2026 High School Football Schedule Released For Lincoln-Way East

FRANKFORT, IL — The Illinois High School Association and MaxPreps have released the 2026 high school football schedules for the upcoming fall season.

The nine-week regular season begins with Week 1 games scheduled for Aug. 20-22. The season culminates with the IHSA Football State Finals on Nov. 27-28 at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.

The postseason will have a significantly different look this year after IHSA member schools voted to expand the football playoffs for the first time since 1985.

Each of the eight classes will have 48 playoff qualifiers, up from 32. The change expands the total field from 256 to 384 teams.

To maintain historical consistency in the number of teams competing in each stage, the playoff rounds will be called the Opening Round, First Round, Second Round, Quarterfinals and Semifinals.

The 2026 playoff schedule is:

• Opening Round: Oct. 23-24
• First Round: Oct. 30-31
• Second Round: Nov. 6-7
• Quarterfinals: Nov. 13-14
• Semifinals: Nov. 20-21
• State Finals: Nov. 27-28

The 384 playoff qualifiers will be revealed during a live statewide telecast at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17.

In Frankfort, fans will especially be keeping tabs on Lincoln-Way East's team. East competes in the Southwest Suburban Conference.

Here is a look at the 2026 schedule for East, according to the IHSA and MaxPreps:

Lincoln-Way East Griffins

Coached by Rob Zvonar

• Week 1: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21 (home vs. Brother Rice, non-conference)
• Week 2: 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 (away at Kankakee, non-conference)
• Week 3: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 (away at Homewood Flossmoor High School, conference)
• Week 4: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11 (home versus Bradley-Bourbonnais High School, conference)
• Week 5: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 (away at Sandburg, conference)
• Week 6: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 (home versus Andrew, conference)
• Week 7: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 (away at Lincoln-Way Central, conference)
• Week 8: 6:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 (away at Lockport, conference)
• Week 9: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 (home versus Lincoln-Way West, conference)