Thirteen Illinois Varsity Football Teams Forfeit 2026 IHSA Season

Thirteen IHSA programs from Rock Island to Chicago have scrapped 2026 varsity football, leaving opponents to choose between forfeit wins and replacement games.

Thirteen varsity football programs in Illinois have forfeited the 2026 season, a wave of shutdowns that stretches from Rock Island in the west to Chicago and downstate schools such as Fieldcrest. All of the affected teams compete under the Illinois High School Association, whose football season is being played under a new, expanded playoff format this fall.

The reasons for the withdrawals vary, according to the Peoria Journal Star, which compiled the list. Some programs could not field enough players, one dealt with a widespread illness, and other factors were also cited. Five of the 13 teams are Chicago schools, with the remainder spread across downstate conferences. The story was reported by Journal Star sports editor Dave Eminian.

The timing of the shutdowns also differs. Ten of the 13 programs did not play a varsity game at all this season, while the other three shut down after playing either two or four games.

The forfeits carry direct playoff implications. Any team that had a forfeiting opponent on its schedule faces a choice under the rules: accept the forfeit victory, which applies toward the win total required to clinch a playoff spot, or book a replacement opponent and accept the result of that game either way.

Three downstate programs played part of their schedules before stopping. Clinton, a Heart of Central Illinois team, completed four of eight scheduled games and canceled after Week 5. Hoopeston (Coop), of the Vermilion Valley, also played four of eight before canceling ahead of Week 5. Sherrard, a Three Rivers school, halted a six-game schedule after two games.

The rest never kicked off. Decatur (Eisenhower), a Central State Eight (East) program, had only three games on its schedule and played none of them. Litchfield (Coop), from the South Central, scheduled five games without playing any. Watseka, another Vermilion Valley team, sat out the season. Minonk (Fieldcrest) opted for a junior varsity-only schedule, and Rock Island (Alleman) of the Western Big 6 declared no season.

The five Chicago programs on the list are Harlan, North Grand, Noble/Golder, Catalyst/Maria and Englewood/STEM. Harlan and Catalyst/Maria each had one game scheduled and never played it, with Catalyst/Maria's season canceled. Noble/Golder had no games scheduled or played. Englewood/STEM, a Chicago Public Blue South team, canceled its season after putting five games on the books without playing one. North Grand is no longer fielding varsity 11-man football.

The forfeits are unfolding in the first year of the state's expanded playoff format. A companion Journal Star report counted 248 teams that have clinched playoff spots in Illinois high school football this season.

The IHSA campaign has moved into Week 8, with the Journal Star tracking schedules and standings for Peoria-area games as the remaining programs adjust around the vacancies on their slates.