After being projected to be placed in each of the four regions in Class 4A Division II, the Brownwood Lions football program will call Region IV home for the 2026 and 2027 campaigns.

On Monday, the UIL released its biennial realignment and the Lions were positioned in District 13 along with Waco La Vega, Waco Connally, Robinson, Gatesville and Salado.

Brownwood Lions head football coach Jeryl Brixey said, “Who we’re with did not surprise me, but being in Region IV surprised me. I really thought there was a chance if we were in with those guys that we’d be in Region III, so that was somewhat of a surprise.”

Brownwood ISD athletic director Mitch Moore added, “With all the speculation, usually the least likely thing we expect to happen does, or at least from my standpoint, and I would say that holds true. Region IV is new for me, I don’t know if I’ve ever been in Region IV. There had been some talk about that recently, and talk about being with the Waco schools, but in Region II. But it looks like a competitive district.”

Brownwood, coming off a 7-5 record in Brixey’s first campaign, has reached the playoffs 17 consecutive years and earned four straight bi-district titles.

La Vega posted an 11-3 mark last season, played in the 4A Division II Region III final, and defeated the Lions, 38-16, last year. Robinson tallied a 9-3 record in 2025 out of District 12-4A Division II and advanced two rounds deep in the postseason. Salado finished with an 8-4 mark and was a District 13-4A Division II tri-champion. Gatesville went 7-4 a year ago in District 12-4A Division II and exited in the first round of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Connally logged a 3-7 record as a member of District 12-4A Division II.

Brixey said, “It’s a very competitive district. Last year we went to La Vega, who lost in the regional finals, so they’re certainly a powerhouse. But that game we started to feel like we were getting better. I won’t say that we were ever truly in the game, but the final was 38-16 so it was a game we started to respond and play better. I expect us to play them tougher and challenge them for a district championship. But they’re very talented and have been a state power for several years.”

Regarding the rest of the district, Brixey said, “Robinson will be good challenge for us as well. They’re big dogs, too, but I don’t know a lot about them other than they have a quarterback that’s supposed to be pretty good. We were going to play Gatesville in non-district so I’m excited about that game, they have a good bunch of kids that play hard. I don’t know enough about Connally or Salado to speak about them.”

Moore added, “La Vega, we’re familiar with them having played them the last two years and we were in a district with them a few years ago. Gatesville we’ve been with in the past, Connally we played a couple years ago in a two-year stint, but Robinson and Salado are new to us.”

For the playoffs, the Lions will be traveling south instead of west, as the potential bi-district foes in District 14 include Austin Achieve (2-7), Austin Eastside (6-5), Giddings (2-8), Lago Vista (6-4), Manor New Tech (5-6) and Wimberley (8-5).

The rest of Region IV features Bandera (10-1), Cuero (12-2), Geronimo Navarro (3-7), Gonzales (7-5), Pearsall (2-9) and San Antonio Memorial (1-9) in District 15, while District 16 is comprised of Corpus Christi London (7-5), Ingleside (2-8), Kingsville King (7-4), La Feria (4-6), Port Isabel (6-5), Rio Grande City Grulla (1-9), Robstown (7-5) and Rockport-Fulton (8-5).

Brixey said, “When you look at whose in Region IV, a couple of the top teams in the region are probably in our district, which is nothing new. Then you look at the rest of the region and people that stand out are Cuero and Wimberley. Those are people that are generally year in and year out very good. It’s certainly going to be a test for us for sure. There’s easier paths we could’ve gone, but I don’t know that easier is better.”

Moore added, “It’s exciting. Going to Division II was one change and to come out in Region IV, the playoff road won’t be going west, we’ll be going south, so that’ll be different travel. We’ll get to see some new places.”

Brixey stated the Lions complete 2026 schedule would be released in the coming days, adding, “We’ve got a schedule of 10 games and in any one of them if we don’t play well we’re going to get beat. We’re going to have to be physically ready to go into the season and it’s going to be a grind. If we come out and progress week to week and make the playoffs, we’re going to be a seasoned-football team.”

In non-football sports, the Lions and Lady Lions will compete in the exact same district as the last two years – 6-4A along with Brock, Glen Rose, Graham, Mineral Wells and Stephenville.

“No big surprise here, I thought it might change up a little bit but we’re in with everybody we’ve been with the last several years,” Moore said. “Everyone knows each other well in that district, and it will continue to be a very competitive district over the next two years.”

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Brownwood 2026-28 UIL Districts

FOOTBALL

Class 4A Division II Region IV District 13

Brownwood

Gatesville

Robinson

Salado

Waco Connally

Waco La Vega

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NON-FOOTBALL (minus Soccer, Tennis)

Class 4A Region1 District 6

Brownwood

Brock

Glen Rose

Graham

Mineral Wells

Stephenville

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Brownwood 2024-26 UIL Districts (Current)

FOOTBALL

Class 4A Division I Region I District 4

Brownwood

Burnet

Lampasas

Marble Falls

Stephenville

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NON-FOOTBALL (minus Soccer, Tennis)

Class 4A Region 1 District 6

Brownwood

Brock

Glen Rose

Graham

Mineral Wells

Stephenville