High School Football Playoffs Heat Up in Illinois This Weekend

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The quarterfinals of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state football playoffs are set for Saturday, November 15, 2025. A total of 31 games will take place across the state, with 13 featuring teams ranked in the top 25 statewide.

Highlighted matchups include No. 14 Lincoln-Way East, which is making a notable trip for a key game, and Chicago Mt. Carmel, expected to showcase an exciting contest against Lincoln-Way East.

Four Class 8A games will be held, and the marquee matchup in this class is Chicago Mt. Carmel facing Lincoln-Way East. In Class 7A, St. Charles North is set to compete against Brother Rice. The Class 6A game of the night will feature Nazareth Academy going up against Lake Zurich.

For lower classifications, Class 5A’s featured game is Oak Forest vs. Peoria, while Montini Catholic will take on Coal City in Class 4A. In Class 3A, Williamsville is matched against Tolono Unity. El Paso-Gridley will face Farmington in Class 2A, and Class 1A’s highlighted game features Wethersfield/Annawan battling Lena-Winslow.

As the playoffs continue, fans are encouraged to follow every game live for updates and to stay connected with their favorite teams through free account sign-ups for score updates and breaking news.

The championship games are scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend at Hancock Stadium in Normal, with classes 1A through 4A on November 28 and classes 5A through 8A on November 29. The original 256-team field will be narrowed down to 32 by the end of Saturday night.