Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
NORMAL - Senior Jason Dowell celebrates with the Class 1A state trophy at Hancock Stadium on Friday afternoon after Althoff Catholic defeated Lena-Winslow at the IHSA Football State Finals in 2024. The Crusaders won the championship game, 57-14. A big change in the IHSA footall schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 season means a change in summer plans for many coaches, players and families.
BLOOMINGTON - The Illinois High School Association has approved a change that will move the start of the 2026 football season earlier on the calendar. Under the adjustment, football practices will begin Aug. 5, and athletes must complete 12 days of on-field practices before being eligible to play in their first game. The shift follows a broader package of changes tied to safety requirements with upcoming season's postseason expansion. The earlier start aligns with a major structural move approved by member schools: an expansion of the IHSA football playoffs from 256 teams to 384. The change adds an extra week to the postseason, requiring the regular season to move forward on the calendar while keeping the overall season length intact. “Despite the cumbersome nature of the process, I am confident this outcome is in the best interest of student-athlete safety,” said Craig Anderson. “We recognize that our member schools may bring forward ideas to alter the 2027 football season schedule as a result, and we welcome that. However, given that we are less than six months from the season, we believe this is a positive result that provides scheduling clarity for teams, coaches, and student-athletes ahead of the 2026 season, while prioritizing safety.” Week 0 scrimmages are effectively eliminated under the revised framework, with the regular season starting earlier to accommodate the additional playoff round. Schools will still play a nine-week regular season, but athletic directors across the state must rebuild schedules to fit the updated timeline. The expanded playoff structure will place 48 teams in each of the eight classes, with top seeds receiving first-round byes in certain brackets. The move is designed to increase access to postseason play while maintaining competitive balance and preserving the overall season window. IHSA leadership has emphasized player safety and clarity in scheduling as primary drivers behind the decision, particularly as teams adjust to earlier practices and revised eligibility requirements. The association has indicated continued discussion about how the new model could evolve beyond 2026. For coaches, players and communities, the calendar shift means summer routines, conditioning schedules and nonconference planning will all change. The season will begin sooner, the postseason will include more teams, and the rhythm of Illinois high school football will look different from the first practice in August to the final whistle in November.
