Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
The Illinois High School Association released the football schedules for the 2026 season Wednesday afternoon. This will be a season of change with the expansion of the playoffs from 32 to 48 teams per class, adding 128 teams to the previous 256-team postseason field. That expansion will result in an extra round of playoffs dubbed the “Opening Round” October 23-24. The extra round of the playoffs bumped the season openers up a week to August 20-22, in what previously was week zero used for scrimmages.
Closer to home, several teams found new conference homes for the new season. Centralia left the South Seven for the now 8-team Mississippi division of the Cahokia Conference, joining fellow newcomers Civic Memorial, Jerseyville, and Waterloo who came from the dissolved Mississippi Valley Conference as well as previous members Breese Central, Columbia, East Alton/Wood River, and Freeburg. Salem left the Cahokia Mississippi to become the sixth member of the SIRR Ohio. Highland from the MVC moves into the spot vacated by Centralia in the South Seven.
The Southwestern Conference added a division with Mascoutah and Triad from the MVC along with former independent Granite City joining Alton and Collinsville in the Black Division with previous SWC members Belleville East, Belleville West, East St. Louis, Edwardsville, and O’Fallon all in the Gold Division.
There is also a new 5-team football only conference, the Metro-Valley, featuring Althoff, Alton Marquette, Breese Mater Dei, Madison, and Roxana.
Vienna/Goreville is returning to varsity play this season as an independent with at least four games scheduled.
Here is the composite regular season schedule for the Black Diamond, Cahokia Illinois, Cahokia Mississippi, Little Illini. Metro-Valley, SIRR Mississippi, SIRR Ohio, South Seven, Southwestern Black and Southwestern Gold conferences:
Week 1–August 21-22
Black Diamond
Carmi-White Co. at Johnston City
Fairfield at Edwards Co.
Red Hill at Hamilton Co.
Sesser-Valier/Waltonville at Flora
Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton/Elverado at Eldorado (Sat 7:00)
Non-Conference
Benton at Herrin
Cahokia at Springfield
Carterville at Marion
Casey-Westfield at East Alton/Wood River
Columbia at Breese Mater Dei
Dupo at Alton Marquette
Du Quoin at Mt. Carmel
Effingham at Breese Central
Freeburg at Granite City
Harrisburg at Anna-Jonesboro
Jacksonville at Jerseyville
Lawrenceville at Carlyle
Massac Co. at West Frankfort
Murphysboro at Carbondale
Madison at Sparta/Steeleville
Newton at Civic Memorial
Pinckneyville at Red Bud
Richland Co. at Taylorville
Robinson at Charleston
Roxana at Nashville
Salem at Centralia
Triad at Highland
Waterloo at Mt. Vernon
Wesclin at Marshall
Chester at Paris (Sat 7:00)
Alton at Belleville West
Collinsville at Althoff
Decatur Eisenhower at Mascoutah
Kankakee at Edwardsville
Lincoln-Way West at Belleville East
Quincy at O’Fallon
Chicago Mt. Carmel at East St. Louis (Sat 7:00)
Week 2–August 27-29
Black Diamond
Eldorado at Edwards Co.
Fairfield at Red Hill
Flora at Carmi-White Co.
Hamilton Co. at Sesser-Valier/Waltonville
Johnston City at Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton/Elverado
Cahokia–Mississippi
Breese Central at Columbia
Centralia at Civic Memorial
East Alton/Wood River at Jerseyville
Waterloo at Freeburg
Non-Conference
Vienna/Goreville at Massac Co. (Thr 7:00)
Althoff at Highland
Anna-Jonesboro at Chester
Benton at Robinson
Cahokia at Metamora
Carbondale at Quincy Notre Dame
Carlyle at Pinckneyville
Carterville at Nashville
Harrisburg at Du Quoin
Lincoln at Marion
Mt. Carmel at Effingham
Mt. Vernon at Belleville West
Paris at North Vermillion (IN) (Fri 7:30)
Roxana at Murphysboro
Salem at Richland Co.
STL Bayless/Hancock (MO) at Dupo
Wesclin at Newton
West Frankfort at Herrin
Eastland-Pearl City at Lawrenceville (Sat 1:00)
Marshall at Sparta/Steeleville (Sat 4:00)
Red Bud at Alton Marquette (Sat 1:00)
Chatham Glenwood at Alton
East St. Louis at American Heritage (FL)
Edwardsville at Jackson (MO)
Granite City at Decatur MacArthur
Mascoutah at Springfield SE
O’Fallon at St. Charles Howell (MO) (Fri 6:30)
Ottawa Marquette at Madison
Pekin at Belleville East (Fri 7:30)
Springfield at Collinsville
Washington at Triad (Fri 7:30)
Week 3–September 4-5
Black Diamond
Carmi-White Co. at Hamilton Co.
Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton/Elverado at Flora
Edwards Co. at Johnston City
Eldorado at Fairfield
Sesser-Valier/Waltonville at Red Hill (Sat 1:00)
Cahokia–Mississippi
Civic Memorial at Breese Central
Columbia at Waterloo
Freeburg at East Alton/Wood River
Jerseyville at Centralia
Little Illini
Casey-Westfield at Newton
Lawrenceville at Richland Co.
Marshall at Paris
Mt. Carmel at Robinson
Non-Conference
Anna-Jonesboro at Massac Co.
Belleville West at Marion
Cahokia at Mt. Zion
Carlyle at Havana
Charleston at Carterville
Collinsville at Mt. Vernon
Dupo at Pinckneyville
Du Quoin at Herrin
Harrisburg at Red Bud
Highland at Mascoutah
Mattoon at Salem
Murphysboro at Benton
Nashville at Wesclin
Sparta/Steeleville at STL Confluence Prep Academy (MO) (Fri 4:30)
West Frankfort at Chester
Taylorville at Carbondale (Sat 3:00)
Belleville East at Althoff
Chicago Morgan Park at Edwardsville
Chicago Noble/Bulls at Roxana
Effingham at Breese Mater Dei
Hayti (MO) at Madison
Ottawa TWP at Granite City
STL Principia (MO) at Alton Marquette
Sycamore at Triad (Fri 7:30)
Troy Buchanan (MO) at O’Fallon
Alton at LaSalle Peru (Sat 1:00)
Gainesville (GA) at East St. Louis (Sat 7:00)
Week 4–September 10-12
Black Diamond
Fairfield at Sesser-Valier/Waltonville
Flora at Edwards Co.
Hamilton Co. at Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton/Elverado
Red Hill at Carmi-White Co.
Johnston City at Eldorado (Sat 1:00)
Cahokia–Illinois
Red Bud at Carlyle
Sparta/Steeleville at Chester
Wesclin at Dupo
Cahokia–Mississippi
East Alton/Wood River at Columbia (Thr 7:00)
Breese Central at Waterloo
Centralia at Freeburg
Civic Memorial at Jerseyville
Little Illini
Paris at Lawrenceville (Thr 6:30)
Newton at Mt. Carmel
Robinson at Casey-Westfield
Richland Co. at Marshall (Sat 7:00)
Metro Valley
Breese Mater Dei at Roxana
Madison at Althoff
SIRR–Mississippi
Benton at Du Quoin
Nashville at Anna-Jonesboro
Pinckneyville at West Frankfort
SIRR–Ohio
Herrin at Carterville
Murphysboro at Massac Co.
Salem at Harrisburg
South Seven
Carbondale at Mt. Vernon
Marion at Highland
Southwestern (Black)
Granite City at Collinsville
Triad at Alton
Southwestern (Gold)
Edwardsville at Belleville East
O’Fallon at East St. Louis
Non-Conference
Cahokia at STL St. Mary’s South Side Catholic (MO) (Fri 6:00)
Mascoutah at Belleville West
Fulton Co. (KY) at Vienna/Goreville (Sat 1:00)
Alton Marquette at Aurora Central Catholic (Sat 1:00)
Week 5–September 17-19
Black Diamond
Red Hill at Edwards Co. (Thr 7:00)
Fairfield at Carmi-White Co.
Flora at Johnston City
Hamilton Co. at Eldorado
Sesser-Valier/Waltonville at Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton/Elverado
Cahokia–Illinois
Chester at Wesclin
Dupo at Carlyle
Sparta/Steeleville at Red Bud
Cahokia–Mississippi
Columbia at Centralia
Freeburg at Civic Memorial
Jerseyville at Breese Central
Waterloo at East Alton/Wood River
Little Illini
Lawrenceville at Casey-Westfield
Marshall at Robinson
Mt. Carmel at Paris
Newton at Richland Co.
Metro Valley
Alton Marquette at Breese Mater Dei
Roxana at Althoff
SIRR–Mississippi
Anna-Jonesboro at Benton
Du Quoin at Pinckneyville
Nashville at West Frankfort
SIRR–Ohio
Herrin at Murphysboro
Massac Co. at Harrisburg
Salem at Carterville
South Seven
Cahokia at Carbondale
Marion at Mt. Vernon
Southwestern (Black)
Collinsville at Alton
Triad at Mascoutah
Southwestern (Gold)
Belleville East at East St. Louis
Belleville West at O’Fallon
Non-Conference
Highland at Macomb
Vienna/Goreville at Ballard Memorial (KY)
Granite City at Edwardsville
Madison TBA
Week 6–September 25-26
Black Diamond
Carmi-White Co. at Sesser-Valier/Waltonville
Edwards Co. at Hamilton Co.
Eldorado at Flora
Johnston City at Fairfield
Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton/Elverado at Red Hill (Sat 1:00)
Cahokia–Illinois
Carlyle at Chester
Red Bud at Dupo
Wesclin at Sparta/Steeleville
Cahokia–Mississippi
Breese Central at East Alton/Wood River
Centralia at Waterloo
Civic Memorial at Columbia
Jerseyville at Freeburg
Little Illini
Casey-Westfield at Marshall
Paris at Newton
Richland Co. at Mt. Carmel
Robinson at Lawrenceville
Metro Valley
Althoff at Alton Marquette
Roxana at Madison
SIRR–Mississippi
Benton at Nashville
Pinckneyville at Anna-Jonesboro
West Frankfort at Du Quoin
SIRR–Ohio
Carterville at Harrisburg
Massac Co. at Herrin
Murphysboro at Salem
South Seven
Highland at Carbondale
Mt. Vernon at Cahokia
Southwestern (Black)
Alton at Granite City
Mascoutah at Collinsville
Southwestern (Gold)
Belleville West at Belleville East
East St. Louis at Edwardsville
Non-Conference
Peoria Richwoods at Marion
Saxony Lutheran (MO) at Breese Mater Dei
Triad at O’Fallon
Week 7–October 1-3
Black Diamond
Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton/Elverado at Carmi-White Co.
Edwards Co. at Sesser-Valier/Waltonville
Flora at Fairfield
Johnston City at Hamilton Co.
Red Hill at Eldorado (Sat 1:00)
Cahokia–Illinois
Chester at Dupo
Red Bud at Wesclin
Sparta/Steeleville at Carlyle
Cahokia–Mississippi
Columbia at Jerseyville
East Alton/Wood River at Centralia
Freeburg at Breese Central
Waterloo at Civic Memorial
Little Illini
Marshall at Lawrenceville
Mt. Carmel at Casey-Westfield
Newton at Robinson
Richland Co. at Paris
Metro Valley
Althoff at Breese Mater Dei
Madison at Alton Marquette (Sat 1:00)
SIRR–Mississippi
Anna-Jonesboro at Du Quoin
Nashville at Pinckneyville
West Frankfort at Benton
SIRR–Ohio
Carterville at Massac Co.
Harrisburg at Murphysboro
Herrin at Salem
South Seven
Marion at Cahokia
Mt. Vernon at Highland
Southwestern (Black)
Mascoutah at Alton
Triad at Granite City
Southwestern (Gold)
East St. Louis at Belleville West
O’Fallon at Edwardsville
Non-Conference
Carbondale at STL Miller/Vashon/Sumner (MO) (Thr 7:00)
Bismarck/Henning/Rossville/Alvin at Roxana (Fri 6:00)
Collinsville at Belleville East
Week 8–October 8-10
Black Diamond
Hamilton Co. at Flora (Thr 7:00)
Carmi-White Co. at Edwards Co.
Fairfield at Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton/Elverado
Red Hill at Johnston City
Sesser-Valier/Waltonville at Eldorado (Sat 1:00)
Cahokia–Illinois
Carlyle at Wesclin
Dupo at Sparta/Steeleville
Red Bud at Chester
Cahokia–Mississippi
Centralia at Breese Central
Civic Memorial at East Alton/Wood River
Freeburg at Columbia
Jerseyville at Waterloo
Little Illini
Casey-Westfield at Richland Co.
Lawrenceville at Newton
Marshall at Mt. Carmel
Robinson at Paris
Metro Valley
Alton Marquette at Roxana
Madison at Breese Mater Dei
SIRR–Mississippi
Du Quoin at Nashville
Pinckneyville at Benton
West Frankfort at Anna-Jonesboro
SIRR–Ohio
Harrisburg at Herrin
Murphysboro at Carterville
Salem at Massac Co.
South Seven
Carbondale at Marion
Highland at Cahokia
Southwestern (Black)
Collinsville at Triad
Granite City at Mascoutah
Southwestern (Gold)
Belleville East at O’Fallon
Edwardsville at Belleville West
Non-Conference
Althoff at Mt. Vernon
Vienna/Goreville at Saxony Lutheran (MO)
Alton at East St. Louis
Week 9–October 16-17
Black Diamond
Edwards Co. at Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton/Elverado
Eldorado at Carmi-White Co.
Hamilton Co. at Fairfield
Johnston City at Sesser-Valier/Waltonville
Flora at Red Hill (Sat 1:00)
Little Illini
Mt. Carmel at Lawrenceville
Newton at Marshall
Paris at Casey-Westfield
Richland Co. at Robinson (Sat 1:00)
Non-Conference
Alton Marquette at Carlyle
Anna-Jonesboro at Carterville
Benton at Harrisburg
Breese Central at Herrin
Carbondale at Columbia
Centralia at Effingham
Charleston at Salem
Chester at Nashville
Civic Memorial at Taylorville
Du Quoin at Murphysboro
East Alton/Wood River at Dupo
Freeburg at Red Bud
Granite City at Jerseyville
Highland at Waterloo
Marion at Mattoon
Massac Co. at Pinckneyville
Morris at Cahokia (Fri 6:00)
Mt. Vernon at Tolono Unity
Wesclin at Madison
West Frankfort at Sparta/Steeleville
Althoff at Sycamore (Fri 6:00)
Belleville East at Mascoutah
Belleville West at Triad
Breese Mater Dei at Mt. Zion
East St. Louis at Naperville North
Edwardsville at Collinsville
O’Fallon at Alton
Roxana TBA
