CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — A new Georgia High School Association classification cycle is reshaping football schedules across Northeast Georgia as several area programs begin releasing their slates for the 2026 season.
The GHSA’s latest realignment, which takes effect for the 2026-27 school year, moves several Northeast Georgia schools into new classifications and regions, forcing programs to adjust schedules while maintaining many long-standing rivalries.
Among the changes, Habersham Central moves into Class 6A competition, while White County shifts to Class 4A. Several area teams — including Franklin County, Hart County, Elbert County and Lumpkin County — remain in Region 8-AAA.
Many teams enter the new season after strong performances in 2025. Habersham Central finished 7-4 last season, while Franklin County posted a 7-3 record. Stephens County and East Jackson both finished 5-5, and Hart County ended the season at 3-7.
Several schools across Northeast Georgia have already released their 2026 football schedules.
Habersham Central
Habersham Central will open the regular season Aug. 21 at Hart County following an Aug. 7 scrimmage at Lumpkin County.
Habersham Central’s 2026 schedule includes:
Aug. 21 — at Hart County
Aug. 28 — Stephens County
Sept. 4 — at Monroe Area
Sept. 11 — Open
Sept. 18 — at Loganville
Sept. 25 — Jackson County
Oct. 2 — at Apalachee
Oct. 9 — Clarke Central
Oct. 16 — Open
Oct. 23 — at Walnut Grove
Oct. 30 — Cedar Shoals
Nov. 6 — Mountain View
White County
White County will open the regular season Aug. 21 against East Hall following preseason scrimmages against Rabun County in the spring and Commerce in August.
White County’s 2026 schedule includes:
Aug. 21 — East Hall
Aug. 28 — Union County
Sept. 4 — at Lumpkin County
Sept. 11 — East Jackson
Sept. 18 — at Fannin County
Oct. 2 — Gilmer
Oct. 9 — Pickens
Oct. 16 — at Dawson County
Oct. 30 — North Hall
Nov. 6 — at Chestatee
Lumpkin County
Lumpkin County will open the season Aug. 21 against Dawson County after scrimmages against East Hall in the spring and Habersham Central in August.
Lumpkin County’s 2026 schedule includes:
Aug. 21 — Dawson County
Aug. 28 — at Pickens
Sept. 4 — White County
Sept. 18 — at East Forsyth
Sept. 25 — at Hart County
Oct. 9 — Stephens County
Oct. 16 — at Hebron Christian
Oct. 23 — Elbert County
Oct. 30 — at Morgan County
Nov. 6 — Franklin County
Franklin County
Franklin County will open the season Aug. 21 against Hart County before traveling to East Hall the following week.
Franklin County’s 2026 schedule includes:
Aug. 21 — Hart County
Aug. 28 — at East Hall
Sept. 4 — at Madison County
Sept. 18 — Elbert County
Sept. 25 — Social Circle
Oct. 2 — at Rabun County
Oct. 9 — East Jackson
Oct. 16 — Banks County
Oct. 30 — at Stephens County
Nov. 6 — Lumpkin County
Rabun County
Rabun County will open the regular season Aug. 28 against Metter following an Aug. 15 scrimmage at Franklin, North Carolina.
Rabun County’s 2026 schedule includes:
Aug. 28 — Metter
Sept. 4 — at Dawson County
Sept. 11 — at Walnut Grove
Sept. 18 — Gilmer County
Sept. 25 — at Banks County
Oct. 9 — Athens Academy
Oct. 16 — at Commerce
Oct. 23 — at Oglethorpe County
Oct. 30 — Providence Christian
Nov. 6 — Prince Avenue Christian
Hart County
Hart County will open the season Aug. 21 at home against Habersham Central after preseason scrimmages against Oglethorpe County and Oconee County.
Hart County’s 2026 schedule includes:
Aug. 21 — Habersham Central
Aug. 28 — at Madison County
Sept. 4 — Cedar Shoals
Sept. 11 — at Winder-Barrow
Sept. 18 — Hebron Christian
Sept. 25 — Lumpkin County
Oct. 2 — at Stephens County
Oct. 9 — Open
Oct. 16 — at Elbert County
Oct. 23 — Morgan County
Oct. 30 — at Franklin County
Nov. 6 — Open
Elbert County
Elbert County will open the season Aug. 21 at East Jackson before hosting Wesleyan the following week.
Elbert County’s 2026 schedule includes:
Aug. 21 — at East Jackson
Aug. 28 — Wesleyan
Sept. 4 — Commerce
Sept. 18 — at Whitefield Academy
Oct. 2 — Morgan County
Oct. 9 — at Franklin County
Oct. 16 — Hart County
Oct. 23 — at Lumpkin County
Oct. 30 — Stephens County
Nov. 6 — at Hebron Christian
East Jackson
East Jackson opens the season Aug. 21 against Elbert County before playing three consecutive road games.
East Jackson’s 2026 schedule includes:
Aug. 21 — Elbert County
Aug. 28 — at Lanier
Sept. 4 — at Banks County
Sept. 11 — at North Carolina School of Science and Math
Sept. 18 — Hart County
Oct. 2 — Whitehall-Yearling
Oct. 9 — at Madison County
Oct. 23 — East Hall
Oct. 30 — North Hall
Nov. 6 — at Oconee County
Several other Northeast Georgia programs — including Stephens County, Banks County, Commerce, Jefferson and Jackson County — had not yet publicly released their 2026 football schedules as of press time.
