips to Christian Brothers on Oct. 9 and Inderkum on Oct. 16. Vista returns to Folsom for a home contest against Woodcreek on Oct. 23 before wrapping up its non-league schedule against Laguna Creek on Oct. 30.
The regular season concludes Nov. 6 when the Eagles host Ponderosa in their Capital Valley Conference finale. With an even mix of home and away contests, Vista once again faces a schedule that includes both regional rivals and conference opponents as it looks toward another fall under the lights.
2026 Vista del Lago Eagles Schedule
Non-League
Aug. 28 – at Granite Bay, Granite Bay High School, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 4 – Antelope, Vista del Lago High School, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 11 – Reed (Sparks, Nevada), Vista del Lago High School, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 – at Bella Vista (Fair Oaks), Bella Vista High School, 7:15 p.m.
Capital Valley Conference
Oct. 2 – Rio Americano, Vista del Lago High School, 7:15 p.m.
Oct. 9 – at Christian Brothers (Sacramento), Christian Brothers High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 – at Inderkum (Sacramento), Inderkum High School, 7:15 p.m.
Oct. 23 – Woodcreek (Roseville), Vista del Lago High School, 7:15 p.m.
Oct. 30 – Laguna Creek (Elk Grove), Vista del Lago High School, 7:15 p.m.
Nov. 6 – Ponderosa (Shingle Springs), Vista del Lago High School, 7:15 p.m.
Oak Ridge Trojans
Just east of Folsom, the Oak Ridge Trojans once again face one of the area’s most ambitious schedules, combining nationally recognized non-league opponents with another demanding run through Sierra Foothill League play.
The Trojans begin the season with a long-distance road trip to Texas, opening the 2026 campaign on Friday, Aug. 28, against Argyle in what is scheduled to be the opening game at Argyle ISD Stadium. Oak Ridge then returns home to El Dorado Hills on Sept. 4 to host Central East of Fresno before heading south to Orange County on Sept. 11 for a road matchup against Crean Lutheran in Irvine.
Following those three non-league contests, the Trojans turn their attention to Sierra Foothill League competition beginning Sept. 25, when Del Oro visits Oak Ridge High School for the league opener. Oak Ridge then travels to Rocklin on Oct. 2 before briefly stepping outside league competition to host Tabor Academy of Marion, Massachusetts, on Oct. 9.
League play resumes Oct. 16 with one of the area’s marquee rivalry games as Folsom visits El Dorado Hills. The Trojans then travel to Jesuit High School in Carmichael on Oct. 23 before visiting Granite Bay on Oct. 30. Oak Ridge closes the regular season at home on Nov. 6 against Whitney.
With a schedule that stretches from Texas to Southern California and includes several of the region’s premier programs, the Trojans once again face a challenging path throughout the fall while competing in one of Northern California’s top football leagues.
2026 Oak Ridge Trojans Schedule
Non-League
Aug. 28 – at Argyle (Argyle, Texas), Argyle ISD Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 – Central East (Fresno), Oak Ridge High School, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 – at Crean Lutheran (Irvine), Crean Lutheran High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 – Tabor Academy (Marion, Massachusetts), Oak Ridge High School, 7 p.m.
Sierra Foothill League
Sept. 25 – Del Oro (Loomis), Oak Ridge High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 – at Rocklin, Rocklin High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 – Folsom, Oak Ridge High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 – at Jesuit (Carmichael), Jesuit High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 – at Granite Bay, Granite Bay High School, 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 – Whitney (Rocklin), Oak Ridge High School, 7 p.m.
Cordova Lancers
The Cordova Lancers enter the 2026 season with a balanced 10-game schedule that features five home contests before opening Metropolitan League competition in early October.
Cordova begins the season Aug. 28 by hosting Sheldon before welcoming Kennedy to Rancho Cordova on Sept. 4. The Lancers then hit the road for consecutive non-league games, traveling to Rio Americano on Sept. 18 and Pinole Valley on Sept. 25 before returning home to host Vallejo on Oct. 2.
Metropolitan League play begins Oct. 9 with a road contest at West Park in Roseville. Cordova returns home a week later to host Antelope before traveling to Grant High School in Sacramento on Oct. 23. The regular-season home schedule concludes Oct. 30 when Destiny Christian Academy visits Rancho Cordova, and the Lancers close the campaign Nov. 6 with a road trip to McClatchy High School in Sacramento.
The schedule provides an even split between home and away games while featuring opponents from throughout the Sacramento region before the Lancers begin their pursuit of a Metropolitan League title.
2026 Cordova Lancers Schedule
Non-League
Aug. 28 – Sheldon (Sacramento), Cordova High School, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 4 – Kennedy (Sacramento), Cordova High School, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 – at Rio Americano (Sacramento), Rio Americano High School, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 – at Pinole Valley (Pinole), Pinole Valley High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 – Vallejo, Cordova High School, 7:15 p.m.
Metropolitan League
Oct. 9 – at West Park (Roseville), West Park High School, 7:15 p.m.
Oct. 16 – Antelope, Cordova High School, 7:15 p.m.
Oct. 23 – at Grant (Sacramento), Grant High School, 7:15 p.m.
Oct. 30 – Destiny Christian Academy (Sacramento), Cordova High School, 7:15 p.m.
Nov. 6 – at McClatchy (Sacramento), McClatchy High School, 7:15 p.m.
Granite Bay Grizzlies
Rounding out the area’s featured programs, the Granite Bay Grizzlies once again face a demanding Sierra Foothill League schedule after opening the season with four non-league contests against opponents from throughout Northern California.
Granite Bay opens the season at home on Aug. 28 against neighboring Vista del Lago before remaining at home the following week to host Cosumnes Oaks. The Grizzlies then travel to Shingle Springs on Sept. 18 to take on Ponderosa before beginning Sierra Foothill League play Sept. 25 with a road game at Jesuit.
League competition continues Oct. 2 when Granite Bay hosts Folsom in one of the season’s most anticipated local matchups. The Grizzlies then travel to Rocklin on Oct. 9 before another road contest against Del Oro on Oct. 16. Granite Bay returns home to host Whitney on Oct. 23 and Oak Ridge on Oct. 30 before wrapping up the regular season Nov. 6 against De La Salle of Concord.
The Grizzlies’ schedule once again features a demanding lineup of Sierra Foothill League opponents while concluding with one of Northern California’s most recognizable football programs in De La Salle.
2026 Granite Bay Grizzlies Schedule
Non-League
Aug. 28 – Vista del Lago, Granite Bay High School, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 4 – Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove), Granite Bay High School, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 – at Ponderosa (Shingle Springs), Ponderosa High School, 7 p.m.
Sierra Foothill League
Sept. 25 – at Jesuit (Carmichael), Jesuit High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 – Folsom, Granite Bay High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 – at Rocklin, Rocklin High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 – at Del Oro (Loomis), Del Oro High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 – Whitney (Rocklin), Granite Bay High School, 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 – Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), Granite Bay High School, 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 – De La Salle (Concord), Granite Bay High School, 7 p.m.
With preseason practices underway and opening kickoff now just weeks away, the countdown to another season of Friday night football has officially begun. From Folsom and El Dorado Hills to Rancho Cordova and Granite Bay, local communities will once again gather under the lights each week as the road to league championships and the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs unfolds throughout the fall.
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