Pasadena High School cancels varsity football season

Pasadena High School cancels varsity football season. Ehsan Kassim USA TODAY.

Key points

• The canceled games additionally include Boulder League games against Burroughs, Gabrielino, San Marino, Crescenta Valley and South Pasadena.
• Hours before its fourth game of the season, Pasadena High School (California) confirmed that it is canceling the rest of its 2026 varsity high school football season.
• The Bulldogs had been outscored 133-14 through the first three weeks.
• 11's, matchup against Monrovia, Pasadena will forfeit the remaining seven games on its varsity schedule.
• The biggest cancelation, of course, will be the matchup against rival Muir, additionally known as the Turkey Tussle.

Meanwhile, the school hopes to play its remaining games on a junior varsity-only schedule. The Bulldogs – who won the CIF Southern Section football championship for the first time since 1933 in 2024 – cited reservations concerning player safety as the reason.

Starting with Friday, Sept. 11's, matchup against Monrovia, Pasadena will forfeit the remaining seven games on its varsity schedule. The team lost 21 seniors from a team that went 6-5 in 2025.

Meanwhile, the Pasadena Unified School District sent an email to the parents of players on the team on Friday, citing the loss of ten potential starters transferring out of district.

As you know, we began the football season with a young and enthusiastic varsity team that now has 46 members, the school district remarked in its statement. During the off-season, ten potential starters transferred to schools outside the district. These transfers affected the team's collective skill and experience level.

"After assessing the remaining team and its potential, the school determined that the student-athletes deserved a chance to compete at the varsity level. After three games, listening to coaches' reservations, and considering how to provide a positive experience for the players, we have decided to complete the remainder of the season as a junior varsity team.", now.

In practice, the Bulldogs had been outscored 133-14 through the first three weeks. It included a 42-6 loss to Norwalk on Sept. 4 at home.

Notably, the canceled games additionally include Boulder League games against Burroughs, Gabrielino, San Marino, Crescenta Valley and South Pasadena.

Notably, the biggest cancelation, of course, will be the matchup against rival Muir, additionally known as the Turkey Tussle. The game has historically been played at the Rose Bowl since 1954. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around pasadena High School cancels varsity football season point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.