This weekend will be the start of the 2023 IHSA Football Playoffs.

A few of our local teams in and around Bloomington-Normal are heading to the post-season with undefeated records. A few others are just a single game from a perfect regular season. Best of luck to all of the local teams in the playoffs!

Here are the first-round match-ups and game times. (Local teams in bold.)

Class 1A – First -Round

Game 1 — #16 Rockford (Lutheran) (5-4) at #1 Lena (L.-Winslow) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 2 — #9 Ottawa (Marquette) (7-2) at #8 Forreston (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 3 — #13 Mackinaw (Deer Creek) (5-4) at #4 Kewanee (Wethersfield) A.-Wethersfield Coop, Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 4 — #12 Fulton (H.S.) (6-3) at #5 Morrison (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 5 — #15 Princeville (5-4) at #2 Toulon (Stark County) (9-0), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 6 — #10 Oneida (ROWVA) Coop at #7 Sterling (Newman Central Catholic) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 7 — #14 Peru (St. Bede) (5-4) vs. #3 Chicago (C. Hope Academy) (8-1) at Altgeld Park, Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 8 — #11 Gibson City (Melvin-Sibley) (6-3) at #6 Aurora (Christian) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 9 — #16 Bridgeport (Red Hill) (5-4) at #1 Camp Point (Central) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 10 — #9 Hardin (Calhoun) Coop at #8 Heyworth (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 11 — #13 Tuscola (5-4) at #4 Belleville (Althoff Catholic) (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 3:00 pm
Game 12 — #12 Villa Grove (6-3) at #5 LeRoy (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 13 — #15 Carrollton (5-4) at #2 Sesser (Valier) Coop, Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 14 — #10 Winchester West Central Coop at #7 Catlin (Salt Fork) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 15 — #14 Nokomis (5-4) at #3 Greenfield G.-Northwestern Coop, Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 16 — #11 Toledo (Cumberland) (6-3) at #6 Casey (Westfield) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm

Class 2A – First-Round

Game 1 — #16 Dwight Dwight/Gardner-So. Wilmington Coop at #1 Seneca (9-0), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 2 — #9 Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) (8-1) at #8 Westville (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 3 — #13 El Paso (Gridley) (6-3) at #4 Downs (Tri-Valley) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 4 — #12 Aledo (Mercer County) (6-3) at #5 Wilmington (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 4:00 pm
Game 5 — #15 Palos Heights (Chicago Christian) (5-4) at #2 Maroa (M.-Forsyth) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 6 — #10 Knoxville (7-2) vs. #7 Momence (8-1) at Bradley-Bourbonnais High School, Sat., Oct. 28, 12:00 noon
Game 7 — #14 Mendon (Unity) Unity-Payson Coop at #3 Bloomington (Central Catholic) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 7:00 pm
Game 8 — #11 Bismarck (B.-Henning-Rossville-Alvin) (7-2) at #6 Farmington (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 3:00 pm
Game 9 — #16 Quincy (Notre Dame) (4-5) at #1 Arthur (A.-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 10 — #9 Pana (H.S.) (6-3) at #8 Nashville (6-3), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 11 — #13 Piasa (Southwestern) (5-4) at #4 Athens (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 12 — #12 Chester (5-4) at #5 Red Bud (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 13 — #15 Trenton (Wesclin) (5-4) at #2 Shelbyville (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 14 — #10 Vandalia (6-3) at #7 Lawrenceville (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 15 — #14 Auburn (5-4) at #3 Johnston City (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 16 — #11 Breese (Mater Dei) (6-3) at #6 Carmi (White County) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm

Class 3A – First-Round

Game 1 — #16 Chicago (Noble/Hansberry) (5-4) at #1 Byron (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 2 — #9 Peotone (6-3) vs. #8 Chicago (Crane) (6-3) at Rockne Stadium, Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 3 — #13 Stillman Valley (5-4) vs. #4 Chicago (Noble/Johnson) (8-1) at Gately Stadium, Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 4 — #12 Oregon (5-4) at #5 Pecatonica Du-Pec Coop, Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 5 — #15 Paxton (Buckley-Loda) (5-4) at #2 Princeton (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 6 — #10 Monmouth (M.-Roseville) (5-4) at #7 Poplar Grove (North Boone) (6-3), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 7 — #14 Fairbury (Prairie Central) (5-4) vs. #3 Chicago (North Lawndale Charter) (8-1) at Lane Stadium, Sat., Oct. 28, 12:00 noon
Game 8 — #11 Eureka (5-4) at #6 Lombard (Montini) (6-3), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:30 pm
Game 9 — #16 Monticello (5-4) at #1 DuQuoin (H.S.) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 10 — #9 Tolono (Unity) (7-2) at #8 Williamsville (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 11 — #13 Benton (5-4) at #4 Mt. Carmel (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 12 — #12 Clinton (6-3) at #5 Sullivan Sullivan-Okaw Valley Coop, Sat., Oct. 28, 1:30 pm
Game 13 — #15 Fairfield (5-4) at #2 Greenville (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 14 — #10 Litchfield Coop at #7 Stanford (Olympia) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 15 — #14 Paris (5-4) at #3 Roxana (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 3:00 pm
Game 16 — #11 Carlinville (6-3) at #6 St. Joseph (Ogden) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm

Class 4A – First-Round

Game 1 — #16 Chicago (Agricultural Science) (5-4) vs. #1 Chicago (Dyett) (8-1) at Gately Stadium, Sat., Oct. 28, 11:00 am
Game 2 — #9 Norridge (Ridgewood) (6-3) at #8 Sandwich (6-3), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 3 — #13 Chicago (Phoenix) (5-4) at #4 West Chicago (Wheaton Academy) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 8:00 pm
Game 4 — #12 Arlington Heights (St. Viator) (5-4) at #5 Richmond (R.-Burton) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 5 — #15 Chicago (Phillips) (5-4) at #2 Rockford (Boylan Catholic) (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 6 — #10 Geneseo (6-3) at #7 Elmhurst (IC Catholic) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 5:00 pm
Game 7 — #14 Plano (5-4) at #3 Dixon (H.S.) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 8 — #11 Burbank (St. Laurence) (6-3) vs. #6 Chicago (C. Vocational) (7-2) at Gately Stadium, Sat., Oct. 28, 6:00 pm
Game 9 — #16 Lincoln (5-4) at #1 Rochester (9-0), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 10 — #9 Normal (University) (7-2) at #8 Coal City (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 11 — #13 Cahokia (H.S.) (5-4) at #4 Breese (Central) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 12 — #12 Effingham (H.S.) (5-4) at #5 Mt. Zion (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:30 pm
Game 13 — #15 Taylorville (5-4) at #2 Murphysboro (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 3:00 pm
Game 14 — #10 Freeburg (6-3) at #7 Charleston (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 15 — #14 Peoria (Notre Dame) (5-4) at #3 Kewanee (H.S.) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 16 — #11 Harrisburg (6-3) at #6 Carterville (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm

Class 5A – First-Round

Game 1 — #16 Sterling (H.S.) (4-5) vs. #1 Chicago (Payton) (9-0) at Lane Stadium, Sat., Oct. 28, 4:00 pm
Game 2 — #9 Rochelle (7-2) at #8 Wheaton (St. Francis) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:30 pm
Game 3 — #13 Chicago (Corliss) Coop vs. #4 Chicago (Morgan Park) (8-1) at Gately Stadium, Sat., Oct. 28, 2:30 pm
Game 4 — #12 Evergreen Park (6-3) at #5 Sycamore (H.S.) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 5 — #15 LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy) (4-5) at #2 Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 6 — #10 Chicago (Noble/UIC) (7-2) at #7 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 6:00 pm
Game 7 — #14 Chicago (Englewood STEM) (5-4) at #3 Antioch (9-0), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 8 — #11 Chicago (Lindblom) (7-2) at #6 Mundelein (Carmel) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 9 — #16 Tinley Park (H.S.) (5-4) at #1 Morris (9-0), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 10 — #9 Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin) (6-3) at #8 Calumet City (Thornton Fractional North) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 11 — #13 Troy (Triad) (6-3) at #4 Mahomet (Seymour) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 12 — #12 Joliet (Catholic Academy) (6-3) at #5 Peoria (H.S.) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 13 — #15 New Lenox (Providence Catholic) (5-4) at #2 Morton (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 14 — #10 Country Club Hills (Hillcrest) (6-3) at #7 Carbondale (H.S.) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 15 — #14 Mt. Vernon (H.S.) (6-3) at #3 Highland (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 16 — #11 Decatur (MacArthur) (6-3) at #6 Metamora (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm

Class 6A – First-Round

Game 1 — #16 Crystal Lake (Central) (5-4) at #1 Lake Zurich (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 2 — #9 Maple Park (Kaneland) (6-3) at #8 Riverside (R.-Brookfield) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 3 — #13 Chicago (Amundsen) (6-3) at #4 Belvidere (North) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:15 pm
Game 4 — #12 Fox Lake (Grant) (6-3) at #5 Wauconda (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 5:00 pm
Game 5 — #15 Lake Forest (H.S.) (5-4) vs. #2 Chicago (Lake View) (7-2) at Winnemac Stadium, Sat., Oct. 28, 11:00 am
Game 6 — #10 Chicago (Senn) (6-3) at #7 Geneva (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:30 pm
Game 7 — #14 Libertyville (5-4) at #3 Cary (Grove) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 6:30 pm
Game 8 — #11 Highland Park (6-3) vs. #6 Chicago (Mather) (7-2) at Winnemac Stadium, Sat., Oct. 28, 2:30 pm
Game 9 — #16 Midlothian (Bremen) (5-4) at #1 Kankakee (Sr.) (9-0), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 10 — #9 Dunlap (6-3) at #8 Blue Island (Eisenhower) (6-3), Fri., Oct. 27, 6:30 pm
Game 11 — #13 Lemont (H.S.) (5-4) at #4 East St. Louis (Sr.) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 3:00 pm
Game 12 — #12 Chicago (Simeon) (5-4) at #5 Normal (Community West) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 13 — #15 Danville (H.S.) (5-4) at #2 Washington (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 14 — #10 Champaign (Centennial) (6-3) at #7 Crete (Monee) (6-3), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 15 — #14 Chicago (Hubbard) (5-4) at #3 Oak Lawn (Richards) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 6:30 pm
Game 16 — #11 Bloomington (H.S.) (5-4) at #6 Chatham (Glenwood) (6-3), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm

Class 7A – First-Round

Game 1 — #32 Summit (Argo) (5-4) at #1 Normal (Community) (9-0), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 2 — #17 St. Charles (North) (6-3) at #16 Bradley (B.-Bourbonnais) (6-3), Sat., Oct. 28, 6:00 pm
Game 3 — #25 Addison (A. Trail) (6-3) vs. #8 Chicago (Lincoln Park) (8-1) at Lane Stadium, Fri., Oct. 27, 6:00 pm
Game 4 — #24 Machesney Park (Harlem) (6-3) at #9 Lombard (Glenbard East) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 5 — #29 Wheaton (Warrenville South) (5-4) at #4 Arlington Heights (Hersey) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 6:00 pm
Game 6 — #20 Chicago (Kenwood) (6-3) at #13 Downers Grove (North) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 7 — #28 Collinsville (5-4) at #5 Des Plaines (Maine West) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 3:00 pm
Game 8 — #21 Hoffman Estates (H.S.) (6-3) at #12 New Lenox (Lincoln-Way West) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 9 — #31 Rockford (Auburn) (5-4) at #2 Rockton (Hononegah) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 10 — #18 Yorkville (H.S.) (6-3) at #15 Villa Park (Willowbrook) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 11 — #26 Chicago (Brother Rice) (5-4) at #7 Batavia (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 12 — #23 Algonquin (Jacobs) (6-3) at #10 New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 13 — #30 West Chicago (H.S.) (5-4) at #3 Quincy (Sr.) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 14 — #19 Wheaton (North) (6-3) vs. #14 Chicago (Whitney Young) (7-2) at Rockne Stadium, Fri., Oct. 27, 6:00 pm
Game 15 — #27 Chicago (St. Rita) (5-4) at #6 Chicago (Mt. Carmel) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 16 — #22 Buffalo Grove (6-3) at #11 Mt. Prospect (Prospect) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm

Class 8A – First-Round

Game 1 — #32 Plainfield (North) (4-5) at #1 Wilmette (Loyola Academy) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 2 — #17 Palatine (H.S.) (6-3) at #16 Naperville (Neuqua Valley) (6-3), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 3 — #25 Skokie (Niles West) (6-3) at #8 Huntley (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 4 — #24 Chicago (St. Ignatius) (6-3) at #9 Joliet (West) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 5 — #29 Aurora (West Aurora) (5-4) at #4 Edwardsville (H.S.) (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 2:00 pm
Game 6 — #20 Naperville (North) (6-3) at #13 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 7 — #28 Flossmoor (Homewood-F.) (5-4) at #5 Elmhurst (York) (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 8 — #21 LaGrange (Lyons) (6-3) at #12 Lincolnshire (Stevenson) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 9 — #31 Chicago (Taft) (4-5) at #2 Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) (9-0), Fri., Oct. 27, 6:00 pm
Game 10 — #18 Orland Park (Sandburg) (6-3) at #15 Minooka (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 11 — #26 Chicago (Lane) (6-3) at #7 South Elgin (8-1), Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00 pm
Game 12 — #23 Oswego (H.S.) (6-3) at #10 Gurnee (Warren) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 13 — #30 Glenview (Glenbrook South) (4-5) at #3 Barrington (9-0), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 14 — #19 Downers Grove (South) (6-3) at #14 Naperville (Central) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:00 pm
Game 15 — #27 Lockport (Twp.) (5-4) at #6 Park Ridge (Maine South) (8-1), Fri., Oct. 27, 7:30 pm
Game 16 — #22 Aurora (East) (6-3) at #11 Belleville (East) (7-2), Fri., Oct. 27, 6:00 pm

(Playoff game information via ihsa.org)

By: Buck Stevens