2026 Football Schedule Unveiled
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) unveiled the complete 2026 football schedule for schools in the Springfield region on July 22, providing a week‑by‑week slate that spans from early August through late October, featuring teams from the Central State Eight, Sangamo and South Central conferences.
Practices are slated to begin on August 5, giving teams just over two weeks to prepare before the first games kick off on August 21, a shift that reflects the expanded playoff format and a desire to start the season earlier than in recent years.
Key Changes and Local Impacts
Among the notable changes, Litchfield High has announced the cancellation of its varsity football season due to insufficient participation among upperclassmen, removing all of its scheduled games from the lineup and prompting the league to reshuffle matchups.
Week 1 features a slate of early contests, including Normal Community West at Chatham Glenwood and Jacksonville at Jerseyville, while other early games see Olney Richland County travel to Taylorville and White Hall North Greene head to Beardstown.
The schedule weaves together conference fixtures — marked with an asterisk — such as those in the Central State Eight, Sangamo and South Central leagues, alongside non‑conference matchups that give teams flexibility in arranging contests.
The regular season runs through Week 10, with the final games slated for October 23 and 24, after which playoff brackets will be set, extending the competitive calendar into the early fall.