FOX10 Big Friday Kickoff

The wait is finally over....

This week, Sports Director Emily Cochran and Robert Ristaneo are previewing the biggest match ups across our area. Our Game of the Week -- Williamson at Baker, our Big Friday Kickoff Game -- Robertsdale at LeFlore, and Hustlin Hal's Game -- Orange Beach at T.R. Miller.

First, it all kicks off on Thursday with Daphne and Spanish Fort in the California Dreaming Bowl.

We discuss those games, and all of the other Region 1 matchups as the high school football season kicks off.

The Big Friday Kickoff Podcast wraps up its 2026 preseason region previews with a look at a loaded Double-A Private classification.

Sports Director Emily Cochran and Robert Ristaneo go school-by-school through St. Michael, UMS-Wright, St. Paul’s, McGill-Toolen, Faith Academy, Glenwood, Montgomery Catholic and Houston Academy. They break down the teams and players to watch, McGill-Toolen’s quarterback battle between seniors Bo Miller and Davis Fisher, and a unique schedule that could leave some programs spending more than 20 hours on the road this fall.

With championship tradition throughout the classification and no clear-cut easy path to the post season, Emily and Robert make their picks for the teams to watch in Year One of Double-A Private.

This week on the Big Friday Kickoff Podcast, Emily Cochran and Robert Ristaneo are joined by TP Hammock of the Alabama High School Football Historical Society and Vlad Valasiuk of Bama Preps to look back at the inaugural Big Friday Kickoff Media Day, highlighting the biggest storylines, standout moments and what they learned from the area’s coaches and players.

In the second half of the episode, Emily and Robert preview Class 1A Region 1, discussing why Leroy remains the favorite, how reclassification has strengthened the region from top to bottom, and which teams are best positioned to battle for the remaining playoff spots this fall.

This week on the Big Friday Kickoff Podcast, Emily and Robert continue their season preview series with 2A Region 1.

Can Clarke County remain at the top with Luverne and Thomasville in the mix?  Will J.U. Blacksher be the dark horse in the region? Is Monroe County going to surprise people? They break it all down in this episode.

They also discuss all the news and storylines coming out of Mobile County Media Days including NIL and the transfer rule.

Class 3A Region 1 may be the most unpredictable region in South Alabama heading into the 2026 football season. In this episode of the Big Friday Kickoff Podcast, Sports Director Emily Cochran and Robert Ristaneo break down every team in the region, discuss the biggest offseason storylines, identify players to watch, and debate who has the best chance to emerge as region champion.

Vigor and Williamson enter 2026 as the early favorites in the new-look 4A Region 1, but everything behind them is wide open. Orange Beach joins the region after statewide realignment, adding another intriguing contender to a crowded playoff race that also includes BC Rain, Citronelle, LeFlore and Satsuma.

This week on the Big Friday Kickoff Podcast, Sports Director Emily Cochran and Robert Ristaneo break down every team, the top players to watch, the biggest storylines and make their playoff predictions.

The public-private playoff split has reshaped 5A Region 1, but one thing hasn’t changed—everyone is still chasing Saraland.

Emily Cochran and Robert Ristaneo break down every team in the region, from the Spartans’ championship expectations to Gulf Shores’ playoff push, Spanish Fort’s bounce-back hopes, Theodore’s new era under Randy Larson, and what to expect from Baldwin County, Blount, Elberta, and Murphy.

Plus, predictions for the region race and the players to watch heading into the 2026 high school football season.

This week on the Big Friday Kickoff Podcast, we kickoff our 2026 season preview coverage by breaking down 6A Region 1.

We're talking Baker, Bryant, Daphne, Davidson, Fairhope, Foley, MGM, and Robertsdale.

Who's improved, who's down, and who are some of the best players in the region.