Preseason Illinois Small-School Football Digest
Preseason Digest: 2026-27 Season
The 2026-27 Illinois high school football season is officially underway, with the first official rankings released on August 27. This digest covers the preseason poll for the 1A, 2A, and 3A classes, as compiled by Illinois Running News. As this is the start of the season, no games have been played yet; consequently, there are no records, scores, or points available in the current data.
Class 1A
Per the IHSA rankings poll, Eureka enters the season as the top-ranked team in 1A. They are followed by East Dubuque in second place and Chillicothe (Illinois Valley Central) in third. The top five also includes St. Joseph (S.J.-Ogden) and Clinton.
Other notable teams in the top ten include El Paso (E.P.-Gridley), Elmwood, Monticello, Pinckneyville, and Bloomington (Central Catholic). The bottom of the 1A poll features Pleasant Plains at No. 25, with Fairfield, Elgin (River Valley Christian), Herscher, and Roxana rounding out the lower ranks.
Class 2A
In the 2A class, Dixon holds the top spot in the preseason rankings. Morton is ranked second, with Peoria (Notre Dame) and Deerfield completing the top four. Aurora (Central Catholic) rounds out the top five.
The middle of the 2A pack includes Washington, Mahomet (M.-Seymour), Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South), Lincoln, and Maple Park (Kaneland). At the bottom of the 2A poll, Lemont is ranked 25th, followed by Darien (Hinsdale South), Waterloo, Herrin, and Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge).
Class 3A
Plainfield (South) leads the 3A class in the preseason poll. Elmhurst (York) is ranked second, and Downers Grove (North) is third. Chicago (Lane) and Winnetka (New Trier) complete the top five.
The 3A rankings continue with Hinsdale (Central), Mt. Prospect (Prospect), St. Charles (North), Palatine (Fremd), and Arlington Heights (Hersey) in the top ten. The bottom of the 3A poll is anchored by Yorkville at No. 25, with Barrington, Chicago (Whitney Young), Oswego (East), and Orland Park (Sandburg) just above them.
Storylines to Watch
- Defending Champions: With no games played yet, the preseason rankings serve as the baseline for expectations. Teams like Eureka (1A), Dixon (2A), and Plainfield (South) (3A) will be looking to validate their top-seed status in the opening weeks.
- First-Week Results: Since the schedule and scores data is not yet available, the first official game results will be the primary driver for movement in the rankings next week.
- Class Balance: Each class has a full 25 teams ranked, indicating a deep field of contenders in 1A, 2A, and 3A for the 2026-27 season.