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- calendar_today October 27, 2026
Introduction: Highlights from the IHSA Football Playoffs
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) football playoffs have kicked off, bringing notable performances from teams across the state. This season, the Catholic League has made a striking impression, while changes to the playoff format signal potential long-term benefits for schools and their athletic programs.
Catholic League Dominance in the Opening Round
During the opening round of the IHSA football playoffs, the Catholic League demonstrated remarkable strength. The conference recorded a 12-1 mark, with its only loss being Benet's narrow 42-38 defeat to Moline. Victorious Catholic League teams included Marist, St. Patrick, DePaul Prep, St. Laurence, Notre Dame, Carmel, Nazareth, Joliet Catholic, St. Francis, Providence, Marmion, and Leo.
The Catholic League's traditional emphasis on a demanding regular-season schedule is often credited for preparing its teams for the postseason. Notre Dame coach Dan DeFranza highlighted this, saying, "Playing the schedule we played in the Catholic League really prepared us for the playoffs. It is the regular season that prepares us for the playoffs, for sure."
The Impact of Playoff Expansion
This year’s expanded playoff format allowed DePaul Prep, St. Laurence, and Carmel—each with only three regular-season wins—to participate, which would not have been possible under previous rules. Nazareth, with four wins, likely benefited from additional playoff points. The new format offers above-average, but not dominant, teams an increased opportunity for postseason experience by relaxing the previous five-win entry threshold.
This change encourages teams to schedule tougher nonconference games, boosting the overall schedule difficulty and enhancing readiness for postseason success. It also enables programs that have not seen playoff action in decades to gain valuable experience and extra practice time.
Opening Round Trends: Home Advantage and Margins
Home advantage played a significant role, with 92 of 128 host teams (72%) winning their opening matches. The median margin of victory was 28.5 points, and the average score was 41-13. While these results include numerous blowouts, they are consistent with trends observed under the previous playoff structure.
The Long-Term Value of Playoff Experience
Beyond immediate results, the expanded playoffs offer substantial developmental benefits. For many teams, this was their first postseason appearance in years. The extra practices and renewed enthusiasm throughout the season can help build stronger athletic programs over time. An athletic director shared that students' perception of football has shifted positively at his school because of this season's playoff run, improving morale in the school hallways and signifying wider impacts on team development and school spirit.
Looking Ahead
Although first-round results may not be historically significant, the expansion of the IHSA football playoffs aims to create more opportunities for underrepresented teams. The hope is that increased playoff experience will yield steadily improving programs and greater postseason success in the seasons to come.
Source: chicago.suntimes.com.
