Local media weigh in on 2026 football season

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The Wichita Falls area has been blessed with hard-working media who covers this pocket of planet Earth about as well as humanly possible.

It started with local writing legends Ted Buss and Nick Gholson. Tobin McDuff has become an institution at KFDX, while my buddy Jonathan Hull is entering his 13th season covering this area.

I always appreciate learning what other media personalities think about certain teams or districts because sometimes their perception matches mine and other times their responses are enlightening.

Because of that, I reached out to five local media members – McDuff, Hull, KAUZ’s Alvin Runnels, 940 Gameday’s Nolan Clark and the recently departed (but oh so knowledgeable) M.J. Baird to get their takes on five different questions.

I also wanted to use this space to introduce you to a new local media member in Andy Mathis, who is replacing Hull at the Times Record News. Mathis is a young guy straight out of the University of Georgia who moved to Wichita Falls a couple weeks ago.

It’s always good to have talented young blood come to this area, and I’m excited to read Mathis’ coverage. His X handle is @andymath1s if you want to give him a follow.

I abstained from answering these questions because next week I’ll share my own “10 thoughts about the 2026 season” in a column.

But check out what five media members had to say about the 2026 season below. My favorite part is that all five had a different answer for “most surprising team,” and if that’s not an indication of how fun 2026 will be, I don’t know what is.

Hull: Memorial. It’s strange to say that because the Mavs have been the better of the two WFISD programs, but expectations outside the locker room seem to be low. Many don’t have the Mavs making the playoffs after graduating a great senior class and the change at head coach from Marc Bindel to Ross Dillard. But Dillard offers continuity, and there are still pieces on the roster that will have the Mavs in the thick of the playoff picture.