Oh, folks, it’s that time of year again, and I reckon y’all know what that means—it’s IHSA football playoffs time in Illinois! Now, let me tell ya, these playoffs for 2023 are a real big deal. They’ve got everyone buzzin’, from the smallest town high schools to the big city teams.
So, the IHSA football playoffs, they start once that regular season wraps up. This season’s got nine weeks, and it ain’t just any ol’ games, no, sir. Those nine weeks decide who’s tough enough to be in them playoffs. By the end of that season, 256 teams from all over the state, yeah, 256, they get their tickets to the playoffs. There’s 68 of ‘em who are conference champions, meanin’ they ruled the roost in their own groups. And then you got 188 teams that snuck in as at-large entries—guess they were good enough to squeeze in even if they didn’t get first place in their group.
Playoff Pairings and How They Work
Now, they don’t just throw all them teams together like one big soup pot, no way! They got classes for this, from Class 1A all the way to 8A, and each of these has its own playoff bracket. For example, you got the big guys in Class 8A, like Lincoln-Way East. They’re sittin’ pretty, undefeated at 8-0, ready to take on anyone. Then there’s Mt. Carmel in Class 7A, they’re lookin’ strong too at 6-2. Each class has its top teams, and these rankings, well, they got everyone chatterin’ about who’s gonna come out on top.
The IHSA even hosts a playoff pairing show, where they show who’s goin’ up against who. Folks get excited about that, tunin’ in on Saturday night just to see if their local team made the cut. It’s like pickin’ names out of a hat, but fancier.
Big Games at Hancock Stadium
Now let me tell ya, the real action happens at the state finals. This year, we’re headin’ back to Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal. First time in years they’ve done that! Mark your calendars, folks, November 24-25—that’s when the best of the best will battle it out for that big ol’ trophy. I tell ya, Hancock Stadium’s a fine place, folks from all over will be crowdin’ in to see who takes home the title.
Top Teams to Watch
- Class 8A: Lincoln-Way East, with an 8-0 record, is ready to rumble.
- Class 7A: Mt. Carmel, sittin’ at 6-2, still a tough team to beat.
- Class 6A: East St. Louis is another undefeated team, folks, 8-0!
- Class 5A: LaGrange Park Nazareth, at 7-1, watch out for them!
- Class 4A: Breese Central, ain’t lost a game, also 8-0.
These teams, they’ve been battlin’ it out week after week, and I reckon they’re ready to show the whole state what they’re made of. And trust me, fans are loyal as can be—each school’s got supporters who’ll travel near and far to cheer ‘em on!
Where to Keep Up with the Action
If ya can’t make it out to see the games in person, don’t you fret! Folks can watch the games on local TV or even catch a stream online. I reckon there’s somethin’ special about seein’ those high school players out there on the field, playin’ their hearts out.
And don’t forget, if you’re keen on memories, you can even look at photo galleries from all them games. That way, ya can find your favorite players, relive them big moments, or maybe just keep a photo of the home team you root for. Them photos are mighty popular ‘round here, especially if a team goes on to win it all!
November—The Month of Champions
November’s the month, folks! It’s when all these young folks give it all they got on the field, hopin’ to be state champions. They’ve practiced all year, played rain or shine, and now it’s their chance. Win or lose, it’s somethin’ that’ll be remembered in these towns for years to come. So, grab a warm coat, a ticket, or your TV remote, and join us for this year’s IHSA football playoffs—it’s bound to be somethin’ special!
Tags：[IHSA football, Illinois high school football, 2023 playoffs, Hancock Stadium, high school sports]
