On Saturday, Oct. 17, the 384 high school football teams in the 2026 Illinois state playoffs will know who and where they play to open the postseason.
But you have questions. We have answers.
Here is a look at some of the frequently asked questions about the Illinois High School Association playoffs and how the eight-class field is set.
Behind the scenes: The not-so-secret formula behind the Illinois football playoff process
Who's already in the IHSA football playoffs?
Heading into Week 9, a total of 287 teams have earned berths via conference championships or by winning four or more games. There are 154 teams vying for 97 berths.
The final 97 playoff teams will be those who win their fourth game this weekend, plus the remaining three-win teams with the highest playoff points earned. If there are still open spots after three-win teams fill the field, the two-win teams with the highest number of playoff points are selected.
IHSA football: What are playoff points?
Add the number of victories by the nine teams on your schedule: Those are your playoff points. The higher the number, the tougher the schedule and the more likely a team with fewer than four wins makes the field. For playoff teams with the same number of victories, playoff points also help determine seeding within a class.
How many IHSA playoff points does a team need to qualify?
Playoff points have become less important for qualification, especially with the expanded playoff field. Playoff points also help determine seeding within a class.
IHSA football playoffs: How do we know who is in each class?
First, forget everything about polls or weekly playoff outlooks. A school's in-season classification is strictly a guideline and has no bearing on its class when the playoffs start. The IHSA will take the 384 teams that qualify and place them in order of football enrollment (including no-boundaries multipliers, teams playing up, and success adjustments). The 48 qualifiers with the lowest enrollments will make up Class 1A, the 48 with the next highest will be 2A, and so on, through all eight classes. Any ties for the final spot in a class will be determined by coin flip.
What are "playing up" and "success adjustment" in IHSA football?
Programs have the option to “play up” into a larger class than their enrollment dictates or be bumped up a class by the "success adjustment." Of the schools still listed in the IHSA playoff outlook, eight fall into one of those two categories (listed with expected class): LaGrange Park Nazareth (6A); Joliet Catholic Academy (6A); Batavia (7A); East St. Louis (7A); Chicago St. Rita (7A); Oak Lawn Richards (7A); Chicago Mt. Carmel (8A); Wilmette Loyola Academy (8A).
How are the IHSA playoff matchups determined?
For the six smallest classes (1A through 6A), the IHSA will divide each 48-team field into 24-team halves based on geography. Those 24-team halves will be seeded No. 1 through No. 24. Seeds No. 1-8 in each half receiving an Opening Round bye. Seeds No. 9 through No. 24 are paired 9 vs. 24, 10 vs. 23, and so on. For the two larger classes, the 48 teams will be seeded No. 1 through No. 48. Seeds No. 1-16 receive an Opening Round bye. Seeds No. 17 through No. 48 are paired 17 vs. 48, 18 vs. 47, and so on. Seeds within each half are determined by: 1) wins, 2) wins by opponents, 3) wins of defeated opponents. After that, ties are broken based on: 1) head-to-head results and 2) random selection by computer.
Who gets to host IHSA playoff games?
In the first round, the better seed is host. In subsequent rounds, the team that has hosted fewer times during the current playoffs series is host. If both opponents have hosted an equal number of times, host site defers back to the better seed. A game can be played at a neutral site, but that decision is subject to approval by the IHSA board and the host school.
What are the key dates for the 2025 IHSA football playoffs?
First-round games are the weekend of Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Playoff games must be played on Saturday unless both schools agree to play on Friday. Friday games must not be scheduled during school hours, and Saturday games must start between 1-7 p.m. The schools must agree on the starting time of the game; if not, the IHSA will set the kickoff time.
- IHSA opening round: Oct. 23-24
- IHSA first round: Oct. 30-31
- IHSA second round: Nov. 6-7
- IHSA quarterfinals: Nov. 13-14
- IHSA semifinals: Nov. 20-21
- IHSA championships: Nov. 27-28
What TV stations will broadcast the IHSA playoff pairing show?
In most statewide markets, the IHSA football pairings show will air live from 8-9 p.m. Saturday through the IHSA TV Network, on the NFHS Network and live on ihsa.org. In Peoria, the show will air live on WEEK/WHOI 19.1. Dave Bernhard and Timothy 'EdgyTim' O'Halloran will bring you the pairings. Pairings also will be available live at pjstar.com.
Where are 2026 Illinois state title football games?
At Hancock Stadium in Normal. The 1A through 4A title games will be on Friday, Nov. 27. The four largest class title games will be on Saturday, Nov. 28.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA football playoffs: What you need to know ahead of the bracket selections for 2026