CINCINNATI — Princeton and Archbishop Moeller will open the 2026 high school football season on one of the region’s biggest stages when they meet Thursday, Aug. 20 at Paycor Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals.
The non-conference matchup, originally scheduled to be played at Princeton High School, was moved because renovations continue at Pat Mancuso Field at Jake Sweeney Automotive Stadium. Princeton will serve as the home team for the neutral-site contest.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:07 p.m., with the game set to be televised on Spectrum News 1. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $12 plus processing fees, while parking will cost $10. The stadium will operate as a cashless venue and its clear bag policy will be in effect.
The annual rivalry will once again be played for the “King of Block” trophy and marks the third consecutive season the schools have opened the year against one another. Moeller holds a 41-7 advantage in the all-time series, which dates to 1965, and has won the last 19 meetings.
The game also will showcase two of southwest Ohio’s premier football programs in an NFL venue as Princeton begins a season that coincides with continued upgrades to its athletic facilities. The Bengals and Hamilton County partnered with Princeton City Schools to bring the event to Paycor Stadium.
The contest will be the second major Ohio high school football game played at Paycor Stadium within the past year after St. Xavier and Elder met there in the 2025 Division I, Region 4 championship game.
Tickets are available at vikenation.org/tickets.
