illinoishsfootball.com Classes 1A · 2A · 3A — statewide prep football

The playoff race

IHSA Small-School Playoff Picture

The playoff field is set. The IHSA has published the official 1A–3A qualifier list — every berth below is locked in; there is no longer any question of who is in, who is out, or where they stand. The projection tables further down remain online for comparison against this site's Prairie Power Index model.

Official field (post-Selection Saturday): Class 1A: 40 of our projected 48 made the field (live IHSA 1A field count: 40); 8 projected outs (out: Collins, Fenger, ROWVA, St. Edward, Knoxville, Rushville-Industry, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, Edwards County). Class 2A: 46 of our projected 48 made the field (live IHSA 2A field count: 50); 4 below our cut made at-large (in: West Hancock, Routt, Pleasant Hill, Wesclin); 2 projected outs (out: Julian, Westmont). Class 3A: 44 of our projected 48 made the field (live IHSA 3A field count: 44); 4 projected outs (out: Dunbar, Rowe-Clark, Anna-Jonesboro, Christ the King). Records are the IHSA's official figures; the qualifier category is the IHSA's own.

About the Prairie Power Index (PPI): An objective computer ranking combining Colley schedule strength, capped scoring efficiency (max 24 pts), and IHSA class enrollment proximity to measure true post-season prowess.

Conference auto-berths

Conference auto-berths by IHSA conference
Conference Auto qualifier Conf Class
Sangamo Maroa-Forsyth 8-1 2A
Heart of Central Illinois (Large) El Paso-Gridley 7-0 2A
Heart of Central Illinois (Small) Heyworth 5-0 1A
Illini Prairie St. Joseph-Ogden 8-0 3A
Three Rivers (Rock) Riverdale 5-0 2A
Three Rivers (Mississippi) Kewanee 4-0 outside 1A–3A
Black Diamond Johnston City 9-0 2A
Western Illinois Valley (North) Brown County 5-0 1A
Western Illinois Valley (South) Calhoun 5-0 1A

Class 1A — official field: 40 qualifiers (final)

8 Conference Champions 16 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins) 16 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
Class 1A — official IHSA playoff field
# Team (official) W-L Opp W How qualified
1 Brown County 9-0 32 Conference Champions
2 Heyworth 9-0 30 Conference Champions
3 Stockton 8-1 45 Conference Champions
4 Arthur-Lovington 8-1 41 Conference Champions
5 Calhoun 8-1 38 Conference Champions
6 Clifton Central 8-1 35 Conference Champions
7 A.-Wethersfield 8-1 34 Conference Champions
8 Havana 6-3 33 Conference Champions
1 Camp Point Cen. 8-1 33 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
2 Tuscola 7-2 43 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
3 Stark County 7-2 40 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
4 Forreston 7-2 39 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
5 Fisher 7-2 37 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
6 Salt Fork 7-2 36 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
7 Abingdon-Avon 7-2 34 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
8 G.-Northwestern 7-2 34 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
9 Oakwood 6-3 47 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
10 Lena-Winslow 6-3 44 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
11 Fulton 6-3 43 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
12 Dwight 6-3 43 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
13 Ottawa Marquette 6-3 42 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
14 South Fulton 6-3 36 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
15 West Central 6-3 36 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
16 Carlyle 6-3 33 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
1 LeRoy 5-4 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
2 Cumberland 5-4 39 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
3 Carrollton 5-4 39 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
4 Galena 5-4 37 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
5 Orr 5-3 23 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
6 Athens 4-5 41 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
7 Red Hill 4-5 41 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
8 Orion 4-5 39 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
9 Princeville 3-6 48 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
10 Triopia 3-6 43 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
11 Sesser-Valier 3-6 42 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
12 Monmouth United 3-6 41 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
13 Bureau Valley 3-6 41 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
14 Casey-Westfield 3-6 38 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
15 Dupo 3-6 32 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
16 Morrison 2-7 45 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)

Projection below (this site's model) is kept for comparison only — the official field above is final.

Class 1A playoff picture — record, playoff points and PPI
# Team Conf W-L Status
Projected cut — 48 qualifiers

Class 2A — official field: 50 qualifiers (final)

5 Conference Champions 16 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins) 29 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
Class 2A — official IHSA playoff field
# Team (official) W-L Opp W How qualified
1 Riverdale 9-0 39 Conference Champions
2 Johnston City 9-0 36 Conference Champions
3 El Paso-Gridley 9-0 35 Conference Champions
4 Nashville 7-2 44 Conference Champions
5 Chester 5-4 47 Conference Champions
1 Aurora Christian 8-1 41 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
2 Tri-Valley 8-1 41 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
3 Wilmington 8-1 40 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
4 West Frankfort 8-1 40 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
5 Rockridge 8-1 40 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
6 Maroa-Forsyth 8-1 37 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
7 Flora 8-1 37 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
8 Sullivan 8-1 36 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
9 Erie-Prophetstown 7-2 41 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
10 Pana 7-2 37 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
11 Peotone 7-2 36 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
12 Illini West 7-2 34 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
13 Red Bud 6-3 39 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
14 Warrensburg-Latham 6-3 39 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
15 Villa Grove 6-3 38 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
16 Westville 6-3 37 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
1 Farmington 5-4 50 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
2 Bismarck-Henning 5-4 45 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
3 Newman Central Cath 5-4 42 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
4 Winnebago 5-4 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
5 Auburn 5-4 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
6 Carmi-White County 5-4 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
7 Hamilton County 5-4 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
8 DuQuoin 5-4 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
9 Central A & M 5-4 37 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
10 St. Teresa 4-5 52 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
11 Carlinville 4-5 48 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
12 Riverton 4-5 41 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
13 Eastland-Pearl City 4-5 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
14 Reed-Custer 4-5 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
15 Piasa Southwestern 4-5 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
16 Nokomis 4-5 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
17 Elmwood-Brimfield 4-5 38 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
18 Tremont 4-5 37 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
19 Marshall 3-6 42 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
20 Pleasant Plains 3-6 42 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
21 C.-Zeigler-Royalton 3-6 42 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
22 Georgetown-Ridge Farm 3-6 42 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
23 Sangamon Valley 3-6 41 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
24 Momence 3-6 39 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
25 Shelbyville 2-7 50 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
26 West Hancock 2-7 47 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
27 Routt 2-7 47 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
28 Pleasant Hill 2-7 45 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
29 Wesclin 2-7 43 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)

Projection below (this site's model) is kept for comparison only — the official field above is final.

Class 2A playoff picture — record, playoff points and PPI
# Team Conf W-L Status
Projected cut — 48 qualifiers

Class 3A — official field: 44 qualifiers (final)

7 Conference Champions 17 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins) 20 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
Class 3A — official IHSA playoff field
# Team (official) W-L Opp W How qualified
1 Richmond-Burton 9-0 38 Conference Champions
2 Hillsboro 9-0 38 Conference Champions
3 Byron 9-0 36 Conference Champions
4 St. Joseph-Ogden 9-0 35 Conference Champions
5 Mt Carmel 9-0 34 Conference Champions
6 Williamsville 8-1 37 Conference Champions
7 McNamara 7-2 40 Conference Champions
1 IC Catholic 8-1 43 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
2 Durand-Pecatonica 8-1 37 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
3 Monticello 7-2 39 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
4 Olympia 7-2 38 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
5 Tolono Unity 7-2 38 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
6 Fairfield 7-2 38 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
7 Vandalia 7-2 37 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
8 Johnsburg 7-2 37 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
9 Paris 7-2 36 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
10 Sparta 7-2 33 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
11 St. Bede 7-2 32 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
12 Manteno 6-3 42 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
13 Dyett 6-3 38 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
14 Greenville 6-3 38 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
15 Newton 6-3 36 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
16 Roxana 6-3 32 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
17 Massac County 6-3 30 Other Playoff Clinchers (6 or more wins)
1 Hope Academy 5-4 44 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
2 Harrisburg 5-4 42 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
3 Sandwich 5-4 41 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
4 PORTA 5-4 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
5 Genoa-Kingston 5-4 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
6 Chicago Christian 5-4 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
7 Princeton 4-5 42 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
8 Prairie Central 4-5 42 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
9 North Boone 4-5 41 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
10 Eureka 4-5 41 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
11 Stillman Valley 4-5 41 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
12 Beardstown 4-5 41 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
13 Staunton 4-5 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
14 Lisle 4-5 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
15 Robinson 4-5 40 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
16 Monmouth-Roseville 4-5 38 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
17 Chicago Marshall 4-5 34 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
18 Woodstock Marian 3-6 50 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
19 Oregon 3-6 42 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)
20 Mendota 3-6 39 At-Large Qualifiers (4-5 wins)

Projection below (this site's model) is kept for comparison only — the official field above is final.

Class 3A playoff picture — record, playoff points and PPI
# Team Conf W-L Status
Projected cut — 48 qualifiers

Source: IHSA posted scores and school enrollment data, through Week 10. A conference berth follows its IHSA conference champion, so the two Three Rivers, two Heart of Central Illinois and two Western Illinois Valley divisions each carry their own. Snapshot generated Oct 26, 2026, 8:01 AM.