IL Football Practices To Begin Earlier For 2026 Season: IHSA

In a response to a decision in late December to expand the high school football playoffs from 256 to 384 teams beginning with the upcoming 2026 fall season, member schools of the Illinois High School Association have voted in favor of moving up the start of practice sessions throughout the state.

Following a vote that ended at midnight on Thursday/Friday, a proposal passed that will move the start date for practices to Wednesday, Aug. 5, which marks nearly a week earlier from when they began in 2025. In addition as a result of the vote, IHSA said each player will be required to complete 12 days of on-field practices (excluding Sundays; 90-minute per player per practice required) before they are eligible to compete in their first contest.

The proposal passed by a margin of 290 in favor, 245 opposed, and 67 with no opinion. Voting opened on Jan. 29 with seventy-five percent (602) of the IHSA membership casting a ballot in the special election.

"Despite the cumbersome nature of the process, I am confident this outcome is in the best interest of student-athlete safety," IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said. "We recognize that our member schools may bring forward ideas to alter the 2027 football season schedule as a result, and we welcome that."

Anderson noted that given that the upcoming season is in less than six months away, the decision will provide scheduling clarity for teams, coaches, and student-athletes ahead, "while prioritizing safety."

As part of the decision in December to expand the playoffs, the field of teams eligible for the postseason increases from 32 to 48 teams, which essentially will allow three-win teams to qualify, while also keeping eight classes and adding first-round byes for the top seeds.

That vote also expanded the playoffs by a week and reduced the required number of practices prior to the first contest to nine practices.

Following the vote, IHSA said it conducted extensive discussions with the organization's sports medicine advisory committee and other state and national leaders on player safety which led to the decision to hold the special election to address both.