Follow Along at @xtownshowdown on Twitter.

CINCINNATI, Ohio (August 7) – The Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown, which celebrated a quarter century last year as the nation’s largest and longest running high school football showcase, returns to the gridiron for Showdown XXVI with a schedule that features 13 intriguing matchups and highlights the premier programs in the region, which includes Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.

The Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown presented by Mercy Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and Meijer kicks off on Thursday, August 17 with the first game in Kentucky between a pair of 10-game winners in Newport Central Catholic and Lloyd Memorial (7 p.m. in Erlanger).

The Showdown continues Friday, August 18 in Ohio, with the renewal of the series between City of Hamilton rivals Badin and Hamilton (7 p.m. at Virgil Schwarm Stadium at Hamilton HS).  The two schools have not played since Badin beat Hamilton, 16-10, in 2000.

The complete Showdown schedule, which accompanies this release, was announced today by In-Game Sports, the event manager.  It is on the Showdown Twitter @xtownshowdown.

Two defending state champions will participate in the Showdown, with Indiana Class 4A winner East Central hosting Moeller in an interstate marquee matchup on Friday, September 1 (7:30 p.m.in St. Leon).  Two weeks later, three-time defending Kentucky Class 2A champion Beechwood hosts rival Covington Catholic on September 15 (7:30 p.m. in Fort Mitchell).

Another intriguing matchup is on Friday, September 8, when four-time Division I state champion St. Xavier travels to Withrow (7 p.m. in Hyde Park).  The two schools have not played in 20-plus years.  Elder, the only school to play in every Showdown, is in the regular-season finale at La Salle on Friday, October 20 (7 p.m. in Monfort Heights).  The Panthers are 20-5 in the event.

A brief glance at each Showdown game is included with this release.

Beginning August 13, fans can get daily Showdown information on all our social platforms (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) at @xtownshowdown.  Daily features include the Mercy Health Matchup that previews each week’s game, the Meijer Minute that highlights unique stories, team previews with coach and player interviews, and additional event information.