Texas high school football program Meridian has announced it will forfeit its final two games of the 2026 season, effectively ending its campaign early as a mounting injury crisis has depleted the roster to unsustainable levels.
The decision, reported Wednesday, reflects a growing trend across Texas high school football where teams are unable to field enough healthy players to compete safely. Meridian's coaching staff determined that continuing would risk further harm to the remaining athletes.
No specific injury details or player names were disclosed, but the situation underscores the physical toll of a long season on young athletes with limited roster depth. Meridian joins a small but notable list of Texas programs that have voluntarily ended their seasons prematurely in recent years due to similar circumstances.
