Educated Guesses: TAPPS/TAIAO

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 four out of four playoff picks correct in TAPPS six-man football.

TAIAO does not have districts and everyone makes the playoffs, so no predictions will be made for Stephenville Faith.

The Panthers enter a new era under head coach Justin Gorman, and he hopes to help Abilene Christian pick up where it left off under Kirk Wade.

ACS has made the playoffs 32 years in a row, the top streak in the Big Country at any level. The Panthers move up to Division I this season, and rival Fort Worth Covenant Classical comes with them. Those two will most likely be the favorites, and the contest in Abilene in the regular season finale October 30 will be a huge one once again.

BIG COUNTRY BLITZ COACHES POLL

1.      Fort Worth Covenant Classical
2.       Abilene Christian
3.       Midland Trinity
4.       Dallas Lakehill
5.       Fort Worth Temple Christian

Stephenville Faith made a run to the TAIAO Division III championship game last season, and they’d love to return and finish the job in 2026.