The 2026 football schedules for the Riverbender.com high schools have been released and reflect changes in both playoff format and conference realignments.
There will be a bit of a different look in the area this year, with the expansion of the Southwestern Conference, South Seven Conference, and the Cahokia Conference, as well as the formation of a new football conference, along with the dissolution of the Mississippi Valley Conference.
Granite City will rejoin the SWC for all sports this season, as also will Collinsville for football, and the league expands by two teams with the addition of both Triad and Mascoutah. The South Seven will welcome Highland, and Civic Memorial, Jersey, and Waterloo will join the Cahokia Conference starting this season. In addition, a new league, the Metro Valley Conference, will play its inaugural season this year, with Marquette Catholic, Roxana, Belleville Althoff Catholic, Madison, and Breese Mater Dei Catholic forming the conference.
Also, the IHSA had expanded the playoffs to include 40 teams in each of its eight classes. The expansion means the football season will start one week earlier this year, on the weekend of Aug. 21-22, to add on the eight extra teams. The top seeds will now earn byes into the first round of the playoffs, which will begin with the opening round following the regular nine-week season on Oct. 23-24.
The playoff finals will still be held on Thanksgiving weekend, this year Nov. 27-28, at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal. Kickoff times for all eight games remain the same, at 10 a.m., 1 p.m, 4. p.m., and 7 p.m.
Here are the local schools scheduled for the upcoming season. Home games are in bold, kickoff times are all Central Daylight Time.
EDWARDSVILLE TIGERS
Fri. Aug. 21 — KANKAKEE — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — at Jackson, Mo. — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — CHICAGO MORGAN PARK — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — at Belleville East — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — GRANITE CITY —7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — EAST ST. LOUIS — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — O’FALLON — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — at Belleville West — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — at Collinsville — 7 p.m.
HARDIN CALHOUN WARRIORS
Fri. Aug. 21 — CONCORD TRIOPIA — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — BEARDSTOWN — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — PLEASANT HILL — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — at White Hall North Greene — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — WINCHESTER WEST CENTRAL — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — at Greenfield Northwestern — 7 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 3 — at Carrollton — 1 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — JACKSONVILLE ROUTT CATHOLIC — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct 16 — at Mt. Sterling Brown County — 7 p.m.
CARROLLTON HAWKS
Fri, Aug. 21 — MT. STERLING BROWN COUNTY — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — at Mendon Unity — 7 p.m.
Fri, Sept. 4 — at Greenfield Northwestern — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 —at Winchester West Central — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — PLEASANT HILL — 7 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 26 — WHITE HALL NORTH GREENE — 1 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 3 — HARDIN CALHOUN — 1 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — at Beardstown — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct 16 — CONCORD TRIOPIA — 7 p.m.
GREENFIELD NORTHWESTERN TIGERS (CONFERENCE ONLY)
Fri. Aug. 21 — JACKSONVILLE ROUTT CATHOLIC — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — CARROLLTON — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — at White Hall North Greene — 7 p.m.
Fri, Sept, 25 — HARDIN CALHOUN — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — at Winchester West Central — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — at Concord Triopia — 7 p.m.
WHITE HALL NORTH GREENE SPARTANS
Fri. Aug. 21 — at Beardstown — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — CONCORD TRIOPIA — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — at Winchester West Central — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — HARDIN CALHOUN — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — GREENFIELD NORTHWESTERN — 7 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 26 — at Carrollton — 1 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — at Pleasant Hill — 7 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 10 — MT. STERLING BROWN COUNTY — 1 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — at Camp Point Central — 7 p.m.
JERSEY PANTHERS
Fri. Aug. 21 — JACKSONVILLE — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — at Centralia — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept 4 — EAST ALTON-WOOD RIVER — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept 11 — CIVIC MEMORIAL — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — at Breese Central — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — at Freeburg — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — COLUMBIA — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — at Waterloo — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — GRANITE CITY — 7 p.m.
PIASA SOUTHWESTERN PIASA BIRDS
Fri. Aug. 21 — at Staunton — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug 28 — TRIAD — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — at Virden North Mac — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — VANDALIA — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — at Litchfield — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — GILLESPIE — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct.2 — at Carlinville — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — GREENVILLE — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — at Hillsboro — 7 p.m.
CARLINVILLE CAVALIERS
Fri. Aug. 21 — at Vandalia — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — GILLESPIE — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — at Greenville — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — STAUNTON — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — at Virden North Mac — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — LITCHFIELD — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — PIASA SOUTHWESTERN — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — at Hillsboro — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — PANA — 7 p.m.
ALTON REDBIRDS
Fri. Aug. 21 — at Belleville West — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — CHATHAM GLENWOOD — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — at LaSalle-Peru — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept 11 — at Triad — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — COLLINSVILLE — 7 pm.
Fri. Sept. 25 — at Granite City — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — MASCOUTAH —7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — at East St. Louis — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — O’FALLON — 7 p.m.
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC EXPLORERS
Fri. Aug. 21 — DUPO — 7 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 29 — RED BUD — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — ST. LOUIS PRINCIPIA/WHITFIELD — 7 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 12 —- at Aurora Central Catholic — 1 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — at Breese Mater Dei Catholic — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — BELLEVILLE ALTHOFF CATHOLIC — 7 p.m.
Sat, Oct. 3 — MADISON — 1 p.m.
Fri. Oct 9 — at Roxana — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — at Carlyle — 7 p.m.
CIVIC MEMORIAL EAGLES
Fri. Aug. 21 — NEWTON — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — CENTRALIA — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — at Breese Central — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — at Jersey — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — FREEBURG — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — at Columbia — 7 p.m.
Fro. Oct. 2 — WATERLOO — 7 p.m.
Fri Oct. 9 — at East Alton-Wood River — 7 p.m.
HIGHLAND BULLDOGS
Fri. Aug. 21 — TRIAD — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — BELLEVILLE ALTHOFF CATHOLIC — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — at Mascoutah — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — MARION — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — at Macomb — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — at Carbondale — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — MT. VERNON — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — at Cahokia — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — at Waterloo — 7 p.m.
EAST ALTON-WOOD RIVER OILERS
Fri. Aug. 21 — CASEY-WESTFIELD — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — at Jersey — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — FREEBURG — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — at Columbia — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — WATERLOO — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — BREESE CENTRAL —7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — at Centralia — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — CIVIC MEMORIAL —7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — at Dupo — 7 p.m.
ROXANA SHELLS
Fri. Aug. 21 — at Nashville — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — at Muphysboro — 7 p.m.
Fri Sept. 4 — CHICAGO BULLS COLLEGE PREP — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — BREESE MATER DEI CATHOLIC — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — at Belleville Althoff Catholic — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept.25 — at Madison — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — BISMARCK-HENNING-ROSSVILLE-ALVIN — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 8 — MARQUETTE CATHOLIC — 7 p.m.
METRO-EAST LUTHERAN KNIGHTS (EIGHT-MAN)
Sat. Aug. 29 — at Martinsville — 1 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — OBLONG — 7 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 12 — at Cerro Gordo — 12 noon
Fri. Sept. 18 — MACON MERIDIAN — 7 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 26 — at Catlin South Fork — 11 a.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — DECATUR UNITY CHRISTIAN — 7 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 10 — at Pawnee — 6 p.m.
Fri. Oct 16 — HUTSONVILLE — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct 23 — at Farmer City Blue Ridge — 7 p.m.
COLLINSVILLE KAHOKS
Fri. Aug. 21 — at Belleville Althoff Catholic — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — SPRINGFIELD — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — MT. VERNON —7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — GRANITE CITY — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — at Alton — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — MASCOUTAH — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — at Belleville East — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — at Triad — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct 16 — EDWARDSVILLE —7 p.m.
TRIAD KNIGHTS
Fri. Aug. 21 — at Highland — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 —WASHINGTON — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — SYCAMORE — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — ALTON — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — at Mascoutah — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — O’FALLON — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — at Granite City — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct 9 – COLLINSVILLE — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — BELLEVILLE WEST — 7 p.m.
GRANITE CITY WARRIORS
Fri. Aug. 21 — FREEBURG — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 — at Decatur MacArthur — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 4 — OTTAWA TOWNSHIP — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 11 — at Collinsville — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — at Edwardsville — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — ALTON — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — TRIAD — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — at Mascoutah — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — at Jersey — 7 p.m.
EAST ST. LOUIS FLYERS
Sat. Aug. 22 — CHICAGO MT. CARMEL CATHOLIC — 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 28 – at Plantation, Fla. American Heritage — 6 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 5 — GAINESVILLE, GA. — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept.11 — O’FALLON — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18 — BELLEVILLE EAST — 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25 — at Edwardsville — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 2 — at Belleville West — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9 — ALTON — 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 16 — at Naperville North — 7 p.m.
