Brownwood Lions head coach Jeryl Brixey has announced the varsity football schedule for the 2026 campaign, his second in charge of the program.
The Lions – who are coming off a 7-5 campaign, 17th straight postseason appearance, and fourth consecutive bi-district championship – in their two preseason scrimmages and 10 regular season games will face opponents who combined for a 110-41 overall record in 2025.
Scrimmage season begins at Friday, Aug. 14 at Gordon Wood Stadium against Class 4A Division II Brock, which generated a 14-1 record a year ago. The Lions’ second and final scrimmage will take place Thursday, Aug. 20 at Class 4A Division I Alvarado, which went 12-1 in 2025.
The regular season opens at Class 5A Division II Abilene Wylie (5-5) on Aug. 28, followed by the home opener against reigning Class 4A Division I state championship Stephenville (16-0) in the 86th Battle of 377 on Sept. 4. On Sept. 11, Class 4A Division I Springtown (12-1), then pre-district closes with back-to-back road trips to 4A Division II Graham (9-4) on Sept. 18 and 4A Division I China Spring (4-8) on Sept. 25.
The Lions fell to Wylie (25-0) and Stephenville (49-0) last season and picked up a victory over China Spring (20-10).
Competing against an entirely new cast of foes in District 13, Region IV of Class 4A Division II football, the Lions open league play at home on Oct. 9 against La Vega (11-3), which Brownwood faced in non-district action last year and came up short, 38-16.
The Lions then venture to Robinson (9-3) on Oct. 16, before welcoming Gatesville (7-4) – which was most recently on the schedule in 2019 – on Oct. 23 for homecoming. Brownwood then concludes district action at Connally (3-7) on Oct. 30 before hosting Salado (8-4) in the regular season finale Nov. 6.
Brownwood, which owns a 794-412-34 all-time record with 79 postseason victories and seven state championships, has never faced Robinson or Salado in football.
The only teams on Brownwood’s 2026 schedule not to make the playoffs in 2025 are Wylie and district foe Connally, who the Lions defeated in both 2022 and 2023. Seven of the eight remaining opponents on the regular season slate competed in at least 12 games a year ago.