SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (August 17, 2026) -- After a successful first season in elevating the stature of high school football in Arizona, CW7 Arizona and Fiesta Sports Foundation are bringing back another season-long slate of live television broadcasts and on-location high school football activations as part of the Fiesta Bowl High School Football Showdown program.
 
The 11-game schedule includes live televised kickoffs in an exclusive Thursday night window on CW7 Arizona and features four teams that competed in the 2025 Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Open Championship division. The season-opener between Open participants Red Mountain and Casteel kicks off the season on Thursday, August 27. Other teams on the schedule include Open Championship runner-up Chandler, champions of the 6A (Casteel) and 3A divisions (Round Valley) and the 5A division runner-up (Canyon View). New to the schedule this year will be the determination of the final week's contest during the season, thereby giving flexibility to place what will be one of the state's most compelling matchups in the final week of the regular season.
 
"What we have seen in the history of the High School Football Showdown confirmed what we always believed: high school football is one of the most powerful connectors in our communities. Spotlighting programs from northern Arizona, the West Valley, East Valley and across the Phoenix metropolitan area helps more Arizona families celebrate their teams on the biggest stage we can give them," said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "Leaning into this program is another way Fiesta Sports Foundation invests in the next generation of Arizona athletes and showcases high school football in Arizona, which belongs on the same stage as high school football anywhere in the country."
 
Fiesta Bowl High School Football Showdown gamedays begin with a live pep rally broadcast from that week's host school on CW7's Arizona Daily Mix, hosted by Brad Perry and featuring Fiesta Sports Foundation mascot Spirit. CW7 will also air a live pregame show at 6:30 p.m., leading into a 7 p.m. kickoff. Fiesta Sports Foundation will be on-site every week to enhance the game experience, along with providing exclusive in-game coverage and live behind-the-scenes postgame coverage at @Fiesta_Bowl on X and Instagram.
 
"Following a terrific first season, we're proud to return for year two of the Fiesta Bowl High School Football Showdown," said Matthew A. Rosenfeld, SVP/Regional Manager, Nexstar Media Group. "Together with Fiesta Sports Foundation and Sports360AZ, we're giving Arizona's talented student-athletes a primetime platform while celebrating the schools, families and local communities behind them. Through CW7 Arizona television and CW7 Arizona+, our free streaming app, viewers can follow the action wherever they are. These games represent far more than what happens on the field—they capture the pride, tradition and spirit of communities across Arizona, and we're honored to share those stories with an even broader audience."
 
The Fiesta Bowl High School Football Showdown is part of a comprehensive football engagement program designed to further elevate youth and scholastic football in Arizona. The annual Fiesta Bowl All-State Teams for high school tackle and flag football highlight 50 of the top players in the state of Arizona. The Copper State Invitational high school flag football tournament will return for the second year in October, and a number of youth football clinics are held throughout the year alongside other interactive events designed to bring the game of football to audiences of all ages.

The 2026 Fiesta Bowl High School Football Showdown schedule of games is as follows:
 
Date                         Game Matchup                                                                      Kickoff Time
August 27                 Red Mountain at Casteel                                                          7 p.m.
September 3            Mesa at Sandra Day O'Connor                                                 7 p.m.
September 10          Notre Dame Prep at Desert Edge                                            7 p.m.
September 17          Chaparral at Canyon View                                                        7 p.m.
September 24          Round Valley at Payson                                                            7 p.m.
October 1                 Perry at Higley                                                                            7 p.m.
October 8                 Cactus Shadows at Horizon                                                      7 p.m.
October 15               Prescott at Flagstaff                                                                   7 p.m.
October 22               Snowflake at Mesquite                                                              7 p.m.
October 29               Pinnacle at Chandler                                                                  7 p.m.
November 5             TBD at TBD                                                                                 7 p.m.
 
 
About CW7 Arizona
CW7 Arizona (KAZT, Ch. 7.1) serving the Phoenix-Prescott DMA is home to one of America's premier broadcast networks, delivering 18 hours per week of primetime entertainment and children's programming plus, on average, more than 13 hours of sports programming every week including the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series; WWE NXT; college football and men's and women's basketball from the ACC, Mountain West and Pac-12 conferences; AVP beach volleyball, Professional Bull Riding Team Series; and Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) events. Locally, CW7 Arizona produces High School Football coverage and a daily, live morning lifestyle program – Arizona Daily Mix - along with various programs for its streaming app CW7 Arizona Plus while also being the local leader in broadcasting today's top syndicated programs: Family Feud, Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, and more. KAZT also broadcasts MORE! Arizona (Ch. 7.2), Rewind TV (Ch. 7.3), and Charge! Network (Ch. 7.4). KAZT, LLC is operated through a Time Brokerage Agreement, by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), a leading diversified media company.
 
About Fiesta Sports Foundation
Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation has been a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision to create unforgettable experiences through world-class sporting events, unparalleled hospitality and life-changing community impact. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Cactus Bowl and its year-round events, including the Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the Foundation provides charitable resources to support Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through a focus on youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaSportsFoundation.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on X/Instagram.