Overview
- The postseason field grows from 256 to 384 teams next season, with 16 additional qualifiers added to each of the eight classes.
- Top 16 teams in Classes 8A and 7A will receive first-round byes, while Classes 6A through 1A will grant byes to the top eight.
- The regular season will begin one week earlier in 2026 with Week 0 eliminated, aligning Illinois with neighboring states such as Indiana and Michigan.
- The lower threshold means many teams with three or four wins in the nine-game slate are likely to qualify, a shift from the prior five-win benchmark.
- IHSA member schools approved the change by simple-majority ballot, drawing mixed reactions from coaches who cite both injury concerns and added opportunities, with recent scheduling gaps for programs like Loyola cited as a catalyst.