2026 - 5A

FootballSince2008 · Apr 27, 2026

With new playoffs unknown of who might go where based on wins and more teams making the playoffs now (high 4A possibly 5A, low 6A possibly 5A) - which teams are in the "top echelon" of 5A come playoff time
Franny - Provi - Kankakee? - Will Rochester be close to 5A? Chatham Glenwood a possible 5A? Unsure who else with the whole new playoff trend of 3wins getting in

cornerrat#1 · Apr 27, 2026

All.... Every year can be different. Fwiw Steve Soucie ran the new format for the 2025 teams. Chatham was still in 6A and Rochester 4A . Rocketnation would know but I believe he has mentioned that enrollment will fall a bit which will be reflected in 2026. Last year they were a solid 4A.

Chatham loses a ton of talent. It could be a rough season for the Titans. Making the playoffs though won't be a problem since 4 and 3 win teams and some possibly with two will qualify for postseason play. Ratsy

rocketnation · Apr 27, 2026

Rochester's days of flirting with 5A enrollment classification are gone. After years of being near the top of the 4A playoff schools in enrollment, Rochester was 21st out of the 32 4A playoff qualifiers last year with 682 students. If current trends hold up, they could be as low as 600 students within the next 3 years which could eventually put them on the 3A/4A bubble.

cornerrat#1 · Apr 27, 2026

All.... IC or Byron versus Rochester (3A) down the road final could be fun in the future. Ratsy

cornerrat#1 · Jun 27, 2026

FootballSince2008 said:
With new playoffs unknown of who might go where based on wins and more teams making the playoffs now (high 4A possibly 5A, low 6A possibly 5A) - which teams are in the "top echelon" of 5A come playoff time
Franny - Provi - Kankakee? - Will Rochester be close to 5A? Chatham Glenwood a possible 5A? Unsure who else with the whole new playoff trend of 3wins getting in

All... Entering postseason play in 2025 this was the AP top 10 final regular season poll. Many will be back. Ratsy

5A -
1. Prairie Ridge
2. Cary Grove
3. (T) Providence Catholic
3. (T) Peoria
5. Belvidere North
6. Washington
7. St. Francis
8. Wauconda
9. Kaneland
10. Kankakee

cornerrat#1 · Jun 27, 2026

rocketnation said:
Rochester's days of flirting with 5A enrollment classification are gone. After years of being near the top of the 4A playoff schools in enrollment, Rochester was 21st out of the 32 4A playoff qualifiers last year with 682 students. If current trends hold up, they could be as low as 600 students within the next 3 years which could eventually put them on the 3A/4A bubble.

All.... And the 4A Associated Press poll at the end of the regular season in 2025. Ratsy
4A -
1. Montini
2. Rochester
3. Morris
4. Mt. Zion
5. Dixon
6. Breese
7. Carterville
8. SHG
9. Coal City
10. Macomb

rocketnation · Jun 27, 2026

cornerrat#1 said:
All.... And the 4A Associated Press poll at the end of the regular season in 2025. Ratsy
4A -
1. Montini
2. Rochester
3. Morris
4. Mt. Zion
5. Dixon
6. Breese
7. Carterville
8. SHG
9. Coal City
10. Macomb

Montini, Rochester, Morris, and SHG all have an impressive number of returners.

Mt Zion, Carterville, and Breese were hit hard by graduation, although Breese returns their now Jr QB who played great against Rochester.

Doctor_D · Jun 27, 2026

rocketnation said:
Montini, Rochester, Morris, and SHG all have an impressive number of returners.

Mt Zion, Carterville, and Breese were hit hard by graduation, although Breese returns their now Jr QB who played great against Rochester.

I don’t think they will be ready to challenge the likes of Montini or Rochester, but the Coalers return many of their key players from last year also. Their game with Morris will be an interesting measuring stick.

4Afan · Jun 27, 2026

Doctor_D said:
I don’t think they will be ready to challenge the likes of Montini or Rochester, but the Coalers return many of their key players from last year also. Their game with Morris will be an interesting measuring stick.

CC returns pretty much all of their production from last year. My hot take is that the Coalers go undefeated in the regular season.

Doctor_D · Jun 27, 2026

4Afan said:
CC returns pretty much all of their production from last year. My hot take is that the Coalers go undefeated in the regular season.

Considering what they have returning and how much Wilmo has to replace, I think this should be the year they get the Wilmo monkey off their back and win the league. Coalers should be dogs vs Morris, but I guess stranger things have happened. Like I said, I think it should be an interesting game.

skinsfootball · Jun 27, 2026

4Afan said:
CC returns pretty much all of their production from last year. My hot take is that the Coalers go undefeated in the regular season.

That's a big ask. Hot take for sure. The Wilmo/ CC game gets hyped up every year and the result is typically the same. Reents always seems to have their number. I do not see that changing this year. Morris may be better than last year. Should dominate the line of scrimmage and I do not know if CC will see a better player than Persich on their schedule.
Now the following season when the Wilmo talent drop is supposedly happening and Morris is no longer on the schedule due to the locked conference, I'd agree with you.
More realistic hot take......Morris beats CC twice this year.

Bubbajoe · Jun 27, 2026

There is a town in Western Illinois who showed well in 4A last year. Just saying.

4Afan · Jun 27, 2026

skinsfootball said:
That's a big ask. Hot take for sure. The Wilmo/ CC game gets hyped up every year and the result is typically the same. Reents always seems to have their number. I do not see that changing this year. Morris may be better than last year. Should dominate the line of scrimmage and I do not know if CC will see a better player than Persich on their schedule.
Now the following season when the Wilmo talent drop is supposedly happening and Morris is no longer on the schedule due to the locked conference, I'd agree with you.
More realistic hot take......Morris beats CC twice this year.

Everyone is high on the transfer QB, and I love his experience, but how long will it take for him to learn the offense? Morris could easily handle CC, but the Coalers have an established offense. Redskins will be the favorite, but I would not be surprised to see CC come out with the win.

4Afan · Jun 27, 2026

Bubbajoe said:
There is a town in Western Illinois who showed well in 4A last year. Just saying.

Geneseo is a great program, but option football doesn't work in 2026

618account · Jun 27, 2026

rocketnation said:
Montini, Rochester, Morris, and SHG all have an impressive number of returners.

Mt Zion, Carterville, and Breese were hit hard by graduation, although Breese returns their now Jr QB who played great against Rochester.

I'm pretty sure Mt. Zion returns a good chunk of their defense and they had some pretty solid athletes at the underclass level. Breese should be solid, but I expect some growing pains early, especially with a stronger conference slate. Not as many "get right" type of games going forward, but we do have some dudes coming up.

The team to watch out for south of Springfield though is Cahokia. They return a bunch of 2/3 year starters with most of their skill guys receiving FBS offers and Earnest Winters who is getting P4 offers after his freshman year. Obviously a very fast team and have a big, shifty running back. It'll be interesting if they get any transfers in as well, as they've gotten a few from O'fallon and Belleville East the last 2 years. A lot of it comes down to their line play. They return a few lineman on both sides and their line is usually massive, but are prone to wearing down and getting sloppy. Which obviously can't happen against SHG/Rochester.

4Afan · Jun 27, 2026

618account said:
I'm pretty sure Mt. Zion returns a good chunk of their defense and they had some pretty solid athletes at the underclass level. Breese should be solid, but I expect some growing pains early, especially with a stronger conference slate. Not as many "get right" type of games going forward, but we do have some dudes coming up.

The team to watch out for south of Springfield though is Cahokia. They return a bunch of 2/3 year starters with most of their skill guys receiving FBS offers and Earnest Winters who is getting P4 offers after his freshman year. Obviously a very fast team and have a big, shifty running back. It'll be interesting if they get any transfers in as well, as they've gotten a few from O'fallon and Belleville East the last 2 years. A lot of it comes down to their line play. They return a few lineman on both sides and their line is usually massive, but are prone to wearing down and getting sloppy. Which obviously can't happen against SHG/Rochester.

Cahokia also has Metamora and Morris in the schedule this year.

cornerrat#1 · Jun 28, 2026

All.... And for the Red... umm Warrior fans making that long week nine road trip to Cahokia a must stop 10 minutes away from the stadium is Big Mama's BBQ Express. World famous bbq but the pork steak is to die for as well as the homemade cakes. They will box it up and one can feast in the Comanche parking lot before the game. Ratsy

MustangFB · Monday at 7:28 AM

6A is the up an coming class

Doctor_D · Monday at 7:46 AM

FootballSince2008 said:
With new playoffs unknown of who might go where based on wins and more teams making the playoffs now (high 4A possibly 5A, low 6A possibly 5A) - which teams are in the "top echelon" of 5A come playoff time
Franny - Provi - Kankakee? - Will Rochester be close to 5A? Chatham Glenwood a possible 5A? Unsure who else with the whole new playoff trend of 3wins getting in

Top of 5A will be the usual suspects. CCL team will be the 5A champ.

Anon17827374886486677 · Monday at 7:53 AM

Cahokia seems to blow it at the most crucial moments.

SiuCubFan8 · Monday at 7:58 AM

Doctor_D said:
Top of 5A will be the usual suspects. CCL team will be the 5A champ.

I would put Providence as your pre-season favorites.

Colin2299 · Monday at 9:02 AM

4Afan said:
Everyone is high on the transfer QB, and I love his experience, but how long will it take for him to learn the offense? Morris could easily handle CC, but the Coalers have an established offense. Redskins will be the favorite, but I would not be surprised to see CC come out with the win.

It’s HS football and a stud QB transfer. He’ll hit the ground running.

4Afan · Monday at 9:27 AM

Colin2299 said:
It’s HS football and a stud QB transfer. He’ll hit the ground running.

Right, it's HS football so there's no guarantees just because he's a transfer. The optimism is there for sure, but I'm not one to get excited on hype alone.

AlabamaTimberwolf · Wednesday at 9:40 AM

FootballSince2008 said:
With new playoffs unknown of who might go where based on wins and more teams making the playoffs now (high 4A possibly 5A, low 6A possibly 5A) - which teams are in the "top echelon" of 5A come playoff time
Franny - Provi - Kankakee? - Will Rochester be close to 5A? Chatham Glenwood a possible 5A? Unsure who else with the whole new playoff trend of 3wins getting in

Good post!~ I never thought about the classifications shift due to the lower number of wins and additional teams in the playoffs.

AlabamaTimberwolf · Wednesday at 9:42 AM

rocketnation said:
Rochester's days of flirting with 5A enrollment classification are gone. After years of being near the top of the 4A playoff schools in enrollment, Rochester was 21st out of the 32 4A playoff qualifiers last year with 682 students. If current trends hold up, they could be as low as 600 students within the next 3 years which could eventually put them on the 3A/4A bubble.

I never thought Rochester would drop below 700... Its the best choice in the Springfield area, IMO, for ones children. What's causing the decline?

AlabamaTimberwolf · Wednesday at 9:43 AM

cornerrat#1 said:
All.... IC or Byron versus Rochester (3A) down the road final could be fun in the future. Ratsy

I would like to see a Byron/Rochester game...

AlabamaTimberwolf · Wednesday at 9:44 AM

cornerrat#1 said:
All.... And the 4A Associated Press poll at the end of the regular season in 2025. Ratsy
4A -
1. Montini
2. Rochester
3. Morris
4. Mt. Zion
5. Dixon
6. Breese
7. Carterville
8. SHG
9. Coal City
10. Macomb

It's said that Coal City is stacked for 2026... Not sure if that means a real threat to win 4A but it should be interesting!~

AlabamaTimberwolf · Wednesday at 9:45 AM

rocketnation said:
Montini, Rochester, Morris, and SHG all have an impressive number of returners.

Mt Zion, Carterville, and Breese were hit hard by graduation, although Breese returns their now Jr QB who played great against Rochester.

Didn't Peoria Notre Dame have a good group of Soph's two years ago?

AlabamaTimberwolf · Wednesday at 9:47 AM

Doctor_D said:
I don’t think they will be ready to challenge the likes of Montini or Rochester, but the Coalers return many of their key players from last year also. Their game with Morris will be an interesting measuring stick.

Good point. I should've read down a bit more before posting my question about Coal City!~

AlabamaTimberwolf · Wednesday at 9:48 AM

Doctor_D said:
Considering what they have returning and how much Wilmo has to replace, I think this should be the year they get the Wilmo monkey off their back and win the league. Coalers should be dogs vs Morris, but I guess stranger things have happened. Like I said, I think it should be an interesting game.

Running the ball at Wilmo is an art so I have to see it to believe it that the Coalers can "shake" the monkey... I know, terrible line there...

AlabamaTimberwolf · Wednesday at 9:51 AM

4Afan said:
Geneseo is a great program, but option football doesn't work in 2026

2026 will be year 2 or 3 of the new offense... If the option is ran to precision it can. I don't know how long it takes to get this type of offense established but once it is it's tough to stop.

AlabamaTimberwolf · Wednesday at 9:52 AM

4Afan said:
Cahokia also has Metamora and Morris in the schedule this year.

Ouch

AlabamaTimberwolf · Wednesday at 9:53 AM

cornerrat#1 said:
All.... And for the Red... umm Warrior fans making that long week nine road trip to Cahokia a must stop 10 minutes away from the stadium is Big Mama's BBQ Express. World famous bbq but the pork steak is to die for as well as the homemade cakes. They will box it up and one can feast in the Comanche parking lot before the game. Ratsy

You need to write a book on football eating must stops!~

cornerrat#1 · Wednesday at 10:12 AM

AlabamaTimberwolf said:
You need to write a book on football eating must stops!~

All.... And if you don't want to go to Big Mama's at the Comanches stadium one can get the largest smoked turkey legs I have ever seen. One can fill you up easily. Ratsy

rocketnation · Wednesday at 10:15 AM

AlabamaTimberwolf said:
I never thought Rochester would drop below 700... Its the best choice in the Springfield area, IMO, for ones children. What's causing the decline?

New housing w/in the district boundaries exploded during the early 1990s but fizzled out for the most part by 2010.

Lots of people w/children, like me, moved in during the boom period but most of those kids have now graduated. Enrollment peaked around 2021-22 and has fallen every year since.

The only recent development I've seen is the apartment complex near the Intermediate School.

rocketnation · Wednesday at 10:17 AM

AlabamaTimberwolf said:
Didn't Peoria Notre Dame have a good group of Soph's two years ago?

Not sure but they did make the 2nd round of the 4a playoffs last year. However, they ended up in the North bracket and had to play Montini in Week 11.

They were in the South bracket in '24 when they upset Rochester,

cornerrat#1 · Wednesday at 10:38 AM

rocketnation said:
Not sure but they did make the 2nd round of the 4a playoffs last year. However, they ended up in the North bracket and had to play Montini in Week 11.

They were in the South bracket in '24 when they upset Rochester,

All.... I have looked at most of 4A and 5A including the "Fightin Irish" (or now only Irish ?) and they return one big bruising running back which works well with that offense. The issue of course is the passing game which at most times is an afterthought.

Checked their schedule and they have five tough ones. Richmond Burton, Normal, Community West, Bloomington, and Peoria. Of course at least for this season the bar for postseason play is pretty low. Enrollment went up a bit but likely class 4A at playoff time. Ratsy

atrain97 · Wednesday at 3:19 PM

4Afan said:
Geneseo is a great program, but option football doesn't work in 2026

Really? Option football doesn't work? PR, CG, RB, etc... would probably have rebuttal for that opinion,

SiuCubFan8 · Wednesday at 3:41 PM

atrain97 said:
Really? Option football doesn't work? PR, CG, RB, etc... would probably have rebuttal for that opinion,

There is a reason it's not as prevalent anymore...
Especially 5A and up.
Football is a copy cat sport at all levels and no one is copying option football right now (minus an outlier here and there).

4Afan · Wednesday at 4:02 PM

atrain97 said:
Really? Option football doesn't work? PR, CG, RB, etc... would probably have rebuttal for that opinion,

3 schools out of 500+. Those are the exception, not the rule. I stand by my statement.

2026 - 5A

Redshirt

Senior

All-Conference

Senior

Senior

Senior

All-Conference

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All-Conference

All-Conference

Freshman

Redshirt

All-Conference

All-Conference

Redshirt

All-Conference

Senior

Junior

All-Conference

Redshirt

All-Conference

Junior

All-Conference

Senior

Senior

Senior

Senior

Senior

Senior

Senior

Senior

Senior

Senior

Senior

All-Conference

All-Conference

Senior

Senior

All-Conference

All-Conference