ARN's Week 8 Big Country high school football game picks (Oct. 15-17)

Week 8 of the 2026 Texas high school football season kicks off Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 15-17, with Abilene-area and “Big Country” matchups on deck. The Abilene Reporter-News is publishing picks for every 11-man and six-man game featuring Big Country teams throughout the week. After starting the season with a 74.24% Week 1 record, the paper’s statewide Big Country picks stand at 308-104 overall through Week 7 (74.76%). For Oct. 16, its 11-man selections include Abilene High over Amarillo High at Shotwell Stadium, Abilene Cooper over Wichita Falls Legacy, and Stephenville over China Spring at Art Briles Stadium.