Join hosts Steve Soucie and Josh Welge as they preview an exciting Week 1 in Illinois high school football on the Friday Night Drive podcast

With the kickoff of the high school football season days away, here is the Friday Night Drive preseason Top 25. Who is No. 1?

Bradley-Bourbonnais beat Joliet Central 60-7 at home on Monday, getting off to a strong start in its second season as a program following a fourth-place finish at state a season ago.

Bradley-Bourbonnais topped Joliet Central in a 60-7 victory at home in the season opener on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025.

History tends to repeat itself in regards to the IHSA Football Playoffs, but the new enrollment numbers could lead to a bracket that looks a lot different in the next postseason chase. Here is Steve Soucie's 2025 IHSA football preseason playoff projection.

Check out how teams in the Southwest Valley Conference are expected to fare this season.

Here is a look at the Southwest Prairie Conference

Can Lemont continue its dominance of the South Suburban Blue with an experienced offensive group? Can Hillcrest return to its peak form? Can TF North duplicate a breakout 2023? Team breakdowns, five players to watch, five can't miss games and Steve Soucie's predictions.

Morris and DeKalb took the field against each other to help prepare for next week's season opener

From Romeoville to Joliet West, here are five girls flag football players to watch in the 2025 season.

With four teams entering year two and three teams starting out, the 2025 girls flag football season should be an exciting one.

Team breakdowns, five players to watch, five can't miss games and Steve Soucie's predictions for the CCL/ESCC Orange.

Here's everything you need to know about the Interstate 8 Conference in 2025, including teams, players and matchups to watch plus Steve Soucie's predictions for how the final standings will wind up.

The Illinois Central Eight Conference will actually be the ICE seven for the 2025 season. Can anyone challenge defending champion Wilmington and runner-up Coal City atop the conference standings this fall?

In a league that is down to just four teams, but three reached the playoffs last season, Seneca looks to be the favorite again in the Chicagoland Prairie Conference. But the Irish will have tons of fight from Dwight, Marquette and St. Bede this fall.

Morris advanced to the Class 5A semifinals last season, and captains Logan Sparrow, Caeden Curran and Chase Bachert are ready to start a new season.

What will Jonas Williams and company do for a last hurrah? Will JCA take back the state title record? That and more storylines to watch for this football season.

Jeffrey Woods is just a sophomore and only now getting his varsity career underway. He'll be handed the reins of Joliet Central's offense this year as starting quarterback.

In the summer training camp following a historic playoff run last season, Dwight’s has taken a “business as usual” approach this offseason.

Lemont senior Jackson Dybcio is ready to show off his all-around skills this season. After playing primarily at safety and inside linebacker the last two seasons, Dybcio is slated to take more reps at running back for Lemont this fall.

Joliet Central won a game in 2024 for the first time in five years. Coach Thomas Hart now hopes the squad can continue to build on that momentum.

Minooka's Jackson Miranda will be a problem for opposing teams as both a tight end and defensive end this fall.

Minooka's football team hosted Morris in a joint practice Thursday.

Morris will honor its 2005 Class 6A state championship football team on Sept. 19 at halftime of its Homecoming game against La Salle-Peru.

Joliet West hosted Fenton, Marengo and TF South in a 7 on 7 camp Wednesday morning with the Tigers looking sharp.

Joliet West hosts on Wednesday while there's plenty of action the rest of the week.

Plainfield Central isn't dwelling on last year's 0-9 season. Instead, the Wildcats are using it for motivation, led by breakout candidates such as Torrance Freeman and Tommy Morrisette.

With the IHSA releasing the state’s football schedules on Friday, here are the top games to watch in the Daily Journal area for the 2025 season.

The Illinois High School Association released its state-wide 2025 football schedule on Friday. Filling nine-game schedules proved challenging for some of the state's elite programs.

What looks different for the new high school football season? With the IHSA football schedules now out, Steve Soucie looks at the differences for the new campaign.

Week by week, here are some of the top football games this season in The Herald-News coverage area.

The joint summer football workout between Wilmington and Bradley-Bourbonnais Wednesday saw both programs take steps forward as they both eye more sustained postseason success this fall.

The Wilmington football team visited Bradley-Bourbonnais for a joint summer football workout Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

Steve Soucie and Josh Welge preview the 2025 IHSA high school football schedule, including games to watch and more in the latest Friday Night Drive podcast

After finishing 4-5 last year, Romeoville is looking to get one more win this year and qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

A total of 16 teams took part in the annual Central 7 on 7 and Lineman Challenge on what was a busy Saturday of football at Central High School in Clifton.

Reed-Custer is turning to Joe Turek as its new head football coach, who brings more than a decade of program-building experience from Lincoln-Way East to his new role with the Comets.

With the Independence Day holiday come and gone, it was time Tuesday for another summer tradition. The Morris football team hosted its first 7-on-7 competition, featuring teams from Plainfield Central, Romeoville and Dwight.

History tends to repeat itself in regards to the IHSA Football Playoffs, but the new enrollment numbers could lead to a bracket that looks a lot different in the next postseason chase. Here is Steve Soucie's 2025 IHSA football preseason playoff projection.