St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Columbus: How to watch Florida high school football clash

This week’s USA TODAY High School Sports Game of the Week is a must-see.

St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL), ranked No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Super 25 rankings, will be taking on No. 6 Columbus (Miami, FL) in a prime-time matchup on Friday, Sept. 4.

The Raiders are currently on a 16-game winning streak dating back to Aug. 29 of last year. Columbus shocked the nation when it stunned then-No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV), behind an unreal effort from five-star Miami commit A’mir Sears.

Columbus lost last year’s matchup 42-7, but the Explorers are a far different team after Sears transferred in during the offseason from West Broward (Pembroke Pines, FL).

Here’s everything you need to know about both teams and how you’ll be able to watch the showdown from home:

Watch No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas vs. No. 6 Columbus LIVE on NFHS Network

When is St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Columbus high school football game?

The Sunshine State showdown kicks off on Friday, September 4, 2026.

What time does St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Columbus high school football game start?

The game is slated to start at 7 p.m. ET.

Watch St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Columbus high school football game live

St. Thomas Aquinas and Columbus fans can watch the game live on the NFHS Network.

St. Thomas Aquinas football: What to know

The Raiders are the favorite to win the FHSAA’s Open Division this season, winning 14 straight to close last season after Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) handed the Raiders a season-opening loss.
The St. Thomas Aquinas defense has been elite, led by four-star Ohio State defensive line commit Wyatt Smith, four-star Notre Dame defensive back commit Zayden Gamble, three-star Ohio State defensive back commit Jayden Carey and others.
As the St. Thomas Aquinas head coach, Roger Harriott has lost just four games to Florida opponents this decade and is 144-15 (.906) leading the program since 2015.

Columbus football: What to know

The Explorers have been elite under head coach Dave Dunn with the exception of the 2025 season, when the program finished 4-8 but still advanced to a regional semifinal.
Outside of A’mir Sears, keep an eye on 2029 linebacker Sekou Toure and senior quarterback Kai Moore, who completed 20 of 27 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s upset of the Gaels.
In the MaxPreps era dating back to mid-2000s, Columbus is 0-3 all time against the Raiders, losing 42-6 and 42-7 in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The Explorers played a closer game in 2012, but still fell 38-28.

Watch the Super 25 showdown live on NFHS Network

Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Columbus: How to watch Florida high school football clash

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