Preseason Illinois Small-School Football Digest
Preseason Rankings: 2026-27 Season Opener
The 2026-27 Illinois high school football season is officially underway, with the first official IHSA rankings poll released on August 20, 2026. This preseason poll, based on votes from Illinois Media, establishes the initial pecking order for the 1A, 2A, and 3A classes. As the season has just begun, no game scores or records are currently available in the official data feeds, so this digest focuses exclusively on the initial standings and the teams poised to make an impact.
Class 1A
Lena (L.-Winslow) enters the season as the clear favorite in the 1A class, securing the top spot in the preseason poll with 97 points and eight first-place votes. Mt. Sterling (Brown County) follows closely in second with 83 points, while Stockton sits in third with 79 points. Hardin (Calhoun) and Camp Point (Central) round out the top five, holding fourth and fifth places respectively. The bottom of the top 10 is tightly contested, with Kewanee (Wethersfield) finishing at number 10 with 16 points.
Class 2A
Wilmington leads the 2A preseason rankings with a strong 98 points and nine first-place votes, signaling a strong start for the program. El Paso (Gridley) is the runner-up with 89 points, followed by Maroa (M.-Forsyth) in third with 80 points. Downs (Tri-Valley) holds the fourth spot with 61 points. A tie for fifth place exists between Aurora (Christian) and Sterling (Newman Central Catholic), both earning 33 points. Farmington and Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) are tied for seventh, while Westville and Seneca complete the top 10.
Class 3A
Byron takes the top spot in the 3A class with 92 points, though they received only four first-place votes. Elmhurst (IC Catholic) is a close second with 89 points and seven first-place votes, indicating a strong challenge for the top of the class. St. Joseph (Ogden) and Tolono (Unity) follow in third and fourth with 58 and 56 points, respectively. Richmond (R.-Burton) rounds out the top five with 54 points. The lower half of the rankings sees Monticello, Kankakee (McNamara), and Stanford (Olympia) holding the next three spots, while Vandalia and Pecatonica finish the top 10 with 12 and 7 points, respectively.
Storylines to Watch
- Lena’s Dominance: With eight first-place votes, Lena (L.-Winslow) is the consensus pick to lead the 1A class. Their significant point lead over Mt. Sterling suggests they are viewed as the team to beat early on.
- Wilmington’s Strong Start: Wilmington’s nine first-place votes in 2A make them the most popular pick in the state’s small-school classes, setting a high bar for the rest of the season.
- 3A’s Split Opinion: In 3A, Byron leads in total points but Elmhurst (IC Catholic) has more first-place votes. This split suggests a potential battle for the top of the class, with voters divided on which team has the stronger overall roster.