Week Zero Top Ten Games

The 2020 football season is finally here! Teams scrimmaged last week and now it is officially week zero. It's time to take a look at some of the best match-up's to kick off the 2020 season. Get a breakdown on each game and look forward to our Prep Redzone Kickoff Show where we'll go more in-depth on each match-up. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>1) EDMOND SANTA FE AT OWASSO</strong></span> In what is without a doubt the game of the week, defending champion Owasso squares off with Edmond Santa Fe in a top five clash. Plenty of ranked teams will face off this week but this is the best one where the two teams are in the same class. Owasso begins their title defense while Santa Fe begins their pursuit of that elusive gold ball. Both teams have state title aspirations and it wouldn't be surprising if we end up seeing this match-up again in November or even in December. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>2) UNION AT BIXBY</strong></span> The first of several games on this list that wasn't supposed to happen. Bixby and Union were scheduled to play two schools in Mansfield, Texas. The UIL announced a delay to the season in Texas and Bixby and Union would find new opponents in each other. Two-time defending champion Bixby has a huge test right out of the gates with a Union team that has a ton of experience returning in 2020. Both teams have the same goal in 2020 and that's to win the state championship. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>3) POTEAU AT BISHOP KELLEY</strong></span> Poteau trades out one tough 5A opponent for another. After facing El Reno in the last two seasons, the defending 4A champions will square off with Bishop Kelley in Tulsa. The Pirates will have some new faces at the marquee positions but still return talent. The same goes for the Comets as both teams plan on using this game as a springboard to the rest of their tough non-district schedules. Both teams have to be considered title contenders in their respective classes. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>4) LINCOLN CHRISTIAN AT BEGGS</strong></span> Defending 3A champion Lincoln Christian kicks off their season with an absolute bang of a match-up. They'll face 2A heavyweight contender Beggs on Friday night. Lincoln isn't shying away from competition as they have one of the toughest non-district schedules in 3A football this year. For Beggs, the goal is simple, get out to a fast start and back up all the hype around a team that has plenty of playmakers and the ability to make another run at the state championship. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>5) BENTONVILLE WEST, AR. AT BROKEN ARROW (SAT.)</strong></span> For the second time in the last four seasons, Broken Arrow will have a national platform to open their season. Saturday's game with Bentonville West will be broadcasted on ESPN. BA opened the 2017 season against Union on ESPN. Broken Arrow went from having to travel to Texas to finding a new opponent to having that game picked up by ESPN. This is a great opportunity for BA to open their 2020 season in style after a 2019 season that featured so many injuries. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>6) MUSKOGEE AT BISHOP McGUINNNESS</strong></span> Muskogee will travel to Oklahoma City to square off with 5A powerhouse Bishop McGuinness. The Roughers bring back a lot of experience and talent and expect to have a very successful 2020 season. The first test will be Friday as they face a McGuinness squad that is used to being in the winning column. While the Irish have some big names to replace off last year's team, they're still one of the best in 5A and that makes for a really great measuring stick game for both teams. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>7) STIGLER AT SALLISAW</strong></span> We love this match-up between 4A #10 Sallisaw and 3A #7 Stigler. Both teams have aspirations of getting into the top five and really contending for the gold ball in their respective classes. However, they have to back up they hype around both teams before they can move up. This is a great measuring stick game for both teams as they try to go from dark horse to title contender. Even with the team that loses, you can't count them out from having a bounce back and making a deep run. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>8) MIDWEST CITY AT WESTMOORE</strong></span> This is yet another game that was scheduled because of the decisions down in Texas. Both teams were scheduled to open up the season against Texas opponents. Instead, they'll square off against one another. It's a great match-up between teams that come into the season as dark horses in their respective classes. Each team has the talent to make a run at competing for a playoff spot. But each team also has tall hurdles to overcome when they get into district play. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>9) WASHINGTON AT PAWNEE</strong></span> In the first of two big time 2A VS A battles, we have Washington traveling to Pawnee. Washington is a team chomping at the bit in an absolutely loaded 2A. Going on the road and knocking off a top five team in Pawnee would make quite a statement. For Pawnee, their goal is simple. They want to compete for the state championship and it looks like they have the horses to do so coming off a great season in 2019. The winner here gets some much needed momentum. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>10) CASHION AT REJOICE CHRISTIAN</strong></span> This would have been a heavyweight fight in Class A over the last few seasons. It's still a great way to kick off the 2020 season. Rejoice Christian is moving up to 2A this fall but before they focus on their new opponents, they'll have Class A powerhouse Cashion visiting the Tulsa metro area. And for Cashion, this begins an absolute gauntlet run during the non-district slate. It's clear when you look at the schedule that Cashion will be tested going into district play.