2026 High School Football Schedules Released For Arlington Heights Teams

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — The Illinois High School Association and MaxPreps have released the 2026 high school football schedules for the upcoming fall season.

The nine-week regular season begins with Week 1 games scheduled for Aug. 20-22. The season culminates with the IHSA Football State Finals on Nov. 27-28 at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.

The postseason will have a significantly different look this year after IHSA member schools voted to expand the football playoffs for the first time since 1985.

Each of the eight classes will have 48 playoff qualifiers, up from 32. The change expands the total field from 256 to 384 teams.

To maintain historical consistency in the number of teams competing in each stage, the playoff rounds will be called the Opening Round, First Round, Second Round, Quarterfinals and Semifinals.

The 2026 playoff schedule is:

• Opening Round: Oct. 23-24
• First Round: Oct. 30-31
• Second Round: Nov. 6-7
• Quarterfinals: Nov. 13-14
• Semifinals: Nov. 20-21
• State Finals: Nov. 27-28

The 384 playoff qualifiers will be revealed during a live statewide telecast at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17.

In Arlington Heights, fans will especially be keeping tabs on the local teams at John Hersey and Saint Viator.

Tom Nelson returns as head coach of the John Hersey football team, which finished the 2025 season with a 9-3 record, earning a berth in the Class 7A playoffs.

The Huskies opened the playoffs with a 56-0 win over Payton College Prep, then defeated Richards 42-21 in the second round. Their season ended with a 56-42 home loss to St. Rita in the quarterfinals.

This fall, the Huskies will compete in the Mid-Suburban (East) alongside Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect (Prospect), Rolling Meadows and Wheeling.

Here is a look at the 2026 schedule for Hersey, according to the IHSA and MaxPreps:

John Hersey Huskies

Mid-Suburban (East) — coached by Tom Nelson

• Week 1: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21 (home vs. Mundelein, non-conference)
• Week 2: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 (at Hoffman Estates, non-conference)
• Week 3: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 (away at Naperville-Neuqua Valley, non-conference)
• Week 4: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 (home versus Barrington, non-conference)
• Week 5: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 (home versus Buffalo Grove, conference)
• Week 6: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 (away at Wheeling, conference)
• Week 7: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 (away at Elk Grove Village, conference)
• Week 8: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 (home versus Rolling Meadows, conference)
• Week 9: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 (away at Mount Prospect-Prospect, conference)

Former Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould returns as head coach of the Saint Viator football team, which finished the 2025 season with a 1-8 record.

This fall, the Lions will compete in the Chicago Catholic League (Red Conference) alongside Chicago (De La Salle), Chicago (Leo) and Chicago Heights (Marian)

Here is a look at the 2026 schedule for Saint Viator, according to the IHSA and MaxPreps:

Saint Viator Lions

Chicago Catholic League (Red conference)— coached by Robbie Gould

• Week 1: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 (home vs. Chicago-St. Ignatius, non-conference)
• Week 2: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 (away at Chicago-St. Patrick, non-conference)
• Week 3: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 (home vs. Niles-Notre Dame, non-conference)
• Week 4: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 (away at Chicago-Leo, conference)
• Week 5: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 (away at Chicago-DePaul College Prep, non-conference)
• Week 6: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 (home vs. Chicago Heights-Marian, conference)
• Week 7: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 (home vs. Wheaton-St. Francis, non-conference)
• Week 8: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 (away at Oak Park-Fenwick, non-conference)
• Week 9: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 (away at Chicago-De La Salle, conference)