Illinois high school football teams will hit the practice field nearly a week earlier in 2026. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has decided to move the start date for practices to Wednesday, August 5, 2026, according to Patch. The decision follows the IHSA's vote in December 2025 to expand the playoff field. The expansion of the playoff field prompted the change. The IHSA voted to increase the number of teams making the playoffs from 256 to 384. This expansion means more teams will be