What are the marquee football games this season week-to-week?

Our football series jumps right in and takes a look at the marquee games on a week-to-week basis.

Over the next three weeks, we’re looking at the top storylines for the 2025 prep football season. We’ll have a story a day over the next 22 days.

The season is a little over three weeks away, so we wanted to put these games on your radar on where to be during the Friday Night Lights action.

Here’s a week-by-week look on the game that will be a must watch:

Aug. 22

Ryle at Covington Catholic — A matchup that features two of the top 15 teams in the state, regardless of class to kick off the season. The Raiders broke a six-game losing streak to the Colonels last season with a 30-14 victory, can they make it two in a row?

Cooper at Anderson (OH) — A matchup of state runner-ups in their respective states. It’s the Jaguars first ever game against an Ohio opponent.

Frederick Douglass at Highlands — This matchup features two of the top five teams in the state, regardless of class.

Dixie Heights at Simon Kenton — The Pioneers have won three straight games in this matchup as they look to kick off the Joe Wynn era on a positive note.

Conner at Madison Central — The Cougars open the Noel Rash era with a tough road matchup in Richmond.

Holy Cross at St. Henry — The Crusaders kick off their varsity football era with a home game against the Indians.

Newport Central Catholic at Lloyd Memorial — NewCath won 19 straight matchups from 2001-16, the two have flip-flopped their last four meetings since.

Bishop Brossart at Walton-Verona — Programs with coaches heading into their second season. Who gets the leg up in momentum?

Scott at Campbell County — These 37th District rivals renewed their rivalry in 2023 after a 17-year hiatus. The Eagles are hopeful the scoreboard looks a little different this year after being outscored 119-33 the last two years.

Aug. 29

Beechwood vs NewCath at CovCath — These two were a fixture for meeting in the playoffs in the early 2000s.

St. Henry at Boone County — A Boone County rivalry in the making?

Highlands at Cooper — No longer district foes, but a rematch of the last two years Class 5A state semifinals.

Covington Catholic at Elder (OH) — The Colonels head to “The Pit” to take on Elder across the river.

Sept. 5

Cooper at Ryle — The Battle of Union. Not many words needed here. Cooper snapped a a nine-game losing streak to their rivals four miles down the road last season.

Beechwood at Dixie Heights — These two typically play a tight matchup. Five of the last nine meetings have been decided by eight points or less.

Sept. 12

Ludlow at Dayton — River City Rivalry matchup.

Highlands at Boyle County — A potential Class 4A playoff matchup.

CAL at Ryle — CAL owns the last three Class 3A football state championships. Ryle handed them a loss last season.

Sept. 19

Covington Catholic at Beechwood — The Battle of Dixie Highway never disappoints. The Colonels have won the last three and nine of the last 10 meetings. Small school vs big school, whatever. That’s thrown out the window in this matchup.

Newport Central Catholic at Raceland — A gauge game for the Thoroughbreds. Raceland is a constant as a top five Class 1A team in the state.

Ryle at Highlands — A classic played last year in which Ryle won in overtime. The two are 5-5 in the last 10 meetings.

Sept. 26

Ludlow at Bellevue — Ludlow has owned this River City rivalry over the last decade, winning 10 straight meetings. This series ebbs and flows, Bellevue won nine of the previous 10, however.

Conner at Cooper — Can Conner give Cooper a run for their money in the Class 5A, 6th District?

Walton-Verona at Bracken County — With Beechwood’s dominance in the district, this matchup could very well be for the No. 2 seed and a home game in the playoffs.

Newport at Sayre — The Wildcats head down to Lexington to take on the Class 1A state champs.

Oct. 3

Covington Catholic at Highlands — Back as district opponents, the rivalry means even more this year. Very well could be the first of two matchups this season, the second coming later in the playoffs.

Cooper at Dixie Heights — Can Dixie Heights give Cooper a run for their money in the Class 5A, 6th District?

Newport Central Catholic at Campbell County — Gotta love the 1A vs 6A matchups. It’s a game Campbell County should win every year. But NewCath gets them every once in a while.

Oct. 9-10

Bellevue at Dayton — The Battle for the Paddle meet for the 152nd time. This will be the first ever meeting on turf in the Greendevils new stadium. Bellevue leads the all-time series 98-50-3.

Holy Cross at Bishop Brossart — In a Class 1A, 4th district where there’s no clear-cut favorite, every district matchup matters.

Scott at Boone County — Very well could be the battle for the final playoff spot in the Class 5A, 6th District.

Conner at Dixie Heights — Assuming Cooper is the top dog, this could be the battle for the No. 2 seed in the Class 5A, 6th District and a home playoff game on the line.

Newport vs Newport Central Catholic at Dixie Heights — The Thoroughbreds have dominated the Fireman’s Bell matchup, winning 27 games in a row. Newport’s last win between the two came in 1999.

Henry County at Lloyd Memorial — I really don’t know who will challenge the Juggernauts for the Class 3A, 5th District title with Lexington Catholic moving up to 4A. My guess is a Henry County team coming off a 5-5 season?

Oct. 17

Bishop Brossart at Ludlow — In a Class 1A, 4th district where there’s no clear-cut favorite, every district matchup matters.

Campbell County at Simon Kenton — With what Ryle and Great Crossing has returning, these two meet with hopes of avoiding the dreaded four-seed in the district.

Ryle at Great Crossing — The Raiders owned the two meetings last season by putting a running clock on the Warhawks twice, the second matchup in the Class 6A state playoff semifinals.

Oct. 24

Holy Cross at Ludlow — In a Class 1A, 4th district where there’s no clear-cut favorite, every district matchup matters.

Scott County at Highlands — A top 25 in the state matchup in late October.

Holmes at Lewis County — Holmes enters the 2025 season on a 22-game losing streak. Lewis County enters the 2025 season on a 15-game losing streak. If the two are still winless to this point, something has to give.