An expanded playoff field is the top story coming into the 2026 high school football season in Illinois.
In December, the IHSA announced that member schools voted to adopt a by-law proposal that adds 16 teams per classification to the postseason and moves the start of the football season up one week. This year, the playoff bracket for each class will have 48 teams, up from 32, and there will now be 384 playoff qualifiers statewide, up from 256.
The 1A-6A playoff field will remain split into north and south brackets. The teams seeded 1-8 in the north and south will receive a first-round bye. In the 7A and 8A playoffs, the full bracket will be seeded 1-48 with the top 16 seeds earning byes into the second round.
Traditionally, teams have needed a 5-4 record to assure a playoff spot, but a handful of 4-5 teams have rounded out the playoff field the last couple of seasons. Projections for the new playoff system show all teams with records of 3-6 or better are expected to be postseason qualifiers, and several 2-7 teams will likely also make it to the playoffs.
IHSA Assistant Executive Director Sam Knox, who oversees football, spoke with WRMJ in December about the proposal passing.
High school football games kick off on Aug. 21.