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Illinois' IHSA to expand football playoffs by 128 teams

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo5 hours agoAndy_Villamarzo

Come the 2026 Illinois high school football season, teams can enter the new campaign with the belief they’ll make the playoffs because well, just about everyone will, according to a proposal that was reportedly passed today by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

Proposal 19, which proposes to eliminate Week 0 and move up the start of the regular season to be in line with Indiana and add 16 teams per classification for the IHSA postseason expanding the overall field of teams from 256 to 384. The IHSA features eight classes from 1A to 8A and the playoff field of teams will go from 32 to 48 come next fall.

Included in the passed proposal is first round byes for the top 16 teams in each class in addition to the added teams in each classification. Not every head coach is a fan of the newly passed format, which includes Chicago Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch.

“I’m all for kids playing more football and getting more practices,” Lynch said to the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday. “But what about potential injury risk? There are some teams that have three wins that are not very good football teams. Some teams are already getting blown out in the first round. I would like it to get cut down to 7 classes instead of letting all these teams in.”

Mostly all teams with three or four victories will make the IHSA state playoffs, which in the state of Illinois, all squads make the playoffs in all of their other sanctioned sports.

It looks like Illinois high school football is soon following suit with doing the same.

“What made the football playoffs so special was the idea that there was a qualification to be considered a playoff football team, which was a cool thing for the school and the community,” Sandburg coach Sheamus Murphy said to the Chicago Sun-Times. “But I do understand it from the perspective that we don’t need to worry about the drive for five wins anymore.”

How to Follow Illinois High School Football

For Illinois high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Prairie State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Illinois.