Proposal 19 is on the ballot with a submission that proposes that the playoff field be expanded by 16 teams in each classification with a total of 384 teams qualifying for the postseason. Steve Soucie's uses 2025 data to project what the format could look like.

The CCL/ESCC announced its new alignment for the 2026 and 2027 seasons with many of the league's 24 teams finding themselves in different division than before.

Joliet West's Londyn Clemmons rushed for 3,003 yards and 25 touchdowns, making her an easy choice for 2025 Herald-News Girls Flag Football Player of the Year.

Mount Carmel finished the same place it started the season in the No. 1 spot of the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings. Check out the final rankings here.

Wheaton St. Francis defeated Providence Catholic 39-35 to win the Class 5A State championship on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.

St. Francis senior quarterback Brock Phillip took in a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal with 11 seconds left, as the Spartans rallied past Providence 39-35 in Tuesday's Class 5A championship game at Illinois State in the first-ever IHSA game played in December.

Join hosts Matt Rodewald and Steve Souce as they break down the Class 4A-1A Illinois high school football state title games, talk about the weather postponements, and preview the Class 8A-5A state title games

The Class 7A/8A state football title games have been rescheduled for Wednesday afternoon and evening at Northern Illinois University

Morris's Caeden Curran (Offensive POTY), Mick Smith (Defensive POTY) and Kaneland's Jake Buckley (Lineman of the Year) are among the Interstate 8's All-Conference players for the 2025 season. Below are all of this year's winners, including Honorable Mentions.

Wilmington won its third state title in the last five years and fourth in program history after downing Maroa-Forsyth 42-6 in the IHSA Class 2A State championship game on Friday.

Can anyone stop the Wilmington freight train? State championship game regular Maroa-Forysth seems poised to give it its best shot. Steve Soucie previews Friday's Class 2A title game between Wilmington and Maroa-Forsyth.

Wilmington and Maroa-Forsyth face off Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, at Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University for the 2A football title. Wilmington won 42-6.

As the Wilmington offense enters Friday's IHSA Class 2A State championship game red hot, it's the offensive line where the Wildcats set the tone in their signature double-wing offense.

Providence Catholic won only four games last year, losing in the regular season finale to keep the Celtics out of the postseason. A year later, they're playing in the state championship game.

Join hosts Steve Soucie, Russ Hodges and Josh Welge as they preview the Illinois high school football state championship games

A rare regular season rematch in the state title game has emerged here as St. Francis will challenge Providence once again after the Spartans beat the Celtics in Week 5. Steve Soucie previews Saturday's Class 5A title game.

Wilmington will look to win its third state title in the last five years and fourth in program history when the Wildcats face Maroa-Forsyth in Friday's IHSA Class 2A state championship.

Having faced off in the regular season, St. Rita and Brother Rice are set to battle in a rematch for the IHSA 7A state championship. Providence and St. Francis, who played each other in the regular season, are also set for a rematch in the 5A state championship.

The top three teams in the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings held strong in the semifinal round, but that's where the stability ended. Check out the new rankings here.

Join hosts Matt Rodewald and Steve Soucie as they break down what we saw in the Illinois high school football playoff semifinals, talk about Mt. Carmel coach Jordan Lynch's recent comments, and look ahead to the state title games

Getting a strong sense of deja vu when looking at the lineup of state championships? That's understandable considering the group has collectively made 115 title game appearances previously. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 13.

Ammar Banire had a tying 63-yard touchdown run in the first minute of the fourth quarter, and Kaleb Stumpenhorst drilled a 42-yard field goal with a minute left as Oswego rallied to beat Lockport 10-7 in a Class 8A semifinal to advance to state for the first time in 22 years.

Wilmington defeated El Paso-Gridley 41-0 in IHSA Class 2A semifinal playoff football on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.

For the second straight week, Wilmington had five touchdown drives of one or two plays, tallying 483 rushing yards in a 41-0 win over El Paso-Gridley in Saturday's Class 2A state semifinal.

Here are the championship game pairings for the 2025 IHSA playoffs.

Luca Florio had a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 53-yard TD reception to help lead Montini to the Class 4A state title game with a 47-27 win over Morris

Providence muscled up and used a dominant varied offense to secure its place in the school's 15th state championship game with a 31-21 win over Oak Forest in a Class 5A semifinal Saturday.

The Oswego and Lockport football teams met Saturday in a state football semifinal game.

Providence and Oak Forest competed in a 5A varsity football semifinal game at Providence Catholic High School on Saturday, Nov. 22.

The Montini football team hosted Morris Saturday afternoon in an IHSA state football semifinal matchup.

Mount Carmel looks in dominant form. Can any of the other three teams remaining in the field topple them? Steve Soucie breaks down the semifinal round of the 2025 IHSA Class 8A Playoffs.

Brother Rice is the only top seed remaining in the Class 7A field. Will the Crusaders keep rolling or can one of the upstarts pull the upset? Steve Soucie breaks down the semifinal round of the 2025 IHSA Class 7A Playoffs.

The Class 5A bracket certainly has some unexpected teams still alive in the draw. Steve Soucie breaks down the semifinals of the 2025 IHSA Class 5A Playoffs.

The Herald-News prep football preview for Week 13 of the 2025 season, featuring key showdowns across the greater Will and Grundy county area as the IHSA playoffs continue.

Powerhouses remain prominent in Class 4A, with three of the four teams no stranger to deep playoff advancements. Steve Soucie breaks down the semifinal round of the 2025 IHSA Class 4A Playoffs.

Join hosts Steve Soucie and Josh Welge as they preview the semifinal round of the Illinois high school football playoffs

Wilmington continues to storm its way through the 2A field, can anyone slow down the Wildcats? Steve Soucie breaks down the semifinal round of the 2025 IHSA Class 2A playoffs.

Nine CCL/ESCC schools, including defending champions Mount Carmel, Nazareth and Montini will be competing in the IHSA state football semifinals this weekend. Below are all of the semifinal matchups featuring CCL/ESCC teams.

Mount Carmel dominated Lincoln-Way East, Nazareth rallied to stun Lake Zurich and Fenwick controlled Burlington Central to set up a 6A semifinal between the Roadrunners and Friars. Montini won its 22nd straight game and Providence knocked off top seed Washington.

A trio of power teams continue to roll through the playoffs while the upstarts still continue to emerge shaking up the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings. Check out the new rankings here.

Join hosts Matt Rodewald and Steve Soucie as they break down the quarterfinal round of the Illinois high school football playoffs and look ahead to the semifinals

The quarterfinal round was an absolute breeze for some teams while others experienced significantly more stress in keeping their postseason runs alive. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 12.

Wilmington ran to a 49-7 victory over Tri-Valley in the Class 2A quarterfinal playoff on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.

Fremd erased a 14-0 deficit and survived a wild finish to beat Bolingbrook 34-33 in a Class 8A quarterfinal matchup Saturday, sending the Vikings to the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

Lockport absolutely overwhelmed Barrington, recording a stunning shutout 35-0 and advancing into the Class 8A semifinals.

Mount Carmel has an immense amount of talent on its roster but is still looking to put it all together. It wasn't perfect on Saturday either, but got pretty close in a 48-7 dominance of Lincoln-Way East in the Class 8A quarterfinals.

Here are the semifinal round pairings for the 2025 IHSA playoffs.

Wilmington had five touchdown drives of two plays or less as the Wildcats controlled Tri-Valley in Saturday's IHSA Class 2A quarterfinal, sending Wilmington to its third straight state semifinal.

Bolingbrook and Fremd competed in an 8A varsity football playoff game at Bolingbrook on Saturday, Nov. 15.

Caeden Curran ran 39 times for 226 yards and two touchdowns, and teammate Owen Olson returned a fumble for a touchdown as Morris topped Geneseo 28-26 in the Class 4A quarterfinals