This is the complete first-round schedule for the 2026 Illinois High School Association football playoffs, listed class-by-class and in bracket order for next weekend, Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31. Games are at the home of the better seed.
Illinois high school football championship games are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28.
2026 IHSA football playoff first-round bracket, schedule
2026 IHSA Class 1A football first-round bracket, schedule
North half
- 16 Galena (H.S.) (6-4) at 1 Heyworth (9-0), TBA
- 9 Abingdon (A.-Avon) (8-2) at 8 Fisher (7-2), TBA
- 13 Ottawa (Marquette) (7-3) at 4 Clifton (Central) (8-1), TBA
- 12 Dwight (7-3) at 5 Annawan/Wethersfield (8-1), TBA
- 18 Orion (5-5) at 2 Stockton (8-1), TBA
- 10 Lena (L.-Winslow) (7-3) at 7 Forreston (7-2), TBA
- 14 Sterling (Newman Central Catholic) (6-4) at 3 Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) (8-1), TBA
- 11 Fulton (H.S.) (7-3) at 6 Toulon (Stark County) (7-2), TBA
South half
- Winner of Athens/Carrollton at 1 Brown County (9-0)
- Winner of Oakwood/Pleasant Hill at 8 Greenfield-Northwestern (7-2)
- Winner of Triopia/Havana at 4 Sullivan (8-1)
- Winner of Sesser-Valier/Winchester West Central at 5 Camp Point Central (8-1)
- Winner of Red Hill/Cumberland at 2 A.L.A.H. (8-1)
- Winner of Villa Grove/Dupo at 7 Salt Fork (7-2)
- Winner of Nokomis/Carlyle at 3 Calhoun (8-1)
- Winner of Casey-Westfield/South Fulton at 6 Tuscola (7-2)
2026 IHSA Class 2A football first-round bracket, schedule
North half
- 17 Lanark (Eastland) [Eastland-Pearl City Coop] (5-5) at 1 Port Byron (Riverdale) (9-0), TBA
- 9 Carthage (Illini West) (8-2) at 8 Peotone (7-2), TBA
- 13 Bismarck (B.-Henning-Rossville-Alvin) (6-4) at 4 Downs (Tri-Valley) (8-1), TBA
- 12 Farmington (6-4) at 5 Wilmington (8-1), TBA
- 15 Stillman Valley (5-5) at 2 El Paso (Gridley) (9-0), TBA
- 10 Warrensburg (W.-Latham) (7-3) at 7 Erie [E.-Prophetstown Coop] (7-2), TBA
- 14 Winnebago (6-4) at 3 Aurora (Christian) (8-1), TBA
- 22 Oregon (4-6) at 6 Maroa (M.-Forsyth) (8-1), TBA
South half
- 16 Carlinville (5-5) at 1 Johnston City (9-0), TBA
- 9 Chester (6-4) at 8 Newton (6-3), TBA
- 13 DuQuoin (H.S.) (6-4) at 4 Nashville (7-2), TBA
- 12 McLeansboro (Hamilton County) (6-4) at 5 Vandalia (7-2), TBA
- 15 Decatur (St. Teresa) (5-5) at 2 West Frankfort (Frankfort) (8-1), TBA
- 10 Auburn (6-4) at 7 Red Bud (6-3), TBA
- 14 Moweaqua (Central A & M) [Coop] (6-4) at 3 Flora (8-1), TBA
- 22 Shelbyville (3-7) at 6 Pana (H.S.) (7-2), TBA
2026 IHSA Class 3A football first-round bracket, schedule
North half
- 17 Princeton (5-5) at 1 Richmond (R.-Burton) (9-0), TBA
- 9 Manteno (7-3) at 8 Peru (St. Bede) (7-2), TBA
- 13 Sandwich (6-4) at 4 Pecatonica [Du-Pec Coop] (8-1), TBA
- 12 Chicago (C. Hope Academy) (6-4) at 5 Kankakee (McNamara) (7-2), TBA
- 18 Fairbury (Prairie Central) (5-5) at 2 Byron (9-0), TBA
- 23 Pontiac (4-6) at 7 Chicago (UCCS/Woodlawn) (7-2), TBA
- 14 Genoa (G.-Kingston) (6-4) at 3 Elmhurst (IC Catholic) (8-1), TBA
- 22 Woodstock (Marian) (4-6) at 6 Johnsburg (7-2), TBA
South half
- 16 Roxana (7-3) at 1 Hillsboro (9-0), TBA
- 9 Stanford (Olympia) (8-2) at 8 Monticello (7-2), TBA
- 13 Sparta [Coop] (8-2) at 4 Williamsville (8-1), TBA
- 12 Paris (8-2) at 5 Macomb (8-1), TBA
- 15 Belleville (Althoff Catholic) (7-3) at 2 St. Joseph (Ogden) (9-0), TBA
- 10 Tolono (Unity) (8-2) at 7 Bloomington (Central Catholic) (7-2), TBA
- 14 Greenville (7-3) at 3 Mt. Carmel (9-0), TBA
- 11 Fairfield (8-2) at 6 Benton (8-1), TBA
2026 IHSA Class 4A football first-round bracket, schedule
North half
- 17 Tinley Park (H.S.) (5-5) at 1 Morris (9-0), TBA
- 9 Geneseo (7-3) at 8 Lombard (Montini) (7-2), TBA
- 20 Aurora (Marmion Academy) (4-6) at 4 Sterling (H.S.) (7-2), TBA
- 12 Country Club Hills (Hillcrest) (6-4) at 5 Chicago (Phoenix) (7-2), TBA
- 15 Chicago (Leo) (6-4) at 2 Coal City (8-1), TBA
- 10 Dixon (H.S.) (7-3) at 7 Evergreen Park (7-2), TBA
- 14 Rochelle (6-4) at 3 Chicago (Clark) (8-1), TBA
- 22 Aurora (Central Catholic) (4-6) at 6 Chicago (Noble/Rauner) (7-2), TBA
South half
- 16 Bethalto (Civic Memorial) (5-5) at 1 Centralia (H.S.) (9-0), TBA
- 9 Decatur (MacArthur) (8-2) at 8 Mt. Zion (7-2), TBA
- 20 Jerseyville (Jersey) (5-5) at 4 Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin) (8-1), TBA
- 12 Metamora (7-3) at 5 Breese (Central) (8-1), TBA
- 15 Salem (6-4) at 2 Carterville (9-0), TBA
- 10 Highland (7-3) at 7 Freeburg (7-2), TBA
- 19 Waterloo (H.S.) (5-5) at 3 Rochester (8-1), TBA
- 11 Cahokia (H.S.) (7-3) at 6 Jacksonville (H.S.) (8-1), TBA
2026 IHSA Class 5A football first-round bracket, schedule
North half
- 17 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South) (6-4) at 1 Antioch (9-0), TBA
- 9 Sycamore (H.S.) (6-4) at 8 Belvidere (H.S.) (6-3), TBA
- 20 Lakes Villa (Lakes) at 4 Wauconda (7-2), TBA
- 12 Belvidere (North) (6-4) at 5 West Chicago (Wheaton Academy) (7-2), TBA
- 18 Wheaton (St. Francis) (5-5) at 2 Maple Park (Kaneland) (8-1), TBA
- 23 Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge) (3-7) at 7 Woodstock (H.S.) (7-2), TBA
- 14 Deerfield (H.S.) (6-4) at 3 Chicago (King) (7-2), TBA
- 11 Darien (Hinsdale South) (6-4) at 6 Cary (Grove) (7-2), TBA
South half
- 17 Marion (H.S.) (5-5) at 1 Mahomet (Seymour) (9-0), TBA
- 9 Chicago (Corliss) [Coop] (8-2) at 8 Crete (Monee) (7-2), TBA
- 13 Lemont (H.S.) (6-4) at 4 Morton (8-1), TBA
- 21 Washington (4-6) at 5 Troy (Triad) (8-1), TBA
- 15 LaSalle (Peru) (5-5) at 2 Chicago (Agricultural Science) (8-1), TBA
- 10 Carbondale (H.S.) (8-2) at 7 Calumet City (Thornton Fractional North) (7-2), TBA
- 14 Oak Forest (6-4) at 3 Chicago (Morgan Park) (8-1), TBA
- 11 New Lenox (Providence Catholic) (7-3) at 6 Kankakee (Sr.) (7-2), TBA
2026 IHSA Class 6A football first-round bracket, schedule
North half
- 17 St. Charles (East) (4-6) at 1 Machesney Park (Harlem) (9-0), TBA
- 9 Burlington (Central) (7-3) at 8 Lake Zurich (6-3), TBA
- 13 Chicago (Noble/Muchin) (6-4) at 4 Libertyville (7-2), TBA
- 12 Niles (Notre Dame) (6-4) at 5 Fox Lake (Grant) (7-2), TBA
- 18 Mundelein (Carmel) (4-6) at 2 Geneva (8-1), TBA
- 23 Rolling Meadows (3-7) at 7 Wheaton (North) (6-3), TBA
- 14 Villa Park (Willowbrook) (6-4) at 3 Rockton (Hononegah) (8-1), TBA
- 11 Highland Park (7-3) at 6 Oak Park (Fenwick) (6-3), TBA
South half
- 16 East Moline (United) (6-4) at 1 Chicago (Kennedy) (8-1), TBA
- 9 Quincy (Sr.) (7-3) at 8 Chicago (Goode) (6-2), TBA
- 20 LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy) (5-5) at 4 Dunlap (8-1), TBA
- 21 Chicago (Simeon) (5-5) at 5 Oak Lawn (Community) (7-2), TBA
- 18 Chatham (Glenwood) (6-4) at 2 Normal (Community West) (8-1), TBA
- 10 Harvey (Thornton) (7-3) at 7 Pekin (6-3), TBA
- 14 South Holland (Thornwood) (6-4) at 3 Riverside (R.-Brookfield) (8-1), TBA
- 11 Joliet (Catholic Academy) (6-4) at 6 Wheaton (Warrenville South) (6-3), TBA
2026 IHSA Class 7A football first-round bracket, schedule
- 32 Edwardsville (H.S.) (5-5) at 1 Normal (Community) (9-0), TBA
- 17 Lombard (Glenbard East) (7-3) at 16 Chicago (Kenwood) (6-3), TBA
- 25 St. Charles (North) (6-4) at 8 Chicago (Brother Rice) (7-2), TBA
- 24 New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central) (6-4) at 9 Batavia (7-2), TBA
- 36 Burbank (Reavis) (5-5) at 4 East St. Louis (Sr.) (8-1), TBA
- 20 Chicago (St. Patrick) (7-3) at 13 Chicago (Westinghouse College Prep) (7-2), TBA
- 37 Chicago (DePaul College Prep) (4-6) at 5 Mt. Prospect (Prospect) (8-1), TBA
- 21 Zion (Z.-Benton) (7-3) at #12 Rockford (Guilford) (7-2), TBA
- 31 Yorkville (H.S.) (5-5) at 2 Arlington Heights (Hersey) (9-0), TBA
- 18 Moline (H.S.) (7-3) at 15 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West) (6-3), TBA
- 39 Burbank (St. Laurence) (4-6) at 7 Plainfield (South) (8-1), TBA
- 23 New Lenox (Lincoln-Way West) (6-4) at 10 Plainfield (North) (7-2), TBA
- 35 West Chicago (H.S.) (5-5) at 3 Downers Grove (North) (8-1), TBA
- 19 Buffalo Grove (7-3) at 14 Chicago (St. Rita) (6-3), TBA
- 38 Carol Stream (Glenbard North) (4-6) at 6 Algonquin (Jacobs) (8-1), TBA
- 22 Skokie (Niles North) (7-3) at 11 Oak Lawn (Richards) (7-2), TBA
2026 IHSA Class 8A football first-round bracket, schedule
- 33 Oak Park (River Forest) (5-5) at 1 Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) (9-0), TBA
- 17 Hinsdale (Central) (7-3) at 16 Chicago (Von Steuben) (7-1), TBA
- 25 Chicago (Marist) (6-4) at 8 Chicago (Mt. Carmel) (7-2), TBA
- 24 Barrington (6-4) at 9 Orland Park (Sandburg) (7-2), TBA
- 29 Naperville (Central) (6-4) at 4 Oswego (H.S.) (8-1), TBA
- 20 Palatine (Fremd) (7-3) at 13 Naperville (North) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 30, 7:00 pm
- 28 Lockport (Twp.) (6-4) at 5 Bolingbrook (8-1), TBA
- 21 LaGrange (Lyons) (7-3) at 12 Chicago (Perspectives/Leadership) [Coop] (7-2), TBA
- 34 Oswego (East) (5-5) at 2 Huntley (9-0), TBA
- 18 Chicago (Lane) (7-3) at 15 South Elgin (7-2), TBA
- 26 Glenview (Glenbrook South) (6-4) at 7 Winnetka (New Trier) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 30, 6:30 pm
- 23 Hoffman Estates (Conant) (7-3) at 10 Flossmoor (Homewood-F.) (7-2), TBA
- 35 Minooka (5-5) at 3 Wilmette (Loyola Academy) (8-1), TBA
- 19 Elmhurst (York) (7-3) at 14 Downers Grove (South) (7-2), TBA
- 27 O'Fallon (H.S.) (6-4) at 6 Park Ridge (Maine South) (8-1), TBA
- 22 Aurora (West Aurora) (7-3) at 11 Chicago (St. Ignatius) (7-2), TBA
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: Entire 2026 IHSA bracket, schedule for first round Illinois high school football playoffs