If you can’t wait until Roman Voss gets to the Gophers, you have to watch.

If you wonder how good greater Minnesota high school football gets and you can’t make the drive, you have to watch.

If you want to see linemen so good that big colleges found them in small towns, you have to watch.

If you haven’t heard enough about Moorhead’s loaded roster and its move to Class 6A, you have to watch.

It’s the first weekend of Strib Varsity livestreamed football.

You have to watch.

Strib Varsity will stream five football games this week, three Thursday and two Friday. All can be accessed at stribvarsity.com, or click on the game below for a direct link to each game.

Thursday’s games feature several of the state’s best players regardless of class, and that list starts with Minnesota’s top-ranked senior, Roman Voss of Jackson County Central. Voss plays quarterback for JCC; he projects as a tight end for the Gophers and P.J. Fleck, to whom he committed in June.

He’s joined at JCC by Weston Rowe, a 6-7, 270-pound offensive lineman committed to South Dakota State. He and Voss both made the preseason Dream Team assembled by Strib Varsity’s Jim Paulsen.

The presence of Voss and Rowe helps explain Jackson County Central’s state championship last season and its status as the only Class 2A team in Strib Varsity’s Minnesota Top 25 this preseason. The Huskies are ranked 22nd.

JCC’s opponent, Maple River, ended last season on a roll, winning five of six before a section semifinal loss.

Another Thursday game will show off another player committed to the Gophers. Watch for Andrew Trout, Rocori’s 6-6, 270-pounder on the offensive line, when Rocori takes on Totino-Grace. Rocori is ranked 23rd in the Minnesota Top 25. Totino-Grace won 12 in a row last season before falling to Becker in the Class 4A Prep Bowl last season.

Also on Thursday, Moorhead, with four Division I prospects and fresh from being elevated to Class 6A, will take on Rogers. Moorhead rolls with quarterback Jett Feeney, wide receiver David Mack, running back Taye Reich and defensive back Zak Walker, all with offers from the NCAA’s top division. The Spuds are ranked sixth in the Minnesota Top 25. Rogers is working its way back from a 4-5 record in 2024.

On Friday, Mankato West, a five-time state champ ranked 10th in the Minnesota Top 25, takes on Mahtomedi, a nearly annual qualifier for the state tournament aiming to return after missing out last season.

Friday’s other livestream? We’re recommending watching a kicker. Keep an eye on Brainerd’s Sawyer Riffle, committed to North Dakota. Brainerd’s opponent, Buffalo, reached the Class 6A state tournament last season.

Thursday’s games:

6 p.m.: Rogers at Moorhead

7 p.m.: Rocori at Totino-Grace

7 p.m.: Jackson County Central at Maple River

Friday’s games:

7 p.m.: Mankato West at Mahtomedi

7 p.m.: Buffalo at Brainerd