2026 High School Football Season Begins August 20th

(Undated) — The 2026 IHSA high school football season is set to begin in just over a week. During their annual by-law referendum, the Illinois High School Association expanded the high school football playoff field from 256 to 384 total teams and approved the accompanying “season shift.” Per the new schedule, each of the eight classes now features 48 playoff qualifiers instead of 32, introducing opening-round byes for the top 16 seeds in every class. As a result, regular-season games begin August 20th–22nd, a week sooner than in the past. The Oblong Panthers will begin their season with a Thursday home game on August 20th. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Palestine/Hutsonville begins its season at home on Friday the 21st with a 7 p.m. kickoff. The RHS Maroons will begin their season on August 21st on the road against Charleston. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.