The 2026 high school football season in the Peoria region is set to launch on August 20, kicking off a nine‑week regular schedule that will culminate in playoff competition beginning October 23. Fans can expect a packed slate of games across multiple conferences, each offering a mix of traditional rivals and new matchups.
Conference landscape
The Big 12 Conference will bring together four local powerhouses — Richwoods, Peoria High, Peoria Notre Dame and Manual — while the Mid‑Illini Conference fields eight teams and the Tri‑County Conference groups eight smaller‑school programs. These leagues shape the weekly slate, determining which squads meet on which dates throughout the season.
Weekly games are spread across the calendar, starting with opening contests on August 21, followed by matchups on August 28, September 4, September 11, September 18, September 25, October 2, October 9 and October 16. The final regular‑season week, Week 10, is scheduled for October 23, setting the stage for the postseason.
Championship venue
The Illinois High School Association will host the state championship games at Illinois State University in Normal on November 27‑28. The event will bring together the top teams from the Peoria area and surrounding regions, offering a high‑profile conclusion to the season and a chance for local programs to contend for a statewide title.