Educated Guesses: 3A Division I
Kickoff to the 2026 season is getting closer and closer, and the time has come to take a stab at how things will play out in each district featuring Big Country football teams.
I call them educated guesses, like your teachers used to, because I feel I have at least a little bit of knowledge about the upcoming season after speaking with area coaches for the 2026 edition of Big Country Blitz.
For the record, last season Big Country Blitz got three out of four playoff picks correct in 3A Division I.
Realignment really threw us for a loop around here. Clyde, Jim Ned, and Sweetwater stay in a district together, but way out west with the likes of Kermit and Lamesa. Now those three will go toe-to-toe once again to decide a district champion. We thought maybe those three would be with Early and Wall in a new district, but the Longhorns and Hawks join up with TLCA San Angelo and some teams from towards the Hill Country instead.
With 18 starters back, Clyde looks like the team to beat in District 2. Quarterback Devan Wright is one of the best in the Big Country and is looking to build upon a great junior year. Clyde has key starters back all over the field, and the Bulldogs think they have a big run in them this year.
Sweetwater has quite a bit back as well, including a four-year starter at quarterback in Caiden Ortiz. He has some good weapons to work with, and if the Mustangs can stay healthy this year, they can contend with Clyde for the crown.
Jim Ned only has three returning starters, but the Indians are a reload and not a rebuild kind of program. Expect them to get better as the year goes along, and I would not be surprised if they find a way to end up on top of the district standings once again.
The three western teams in the district all made the playoffs a year ago, but only Odessa Compass had a winning record. They won a district title in 3A DII but fell in the first round to Merkel.
Photo: SMcCowen Sports Photography
BIG COUNTRY BLITZ COACHES POLL
1. Clyde
2. Jim Ned
3. Sweetwater
4. Lamesa
5. Odessa Compass
6. Kermit
Photo: Randy Day
Wall makes the move to Division I this season after winning the 3A DII title in 2025, and they’ll have their hands full in a tough district.
Llano was a state semifinalist in 3A DI a year ago and welcomes back ten starters to the Hawks' six.
Ingram Moore has 16 returning starters and went three rounds deep in the playoffs last season, so the top three in the district is very tough.
Early could end up in the top three as well if the program continues to build under head coach Marvin Wilson. The Longhorns were a district champion a year ago, but, like Wall, are making the move up from Division II to Division I.
TLCA San Angelo is coming off its second straight 0-10 season and looks to snap a 22-game losing streak in 2026.
BIG COUNTRY BLITZ COACHES POLL
1. Wall
2. Llano
3. Ingram Moore
4. Early
5. TLCA San Angelo
