ESPN GEICO Kickoff weekends loaded with 14 teams ranked in Preseason HSFA 300 national rankings

The GEICO Kickoff on ESPN will cover two weekends this year. Every matchup on the seven-game schedule will feature a head-to-head matchup inside the High School Football America 300 preseason national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.

Related: ’23 HSFA 300 Preseason Rankings

According to a news release from the sports network, the seven games will feature 54 players ranked in the ESPN 300 and ESPN Junior 300. The games will air on ESPN, ESPN2 and the ESPN App.

Everything gets started Friday, August 18 with a Georgia showdown between No. 25 Langston Hughes and No. 37 Carrollton.

It will be a matchup between two high-profile quarterbacks. Hughes, the reigning 6A state champs, is led by quarterback Air Noland, who has given his verbal to Ohio State.

Carrollton is led by super sophomore Julian Lewis, who as a freshman, led the Trojans to the state’s 7A state championship game where they lost to Mill Creek.

Related: Prep Gridiron Logistics/FloFootball ’23 broadcast schedule

The following weekend, on Friday, things begin with two-time reigning Tennessee state champ Lipscomb Academy (No. 23) traveling to take-on No. 82 Saraland, last year’s Alabama 6A champ.

Lipscomb will be playing its second game under Pro Football Hall of Fame center Kevin Mawae, who is replacing Trent Dilfer, who took the head coaching job at UAB.

Saraland is led by wide receiver Ryan Williams, one of the best prospects in the Class of 2025. Last year’s Alabama Mr. Football has given his verbal to the University of Alabama.

There’s a great quadruple-header on Saturday, starting with No. 3 St. Frances Academy (Maryland) taking-on Florida’s Chaminade-Madonna, ranked No. 14 in the preseason HSFA 300.

Playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation, SFA only lost to IMG Academy (Florida) last year. The Panthers quarterback is Michael Van Buren, an Oregon-recruit.

Chaminade-Madonna will be looking for its sixth state title in the last eight years. The Lions top player is wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, the top receiver in the nation.

The second game will also be in Florida with No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas facing No. 2 St. John Bosco (California).

SJB is the defending High School Football America national champ. It was the Braves second national title in four years. STA has won four straight Florida state titles.

No. 10 St. Joseph’s Prep, winners of seven Pennsylvania state titles, will square-off with No. 5 IMG Academy (Florida) in a kickoff event at the New Jersey shore.

ESPN is touting IMG’s 15 players on its players’ rankings. Cincinnati-recruit Samaj Jones (quarterback) is listed No. 250 on the ESPN 300 for seniors.

Saturday closes out with Elite 11 MVP Julian Sayin leading No. 147 Carlsbad against No. 259 Mater Dei Catholic. In last year’s game, Carlsbad beat MDC 36-35.

The final game on Sunday pits two-time reigning Ohio state champ St. Edward hosting No. 30 Good Counsel (Maryland) from the powerful Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, the second toughest league in the nation.

GEICO ESPN Kickoff Schedule

All game times Eastern Time

August 18 – No. 25 Langston Hughes (Georgia) at No. 37 Carrollton (Georgia) – 6PM on ESPN2

August 25 – No. 23 Lipscomb Academy (Tennessee) at No. 82 Saraland (Alabama) – 8PM on ESPN

August 26 – No. 3 St. Frances Academy (Maryland) vs. No. 14 Chaminade-Madonna (Florida) – Noon on ESPN

August 26 – No. 2 St. John Bosco (California) at No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) – 4PM on ESPN2

August 26 – No. 5 IMG Academy (Florida) vs. No. 10 St. Joseph’s Prep (Pennsylvania) – 7PM on ESPN2

August 26 – No. 259 Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista, California) at No. 147 Carlsbad (California) – 10PM on ESPN 2

August 27 – No. 30 Good Counsel (Maryland) at No. 13 St. Edward (Ohio) – 1PM – on ESPN

2024 ESPN 300 Participants (Seniors)

2025 ESPN Junior 300 Participants