illinoishsfootball.com Classes 1A · 2A · 3A — statewide prep football

The playoff race

IHSA Small-School Playoff Picture

Through Week 6 · games of September 26, 2026 · 384-team field — 48 per class

Projected from the regular-season results the IHSA has posted. Six wins always qualifies; everybody else is ranked by wins, then by the combined wins of the opponents they played, the way the IHSA breaks its at-large ties. Classes are projected from enrollment and the IHSA's last published cutoffs, so the field is not final until the IHSA sets pairings.

Conference auto-berths

Conference Auto qualifier Conf Class
Sangamo Maroa-Forsyth 6-0 2A
Heart of Central Illinois (Large) El Paso-Gridley 4-0 2A
Heart of Central Illinois (Small) Heyworth 3-0 1A
Illini Prairie St. Joseph-Ogden 6-0 3A
Three Rivers (Rock) Riverdale 3-0 2A
Three Rivers (Mississippi) Kewanee 2-0 4A+ — outside this page
Black Diamond Johnston City 6-0 2A
Western Illinois Valley (North) Brown County 4-0 1A
Western Illinois Valley (South) Calhoun 4-0 1A

Class 1A — 59 teams, 48 qualify

4 clinched 44 in (projected) 11 outside
# Team Conf W-L Pts Status
1 Calhoun WIVC 6-0 15 Clinched
2 Arthur-Lovington Lincoln Prairie 6-0 14 Clinched
3 Brown County WIVC 6-0 12 Clinched
4 Heyworth Heart of Illinois 6-0 5 Clinched
5 Camp Point Cen. WIVC 5-1 20 In (projected)
6 Clifton Central Vermilion Valley 5-1 18 In (projected)
7 Stockton NUIC 5-1 18 In (projected)
8 A.-Wethersfield LincolnLand 5-1 17 In (projected)
9 Salt Fork Vermilion Valley 5-1 17 In (projected)
10 South Fulton LincolnLand 5-1 16 In (projected)
11 Dwight Chicagoland Prairie 5-1 16 In (projected)
12 Forreston NUIC 5-1 15 In (projected)
13 Fisher Lincoln Prairie 5-1 14 In (projected)
14 Tuscola Heart of Illinois 5-1 14 In (projected)
15 Abingdon-Avon LincolnLand 5-1 13 In (projected)
16 Stark County LincolnLand 4-2 20 In (projected)
17 Fulton NUIC 4-2 19 In (projected)
18 Lena-Winslow NUIC 4-2 17 In (projected)
19 G.-Northwestern WIVC 4-2 16 In (projected)
20 West Central WIVC 4-2 16 In (projected)
21 Carlyle Cahokia 4-2 13 In (projected)
22 Galena NUIC 4-2 11 In (projected)
23 Oakwood Vermilion Valley 3-3 22 In (projected)
24 Athens Sangamo 3-3 18 In (projected)
25 LeRoy Heart of Illinois 3-3 18 In (projected)
26 Ottawa Marquette Chicagoland Prairie 3-3 18 In (projected)
27 Red Hill Black Diamond 3-3 16 In (projected)
28 Cumberland Lincoln Prairie 3-3 16 In (projected)
29 Havana LincolnLand 3-3 15 In (projected)
30 Carrollton WIVC 3-3 15 In (projected)
31 Collins Chicago Public 3-2 14 In (projected)
32 Casey-Westfield Little Illini 3-3 12 In (projected)
33 Triopia WIVC 2-4 22 In (projected)
34 Princeville LincolnLand 2-4 21 In (projected)
35 Orion Three Rivers 2-4 18 In (projected)
36 St. Edward Chicagoland Christian 2-4 18 In (projected)
37 Bureau Valley LincolnLand 2-4 15 In (projected)
38 Knoxville LincolnLand 2-4 14 In (projected)
39 Dupo Cahokia 2-4 12 In (projected)
40 Orr Chicago Public 2-3 9 In (projected)
41 Morrison NUIC 1-5 25 In (projected)
42 Edwards County Black Diamond 1-5 24 In (projected)
43 Sesser-Valier Black Diamond 1-5 22 In (projected)
44 Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Heart of Illinois 1-5 21 In (projected)
45 Monmouth United LincolnLand 1-5 19 In (projected)
46 Arcola Lincoln Prairie 1-5 18 In (projected)
47 ROWVA LincolnLand 1-5 17 In (projected)
48 Dakota NUIC 1-4 16 In (projected)
Projected cut — 48 qualifiers
49 Iroquois West Vermilion Valley 1-5 16 Outside
50 Fenger Chicago Public 1-3 10 Outside
51 Chicago Richards Chicago Public 1-3 7 Outside
52 Argenta-Oreana Lincoln Prairie 0-6 24 Outside
53 Tri-County Lincoln Prairie 0-6 24 Outside
54 North Greene WIVC 0-6 23 Outside
55 Lawrenceville Little Illini 0-6 20 Outside
56 Rushville-Industry LincolnLand 0-6 20 Outside
57 Madison Metro-Valley 0-5 16 Outside
58 Walther Christian Independent 0-5 12 Outside
59 Watseka Vermilion Valley 0-0 0 Outside

Class 2A — 69 teams, 48 qualify

6 clinched 42 in (projected) 21 outside
# Team Conf W-L Pts Status
1 Wilmington Illinois Central Eight 6-0 19 Clinched
2 El Paso-Gridley Heart of Illinois 6-0 15 Clinched
3 Johnston City Black Diamond 6-0 15 Clinched
4 West Frankfort River-to-River 6-0 15 Clinched
5 Maroa-Forsyth Sangamo 6-0 13 Clinched
6 Riverdale Three Rivers 6-0 13 Clinched
7 Erie-Prophetstown Three Rivers 5-1 19 In (projected)
8 Rockridge Three Rivers 5-1 18 In (projected)
9 Sullivan Lincoln Prairie 5-1 18 In (projected)
10 Tri-Valley Heart of Illinois 5-1 18 In (projected)
11 Aurora Christian Chicagoland Christian 5-1 17 In (projected)
12 Westville Vermilion Valley 5-1 16 In (projected)
13 Peotone Illinois Central Eight 5-1 16 In (projected)
14 Illini West LincolnLand 5-1 14 In (projected)
15 Flora Black Diamond 5-1 12 In (projected)
16 Hamilton County Black Diamond 5-1 9 In (projected)
17 Warrensburg-Latham Heart of Illinois 5-1 9 In (projected)
18 Nashville River-to-River 4-2 22 In (projected)
19 Chester Cahokia 4-2 21 In (projected)
20 Pana South Central 4-2 21 In (projected)
21 Villa Grove Lincoln Prairie 4-2 19 In (projected)
22 Red Bud Cahokia 4-2 18 In (projected)
23 Newman Central Cath Three Rivers 4-2 13 In (projected)
24 Piasa Southwestern South Central 4-2 13 In (projected)
25 Nokomis Lincoln Prairie 4-2 12 In (projected)
26 Westmont Independent 4-0 2 In (projected)
27 Farmington LincolnLand 3-3 25 In (projected)
28 Bismarck-Henning Vermilion Valley 3-3 22 In (projected)
29 St. Teresa Independent 3-3 22 In (projected)
30 DuQuoin River-to-River 3-3 21 In (projected)
31 Eastland-Pearl City NUIC 3-3 19 In (projected)
32 Carlinville South Central 3-3 17 In (projected)
33 Central A & M Heart of Illinois 3-3 17 In (projected)
34 Elmwood-Brimfield LincolnLand 3-3 15 In (projected)
35 Tremont Heart of Illinois 3-3 12 In (projected)
36 Carmi-White County Black Diamond 2-4 25 In (projected)
37 Auburn Sangamo 2-4 21 In (projected)
38 Sangamon Valley Lincoln Prairie 2-4 21 In (projected)
39 West Hancock LincolnLand 2-4 20 In (projected)
40 C.-Zeigler-Royalton Black Diamond 2-4 20 In (projected)
41 Pleasant Plains Sangamo 2-4 20 In (projected)
42 Winnebago Big Northern 2-4 20 In (projected)
43 Riverton Sangamo 2-4 20 In (projected)
44 Marshall Little Illini 2-4 19 In (projected)
45 Georgetown-Ridge Farm Vermilion Valley 2-4 19 In (projected)
46 Reed-Custer Illinois Central Eight 2-4 19 In (projected)
47 Julian Chicago Public 2-4 18 In (projected)
48 Momence Vermilion Valley 2-4 16 In (projected)
Projected cut — 48 qualifiers
49 Pleasant Hill WIVC 1-5 23 Outside
50 Gillespie South Central 1-5 22 Outside
51 Mercer County Three Rivers 1-5 21 Outside
52 Wesclin Cahokia 1-5 20 Outside
53 Seneca Chicagoland Prairie 1-5 20 Outside
54 Routt WIVC 1-5 20 Outside
55 Paxton-Buckley-Loda Illini Prairie 1-5 19 Outside
56 Pittsfield Sangamo 1-5 19 Outside
57 Ridgeview-Lexington Heart of Illinois 1-5 19 Outside
58 North Mac South Central 1-5 18 Outside
59 Shelbyville Heart of Illinois 0-6 30 Outside
60 Deer Creek-Mackinaw Heart of Illinois 0-6 27 Outside
61 Eldorado Black Diamond 0-6 24 Outside
62 Lewistown LincolnLand 0-6 21 Outside
63 Pinckneyville River-to-River 0-6 20 Outside
64 Unity-Payson WIVC 0-6 20 Outside
65 Urban Prep Bronzeville Chicago Public 0-6 20 Outside
66 Rockford Lutheran Big Northern 0-6 18 Outside
67 Phillips Chicago Public 0-6 17 Outside
68 Bronzeville Chicago Public 0-5 14 Outside
69 Gage Park Chicago Public 0-4 11 Outside

Class 3A — 62 teams, 48 qualify

7 clinched 41 in (projected) 14 outside
# Team Conf W-L Pts Status
1 Mt Carmel Little Illini 6-0 17 Clinched
2 Hillsboro South Central 6-0 16 Clinched
3 IC Catholic CCL 6-0 16 Clinched
4 Richmond-Burton Kishwaukee River 6-0 16 Clinched
5 Byron Big Northern 6-0 15 Clinched
6 St. Joseph-Ogden Illini Prairie 6-0 13 Clinched
7 Durand-Pecatonica Big Northern 6-0 12 Clinched
8 Vandalia South Central 5-1 21 In (projected)
9 Olympia Sangamo 5-1 17 In (projected)
10 McNamara Chicagoland Christian 5-1 17 In (projected)
11 Williamsville Sangamo 5-1 16 In (projected)
12 Dyett Chicago Public 5-1 15 In (projected)
13 Fairfield Black Diamond 5-1 13 In (projected)
14 Sparta Cahokia 5-1 11 In (projected)
15 Harrisburg River-to-River 4-2 21 In (projected)
16 Tolono Unity Illini Prairie 4-2 21 In (projected)
17 Manteno Illinois Central Eight 4-2 19 In (projected)
18 Monticello Illini Prairie 4-2 19 In (projected)
19 PORTA Sangamo 4-2 19 In (projected)
20 Johnsburg Kishwaukee River 4-2 18 In (projected)
21 Sandwich Kishwaukee River 4-2 17 In (projected)
22 St. Bede Chicagoland Prairie 4-2 17 In (projected)
23 Eureka Heart of Illinois 4-2 17 In (projected)
24 Paris Little Illini 4-2 15 In (projected)
25 Beardstown WIVC 4-2 14 In (projected)
26 Massac County River-to-River 4-2 12 In (projected)
27 North Boone Big Northern 3-3 23 In (projected)
28 Hope Academy Chicagoland Christian 3-3 21 In (projected)
29 Newton Little Illini 3-3 20 In (projected)
30 Genoa-Kingston Big Northern 3-3 20 In (projected)
31 Chicago Christian Chicagoland Christian 3-3 20 In (projected)
32 Lisle Illinois Central Eight 3-3 20 In (projected)
33 Greenville South Central 3-3 19 In (projected)
34 Prairie Central Illini Prairie 3-3 18 In (projected)
35 Roxana Metro-Valley 3-3 16 In (projected)
36 Monmouth-Roseville Three Rivers 3-3 16 In (projected)
37 Robinson Little Illini 3-3 16 In (projected)
38 Chicago Marshall Chicago Public 3-3 14 In (projected)
39 Oregon Big Northern 2-4 21 In (projected)
40 Mendota Three Rivers 2-4 20 In (projected)
41 Princeton Three Rivers 2-4 18 In (projected)
42 Staunton South Central 2-4 18 In (projected)
43 Stillman Valley Big Northern 2-4 18 In (projected)
44 Dunbar Chicago Public 2-3 15 In (projected)
45 Rowe-Clark Chicago Public 2-3 12 In (projected)
46 Woodstock Marian Chicagoland Christian 1-5 27 In (projected)
47 Christ the King Chicagoland Christian 1-5 22 In (projected)
48 Clemente Chicago Public 1-5 21 In (projected)
Projected cut — 48 qualifiers
49 Herscher Illinois Central Eight 1-5 21 Outside
50 Anna-Jonesboro River-to-River 1-5 21 Outside
51 Rock Falls Big Northern 1-5 18 Outside
52 Bogan Chicago Public 1-5 14 Outside
53 Englewood STEM Chicago Public 1-2 5 Outside
54 Crane Medical Chicago Public 0-6 26 Outside
55 Wood River-East Alton Cahokia 0-6 20 Outside
56 Clinton Heart of Illinois 0-5 17 Outside
57 New Berlin Sangamo 0-6 17 Outside
58 Hoopeston Area Vermilion Valley 0-6 15 Outside
59 Sherrard Three Rivers 0-4 12 Outside
60 Litchfield South Central 0-5 11 Outside
61 DRW Trading Chicago Public 0-1 2 Outside
62 Alleman Western Big 6 0-0 0 Outside

Source: IHSA posted scores and school enrollment data, through Week 6. A conference berth follows its IHSA conference champion, so the two Three Rivers, two Heart of Central Illinois and two Western Illinois Valley divisions each carry their own. Snapshot generated Oct 3, 2026, 5:47 PM.