LBJ players run through drills Monday, Aug. 3, 2026 on the first day of the high school football season in Austin, Texas.
Colby Gordon/American-Statesman
LBJ football coach Joseph Rauls put it succinctly Monday morning: “It’s real now.”
High school football started Monday across the state of Texas, at least for UIL Class 4A schools and smaller and those 6A and 5A schools that didn’t do a week of spring practice.
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Beginning the countdown toward the first games of the season Aug. 27, Monday represents everything a new season brings: hope, optimism and, of course, wind sprints.
“I think the first thing on the first day is establishing championship habits,” said Rauls, who enters his fourth year leading the Jags. “You don’t win championships on day one, but you set what the standard is going to be. And when you set that standard and develop the habits of a champion, then you’re stepping in the right direction.”
Though teams can’t put on pads until Thursday, Rauls noted there’s plenty to accomplish with no contact.
“It’s details,” he said. “It’s about making sure you’re perfect in your alignment, that you know what your assignment is, and then as coaches, we’re coaching the steps, the hand placements and eyes.”
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The LBJ offense conducts drills Monday, Aug. 3 on the first day of the 2026 Texas high school football season.
Colby Gordon/American-Statesman
Bowie Bulldogs: The more time, the better
Bowie is one of several Austin-area big-class schools that chooses to have the extra week in August. (Those who held spring practice start Aug. 10.) Bulldogs coach Jeff Ables said there are several reasons he prefers more time in the preseason, such as player paperwork and not interfering with spring sports, but the main one is health.
“I always hated to lose somebody in spring training,” said Ables, who’s in his 43rd year of coaching and his 25th leading Bowie, making him the dean of Austin-area coaches. “Back when we had it, we’d have somebody break their leg or tear up their shoulder, and you hate to see that where a kid may not even get to begin his senior year.”
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For the players, there’s also a different feel to the season’s official start. Especially seniors, who could have a markedly different role than nine months ago.
“There’s an expectation,” LBJ senior defensive back Josiah Covington said. “Coaches expect me to be a leader and be a guy on this team this year, so I have to carry myself and be a leader and just work hard. … I like helping out the (younger) defensive backs.”
Start of practices signals the start of the season
Both Rauls and Ables said just being around their players again is one of the best parts of preseason camp, but there’s also the chance to see all the preparation that began in January start to materialize.
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“It’s like a boxer getting in the ring,” said Rauls, whose team had to borrow helmets from Anderson High School for Monday’s practice since theirs weren’t scheduled to arrive until Tuesday. “All of the off-road running, all of the jump roping, all of the heavy bags and all of the speed bags, now you’re in the ring and have a chance to put it all together. That’s what I look forward to when we get out here.”