The Eufaula Ironheads have jumped up in classification to 3A-6 while the Oklahoma Sooners jump into what is called the most competitive football conference in all of college football, the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Eufaula head coach Larry Newton is on course to be the schools’ winningest coach. The next two years have the Ironheads playing in what could be the toughest district in all of Oklahoma High School Football. The Ironheads will face two private schools in Lincoln Christian and Holland Hall, a Sallisaw team who under new head coach Braden Tyler went to the second round in the playoffs last year and Checotah and Idabel who also made the playoffs in 2023.

Newton dominated Class 2A-6 winning multiple district championships including four consecutive. However, Eufaula won’t be playing Heavener, Wilburton or Ant-lers anymore after moving up in class. It will be a long, hard season for the Ironheads who scheduled non district schools Morris, Warner and Vian for their first three games.

Tahlequah Sequoyah is on the rise under head coach Chad Hendricks who recently added Chris Risenhoover to his staff, who just helped lead the Muskogee Roughers to the state championship.

Stigler, Locust Grove and Muldrow round out the district.

The Oklahoma Sooners first five SEC games are against Tennessee, at Auburn, Texas, South Carolina and Ole Miss. No more games against Kansas, Iowa State or Texas Tech. The Sooners will have to play at the top of their game each and every week in conference play. OU will get a break on November 2 when they host Maine but have to play Missouri, Alabama and LSU to end the season.

No doubt the 2024 football season is going to see a big change in competitiveness at both the high school and collegiate levels.

Both Eufaula and Oklahoma have the pieces in place to be very good this season. However, the issue with this football season is who can stay healthy week in and week out to have a chance to play for the district and conference championship.