The inaugural 384-team IHSA playoff field kicks off this weekend with the first-ever “Opening Round” of the IHSA football postseason.
16 teams in each class are idle this week after earning byes into what is still being called the First Round next week. Each class will be trimmed from 48 to 32 teams after this weekend.
Nine of the 12 teams in the TRAC advanced into the largest playoff field in IHSA history. Rockridge (1A), Riverdale (2A), and Erie-Prophetstown (2A) have byes this week. The Rockets will play either Newman or Tremont; the Rams wait to see if they will host Eastland-Pearl City or Beardstown; while the Panthers will play at home against either Warrensburg-Latham or Georgetown-Ridge Farm.
The remaining six conference representatives hit the field this week to try to make it into the Round of 32 next week.
WRMJ’s Ty Taylor and Jim Taylor are joined by View from the West Podcast co-hosts Greg Armstrong and Mitch Stoermer, Matt Randazzo, and Brian Stocking to preview and predict this week’s action.
Standings after Week 9
| Place | Picker | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ty | 41-9 |
| 2 | Dazzo | 40-10 |
| 3 | Mitch | 39-11 |
| 4 | Greg | 38-12 |
| 5 | Stocking | 37-13 |
| 6 | Jim | 36-14 |
Class 3A: No. 21 Monmouth-Roseville (4-5) @ No. 12 Hope Academy (5-4) – Friday 7 p.m.
Monmouth-Roseville heads to Chicago to open its 2026 playoff run against Hope Academy on Friday night.
Monmouth-Roseville closed its regular season on a two-game losing streak after falling to Orion 40-16 in Week 9. The Titans pulled within 20-16 in the third quarter, but allowed the final 20 points of the night in the loss. Monmouth-Roseville has been led all season by senior running backs Landon Montroy (960 yards, 10 TDs) and Lars Bergren (698 yards, 5 TDs) all season.
Hope Academy is making its sixth consecutive playoff appearance in 2026. The Eagles’ four losses come to St. Ignatius (8A No. 8), Aurora Christian (2A No. 7), Wheaton Academy and Chicago Christian. Hope Academy’s ledger includes a 42-10 win over 3A No. 9 Bishop McNamara in Week 8. The Eagles finished in fourth place in the Chicagoland Christian Conference with a 4-3 record in league play. The Eagles wrapped up the regular season with a 24-8 loss to Chicago Christian in Week 9.
The winner advances to play No. 5 Bishop McNamara (7-2) in the first round next week.
Picks
Ty: Hope Academy
Jim: Hope Academy
Greg: Hope Academy
Mitch: Hope Academy
Dazzo: Hope Academy
Stocking: Monmouth-Roseville
Class 1A: No. 18 Orion (4-5) @ No. 15 LeRoy (5-4) – Saturday 1 p.m.
Orion is riding late-season momentum into its postseason opener at LeRoy on Saturday afternoon.
Orion is making its first playoff appearance since 2019 following back-to-back wins to close the regular season. The Chargers pulled away from Monmouth-Roseville in the second half and won 40-16 on the back of 20 unanswered points to close the game. Blake Arnold threw two TD passes, Aidan Leingang rushed for three scores, and Jackson Noyd returned a kickoff for a TD in the regular season finale. This is just the second time in program history that Orion is competing in the 1A football playoffs. The only other time the Chargers were in the 1A field was 2015, which ended in a quarterfinal appearance.
LeRoy returns to the postseason after missing last year, but just two years removed from a semifinal run in 2024. The Panthers are led by senior twin brothers Brett and Matt Helfrich. Brett, the team’s quarterback, has rushed for 737 yards and seven TDs, while Matt, the fullback, is LeRoy’s leading rusher with 856 yards and seven TDs on the season. The Panthers have attempted just 13 passes all season. LeRoy finished in third place in the Heart of Central Illinois Conference Small School Division, behind only 1A No. 4 Heyworth and Tuscola. LeRoy closed the regular season with a 34-14 win over Seneca last week.
The winner moves on to challenge No. 2 Stockton (8-1) in the first round.
Picks
Ty: Orion
Jim: Orion
Greg: Orion
Mitch: LeRoy
Dazzo: LeRoy
Stocking: LeRoy
Class 1A: No. 19 Tremont (4-5) @ No. 14 Newman (5-4) – Saturday 2 p.m.
Newman begins its 25th straight playoff run hosting Tremont on Saturday afternoon.
With last week’s 42-8 win over Mendota, Newman clinched its 35th consecutive season with a record of .500 or better. Despite dealing with a rash of injuries to key players throughout the season, the Comets’ defense has allowed just 15 points per game. Senior tailback Rylan Alvardo has paced the Newman offense this season with 944 rushing yards and 12 TDs. Outside of allowing 46 points to Rockridge in Week 8, the next highest point total the Comets have allowed was 28 points to Riverdale in Week 7.
Tremont is appearing in the IHSA football playoffs for the first time since 2021 this season. The Turks have been limited to just under 15 points per game in 2026. Tremont’s four wins are against Seneca (1-8), St. Louis Gateway Tech (3-4), Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (1-8), and Deer Creek-Mackinaw (2-7). The Turks finished fourth in the Heart of Central Illinois Conference Small School Division with a 4-5 league record. Tremont wrapped up the regular season with 27-22 win over Deer Creek-Mackinaw last week.
The victor advances to take on No. 3 Rockridge (8-1) in the first round next week.
Picks
Ty: Newman
Jim: Newman
Greg: Newman
Mitch: Newman
Dazzo: Newman
Stocking: Newman
Class 3A: No. 22 Marian Catholic (3-6) @ No. 11 Kewanee (5-4) – Saturday 3 p.m.
Kewanee opens its playoff run by hosting Marian Catholic on Saturday afternoon.
Kewanee’s turnaround from 0-9 in 2025 to TRAC Mississippi champion in 2026 has the Boilermakers back in the playoffs. The Boilermakers’ three early-season losses to Rockridge (31-27 in Week 1), Erie-Prophetstown (20-14 in Week 3), and Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin (36-34 in Week 4) came by a combined 12 points. Kewanee’s regular season ended with a 35-13 loss to Riverdale, though the Boilermakers only trailed 14-7 at halftime.
Marian Catholic won two of its final three games of the regular season to punch its ticket into the postseason. The Hurricanes defeated Christ the King (1-8) in Week 7, 34-0, and thumped St. Edward (2-7) 57-6 in Week 8 to reach the three-win mark. Marian also picked up a win in Week 1 over Noble/Hansberry, a public school in Chicago. The Hurricanes went 2-5 in Chicagoland Christian Conference play to finish in fifth place in the league. Marian dropped its regular season finale to Aurora Christian 31-14 last week.
The winner will move on to play No. 6 Johnsburg (7-2) next week.
Picks
Ty: Kewanee
Jim: Marian Catholic
Greg: Kewanee
Mitch: Kewanee
Dazzo: Kewanee
Stocking: Kewanee
Class 3A: No. 17 Princeton (4-5) @ No. 16 South Shore (5-4) – Saturday 3:30 p.m.
Princeton will travel to Chicago to meet up with South Shore to begin the 3A playoffs on Saturday afternoon.
Princeton is looking to notch a playoff win in 2026 after getting knocked out in the first round last season. The Tigers start only one senior on offense and have been led statistically by sophomore running back Reece Pearson, who has rushed for 842 yards and 10 TDs this season. Junior fullback Brennan Emmett has added 623 yards and six TDs. Princeton closed the regular season with a tight 21-16 loss to Rockridge.
South Shore, Chicago Public School, qualified for the postseason after a five-win regular season. The Tars have not played a non-CPS opponent yet this season. South Shore picked up an 18-8 victory over winless Hyde Park in Week 9 to clinch a winning regular season.
The winner will hit the road to play No. 1 Richmond-Burton (9-0) next week.
Picks
Ty: Princeton
Jim: Princeton
Greg: Princeton
Mitch: Princeton
Dazzo: Princeton
Stocking: Princeton
Class 3A: No. 24 Mendota (3-6) @ No. 9 Mateno (6-3) – Saturday 4 p.m.
Mendota is making its first playoff appearance since 2021 and will travel to Manteno on Saturday afternoon.
Mendota clinched a playoff berth with a forfeit win over Sherrard in Week 8. The Trojans also notched victories over Orion in Week 1 and Hall in Week 4. Mendota fell to Newman 42-8 in Week 9. Mendota enters its playoff opener having lost four of its last five games, with the lone win being the aforementioned forfeit.
Manteno’s strong regular season was rewarded with an opening round home game. The Panthers’ three losses came to 2A No. 2 Wilmington, 4A No. 6 Coal City, and Peotone. Manteno’s wins, all by margins of two scores or more, were over Johnsburg, Plano, Herscher, Reed-Custer, Lisle and Streator. The Panthers went 4-3 in the Illinois Central Eight Conference to finish in fourth place. Manteno’s regular season finale was a 48-22 victory over Streator.
The winner will move on to play No. 8 St. Bede (7-2) in the first round next week.
Picks
Ty: Manteno
Jim: Manteno
Greg: Manteno
Mitch: Manteno
Dazzo: Manteno
Stocking: Manteno
WRMJ’s coverage of the TRAC is powered by…
- Midwest Bank, with locations that include Aledo, Andalusia, Monmouth, and Moline
- Local COUNTRY Financial representatives Jason Potter, and John Waugh in Aledo, Brent Bigham in Edgington, and Julie Hessler in Orion.
- Breedlove’s Sporting Goods in Kewanee