FRANKFORT, IL — Lincoln-Way East High School's varsity football team has advanced to the 2026 Class 8A IHSA football playoffs. The team has a bye for the opening round of playoffs, but will play in the first round the weekend of Oct. 30-31.
The postseason has a 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 first round game will be played at Lincoln-Way East, but exact time has not been announced, according to IHSA.
Lincoln-Way East is the no. 1 seed (9-0), and will play the winner of the opening round game of Aurora East vs. Oak Park River Forest.
The Class 8A state championship will be played Nov. 28 at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
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