Loyola’s Mike Regan (22) runs the ball during the game against Rochester. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

Loyola is the heavy favorite but who will the Ramblers face in DeKalb?

If the sight of 32 high school football teams neatly displayed on a clean bracket almost brought a tear to your eye, you probably aren’t alone.

It’s been two long, difficult years since high school football players, coaches and fans were able to look forward to a state tournament.

“Playoff pairing night is always special, but it feels even bigger this time around,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said. “256 teams and communities are going to get the opportunity to hear their name called and be recognized for the hard work they have put into qualifying for the postseason. It is a major accomplishment and I hope they take a moment to enjoy and celebrate it amidst all the recent challenges.”

Loyola, the top seed in Class 8A, has won 15 consecutive games. The Ramblers went 6-0 in the spring season and are currently 9-0. They will host Downers Grove South in the first round.

Class 8A bracket

#32 Downers Grove South (5-4) at #1 Loyola (9-0)
#17 Naperville Central (6-3) at #16 Naperville North (6-3)
#25 Minooka (5-4) at #8 York (8-1)
#24 Oswego East (6-3) at #9 Lincoln-Way East (7-2)
#29 Lyons (5-4) at #4 Lockport (8-1)
#20 Oswego (6-3) at #13 Glenbard West (7-2)
#28 Barrington (5-4) at #5 Warren (8-1)
#21 Glenbard North (6-3) at #12 Bolingbrook (7-2)
#31 Edwardsville (5-4) at #2 South Elgin (9-0)
#18 Marist (6-3) at #15 Glenbard East (7-2)
#26 Sandburg (5-4) at #7 Hinsdale Central (8-1)
#23 O’Fallon (6-3) at #10 Glenbrook South (7-2)
#30 Bartlett (5-4) at #3 Neuqua Valley (8-1)
#19 Palatine (6-3) at #14 Taft (7-2)
#27 New Trier (5-4) at #6 Maine South (8-1)
#22 Evanston (6-3) at #11 Plainfield North (7-2)

Class 8A Preview

Favorite: Loyola

Top Contender: Maine South

Darkhorse/Bracket Buster: Naperville North

Best first round game: Naperville Central at Naperville North

Toughest path to title game: Naperville Central

Class 8A Predictions

First round

Loyola defeats Downers Grove South

Naperville Central defeats Naperville North

York defeats Minooka

Lincoln-Way East defeats Oswego East

Lyons defeats Lockport

Oswego defeats Glenbard West

Warren defeats Barrington

Glenbard North defeats Bolingbrook

South Elgin defeats Edwardsville

Marist defeats Glenbard East

Hinsdale Central defeats Sandburg

Glenbrook South defeats O’Fallon

Neuqua Valley defeats Bartlett

Palatine defeats Taft

Maine South defeats New Trier

Evanston defeats Plainfield North

Second round

Loyola defeats Naperville Central

Lincoln-Way East defeats York

Lyons defeats Oswego

Warren defeats Glenbard North

Marist defeats South Elgin

Hinsdale Central defeats Glenbrook South

Neuqua Valley defeats Palatine

Maine South defeats Evanston

Quarterfinals

Loyola defeats Lincoln-Way East

Warren defeats Lyons

Hinsdale Central defeats Marist

Maine South defeats Neuqua Valley

Semifinals

Loyola defeats Warren

Maine South defeats Hinsdale Central

Championship

Loyola defeats Maine South

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Raby’s Jalen Monroe (7) is wrapped up by Clark’s Jassani Freeman (11). | Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times

The full playoff pairings for Class 1A.

Times and dates will be released on Monday. The championship will be played on Friday, Nov. 26 at NIU’s Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

Class 1A

#16 Annawan-Wethersfield (5-4) at #1 Abingdon (8-1)
#9 Monmouth United (6-3) at #8 Iroquois West (7-2)
#13 Ridgeview (5-4) at #4 Rushville (7-2)
#12 Hope Academy (6-3) at #5 Peru St. Bede (7-2)
#15 Princeville (5-4) at #2 Ottawa Marquette (8-1)
#10 Raby (6-3) at #7 Fulton (7-2)
#14 Galena (5-4) at #3 Forreston (7-2)
#11 Aurora Christian (6-3) at #6 Lena Winslow (7-2)

#16 Villa Grove (5-4) at #1 Camp Pt. Central (8-1)
#9 Central A&M (6-3) at #8 Nokomis (7-2)
#13 Brown County (5-4) at #4 Cumberland (8-1)
#12 West Central (6-3) at #5 Arcola (7-2)
#15 Shelbyville (5-4) at #2 Carrollton (8-1)
#10 Salt Fork (6-3) at #7 Greenfield-NW (7-2)
#14 Macon Meridian (5-4) at #3 Athens (8-1)
#11 Casey-Westfield (6-3) at #6 Sesser-Vallier (7-2)

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North Lawndale quarterback Earnest Rice (1) scores on a two point conversion against Prosser. | Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times

The full playoff pairings for Class 2A.

Times and dates will be released on Monday. The championship will be played on Friday, Nov. 26 at NIU’s Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

Class 2A

#16 Julian (5-4) at #1 Wilmington (9-0)
#9 Newman CC (6-3) at #8 Mercer County (6-3)
#13 Bishop McNamara (5-4) at #4 Knoxville (8-1)
#12 Clifton Central (6-3) at #5 Erie-Prophetstown (7-2)
#15 Rockridge (5-4) at #2 Tri-Valley (9-0)
#10 North Lawndale (6-3) at #7 Deer Creek-Mackinaw (6-3)
#14 El Paso-Gridley (5-4) at #3 Farmington (9-0)
#11 Momence (6-3) at #6 Tremont (7-2)

#16 Flora (5-4) at #1 St. Teresa (9-0)
#9 Chester (7-2) at #8 Vandalia (7-2)
#13 Carmi-White County (6-3) at #4 Breese Mater Dei (9-0)
#12 Lawrenceville (6-3) at #5 Johnston City (8-1)
#15 Arthur-Lovington (5-4) at #2 Pana (9-0)
#10 Westville (7-2) at #7 Maroa-Forsyth (7-2)
#14 North Mac (5-4) at #3 Bismarck-Henning (9-0)
#11 Unity-Payson (6-3) at #6 Nashville (8-1)

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Mount Carmel’s players celebrate their Class 7A State championship win over Nazareth in 2019. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

Links to the pairings for all eight classes.

All championship games will be played at NIU’s Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Classes 1A-4A will be on Friday, Nov. 26. Classes 5A-8A will be on Saturday, Nov. 27.

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Clark’s Willie Taylor (1) finds the end zone against Raby. | Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times

The full playoff pairings for Class 3A.

Times and dates will be released on Monday. The championship will be played on Friday, Nov. 26 at NIU’s Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

Class 3A

#16 Catalyst Maria (5-4) at #1 Byron (9-0)
#9 Carver (6-3) at #8 Lisle (6-3)
#13 Peotone (5-4) at #4 Reed-Custer (8-1)
#12 Elmwood-Brimfield (6-3) at #5 Clark (8-1)
#15 North Boone (5-4) at #2 Princeton (8-1)
#10 King (6-3) at #7 Prairie Central (7-2)
#14 Mendota (5-4) at #3 Pecatonica (8-1)
#11 Monmouth-Roseville (6-3) at #6 IC Catholic (8-1)

#16 Newton (5-4) at #1 Tolono Unity (9-0)
#9 Eureka (6-3) at #8 Paxton-Buckley-Loda (6-3)
#13 Beardstown (5-4) at #4 Williamsville (8-1)
#12 Hoopeston (5-4) at #5 Fairfield (8-1)
#15 St. Joseph-Ogden (5-4) at #2 Mt. Carmel, IL (9-0)
#10 DuQuoin (5-4) at #7 Carlinville (7-2)
#14 Piasa Southwestern (5-4) at #3 Benton (9-0)
#11 Greenville (5-4) at #6 Monticello (7-2)

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Joliet Catholic’s Vinny Iannantone (28) runs the ball against Brother Rice. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

The full playoff pairings for Class 4A.

Times and dates will be released on Monday. The championship will be played on Friday, Nov. 26 at NIU’s Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

Class 4A

#16 Marengo (5-4) at #1 Joliet Catholic (9-0)
#9 Coal City (6-3) at #8 Wheaton Academy (7-2)
#13 Bogan (6-3) at #4 Genoa-Kingston (8-1)
#12 Peoria Notre Dame (6-3) at #5 St. Francis (7-2)
#15 Sullivan (6-3) at #2 Richmond-Burton (9-0)
#10 Hyde Park (6-3) at #7 Stillman Valley (7-2)
#14 Plano (6-3) at #3 Kewanee (8-1)
#11 Dixon (6-3) at #6 Phillips (7-2)

#16 Cahokia (5-4) at #1 Rochester (8-1)
#9 Paris (6-3) at #8 Mt. Zion (6-3)
#13 Richland County (5-4) at #4 Freeburg (7-2)
#12 Harrisburg (5-4) at #5 Carterville (7-2)
#15 Salem (5-4) at #2 Breese Central (8-1)
#10 Macomb (6-3) at #7 Murphysboro (6-3)
#14 Columbia (5-4) at #3 Sacred Heart-Griffin (8-1)
#11 Civic Memorial (6-3) at #6 Quincy Notre Dame (6-3)

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Nazareth’s Kaleb Miller (5) is tackled by Notre Dame’s Nathan Garnhart (24). | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

The full playoff pairings for Class 5A.

Times and dates will be released on Monday. The championship will be played on Saturday, Nov. 27 at NIU’s Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

Class 5A

#16 Bulls Prep (5-4) at #1 Glenbard South (8-1)
#9 Sycamore (6-3) at #8 Evergreen Park (6-3)
#13 St. Patrick (5-4) at #4 Sterling (7-2)
#12 Payton (6-3) at #5 Rochelle (7-2)
#15 Kaneland (5-4) at #2 Fenwick (7-2)
#10 Rockford Boylan (6-3) at #7 Brooks (6-3)
#14 Nazareth (5-4) at #3 Goode (7-2)
#11 Marmion (6-3) at #6 Comer (7-2)

#16 Carbondale (5-4) at #1 Kankakee (9-0)
#9 Morgan Park (6-3) at #8 Peoria (7-2)
#13 Dunlap (5-4) at #4 Mascoutah (8-1)
#12 Metamora (5-4) at #5 Marion (8-1)
#15 LaSalle-Peru (5-4) at #2 Morris (9-0)
#10 Highland (5-4) at #7 Morton, IL (7-2)
#14 Jacksonville (5-4) at #3 Mahomet-Seymour (9-0)
#11 Hillcrest (5-4) at #6 Triad (7-2)

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Kenwood’s Kahlil Tate (11) and Omarion Lewis (13) celebrate Tate’s touchdown against Simeon. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

The full playoff pairings for Class 6A.

Times and dates will be released on Monday. The championship will be played on Saturday, Nov. 27 at NIU’s Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

Class 6A

#16 Rockford East (5-4) at #1 Cary-Grove (9-0)
#9 Grayslake Central (7-2) at #8 Belvidere North (7-2)
#13 Mather (6-3) at #4 Deerfield (8-1)
#12 Crystal Lake Central (6-3) at #5 Amundsen (8-1)
#15 Lakes (5-4) at #2 Wauconda (9-0)
#10 Vernon Hills (7-2) at #7 Prairie Ridge (7-2)
#14 Crystal Lake South (5-4) at #3 Harlem (8-1)
#11 Antioch (6-3) at #6 Lake Forest (7-2)

#16 Kennedy (5-3) at #1 Lemont (9-0)
#9 Springfield (6-3) at #8 Rock Island (6-3)
#13 Riverside-Brookfield (5-4) at #4 East St. Louis (7-2)
#12 Simeon (5-4) at #5 Richards (7-2)
#15 Bremen (5-4) at #2 St. Ignatius (8-1)
#10 Glenwood (6-3) at #7 Crete-Monee (6-3)
#14 Champaign Centennial (5-4) at #3 Kenwood (8-1)
#11 Normal West (6-3) at #6 Washington, IL (7-2)

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Batavia’s Jalen Buckley (27) runs the ball against Wheaton North. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

The full playoff pairings for Class 7A.

Times and dates will be released on Monday. The championship will be played on Saturday, Nov. 27 at NIU’s Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

Class 7A

#32 Lake Zurich (5-4) at #1 Batavia (9-0)
#17 Mount Carmel (6-3) at #16 Thornwood (7-2)
#25 Yorkville (5-4) at #8 Plainfield Central (8-1)
#24 Wheaton Warrenville South (5-4) at #9 Brother Rice (7-2)
#29 Larkin (5-4) at #4 Wheaton North (8-1)
#20 TF South (6-3) at #13 Hoffman Estates (7-2)
#28 Hampshire (5-4) at #5 Moline (8-1)
#21 Willowbrook (6-3) at #12 Young (7-2)

#31 Plainfield East (5-4) at #2 Hononegah (9-0)
#18 Libertyville (6-3) at #15 Pekin (7-2)
#26 Geneva (5-4) at #7 Collinsville (8-1)
#23 Rolling Meadows (5-4) at #10 St. Rita (7-2)
#30 Eisenhower (5-4) at #3 Normal (9-0)
#19 Jacobs (6-3) at #14 Hersey (7-2)
#27 Lincoln-Way West (5-4) at #6 Buffalo Grove (8-1)
#22 Shepard (5-4) at #11 Prospect (7-2)

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Naperville Central’s Reginald Fleurima (8) runs the ball against Neuqua Valley. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

The full playoff pairings for Class 8A.

Times and dates will be released on Monday. The championship will be played on Saturday, Nov. 27 at NIU’s Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

Class 8A

#32 Downers Grove South (5-4) at #1 Loyola (9-0)
#17 Naperville Central (6-3) at #16 Naperville North (6-3)
#25 Minooka (5-4) at #8 York (8-1)
#24 Oswego East (6-3) at #9 Lincoln-Way East (7-2)
#29 Lyons (5-4) at #4 Lockport (8-1)
#20 Oswego (6-3) at #13 Glenbard West (7-2)
#28 Barrington (5-4) at #5 Warren (8-1)
#21 Glenbard North (6-3) at #12 Bolingbrook (7-2)

#31 Edwardsville (5-4) at #2 South Elgin (9-0)
#18 Marist (6-3) at #15 Glenbard East (7-2)
#26 Sandburg (5-4) at #7 Hinsdale Central (8-1)
#23 O’Fallon (6-3) at #10 Glenbrook South (7-2)
#30 Bartlett (5-4) at #3 Neuqua Valley (8-1)
#19 Palatine (6-3) at #14 Taft (7-2)
#27 New Trier (5-4) at #6 Maine South (8-1)
#22 Evanston (6-3) at #11 Plainfield North (7-2)

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