IHSA TV: State Playoff Pairing Show/State Title coverage plans

OCTOBER 7, 2026 CHICAGO, IL Weigel Broadcasting Co.’s WCIU, The U, continues its long tradition of bringing the best in local high school sports to Chicago viewers beginning Friday, October 16 as Mount Carmel travels to face currently undefeated Loyola Academy in a football rivalry matchup at 6:30 P.M.


Then on Saturday, October 17, The U puts the spotlight on girls’ sports, airing the IHSA Flag Football State Semifinals and Championship. All three matchups will highlight one of the deepest flag football talent pools in the country and showcase the teams which have emerged as front runners during the most competitive regular season in the three-year history of flag football as an IHSA sanctioned sport. The IHSA Semifinals begin at 10:00 AM, with the Championship airing at 5:00 P.M.


The IHSA Football Playoff Pairings Show returns on Saturday, October 17 at 9:00 P.M. Expert analysts Dave Bernhard and Edgy Tim O’Halloran will unveil the opening-round matchups across all eight classes. With 384 teams now qualifying for the playoffs, the IHSA is launching an expanded playoff format that creates more opportunities for schools across the state. Bernhard and Edgy Tim will break down the teams and storylines as they begin their road to a state championship.


Viewers will get an early look at potential IHSA champions on Saturday, November 14, when The U broadcasts an IHSA quarterfinal game and November 21, with the airing of one of the semifinal matchups.


The IHSA Football State Finals begin November 27 and 28, produced and televised throughout the state by Weigel Broadcasting for the fifth consecutive year in partnership with the IHSA and its digital broadcast partner, the NFHS Network.



WCIU, The U’s Fall Sports Schedule:




WCIU, The U is seen on WCIU, Channel 26.1, Xfinity 183/1026, Astound TV 6, Dish 26, DirecTV 26, DirecTV Stream, Spectrum Charter 22/616, U-Verse 10/1010, YouTube TV and FuboTV.