The Illinois High School Association released the 2024 playoff outlook ahead of Week 8, which includes a look at every team in the state separated by hypothetical class and ranked by won-lost record.
The weekly list works only as a guide to the playoffs and is not a prediction of the final classes and seeds, although its usefulness as a postseason roadmap grows each week.
Below are the 39 remaining unbeaten teams in each of the eight classes, along with the adjusted enrollment range of each class (those will change every week and not be final until the 256-team playoffs are set after Week 9).
Unbeaten Peoria-area teams are in bold, while other area teams are listed after each class. Schools marked with an asterisk (*) denotes they have clinched a playoff berth, while double asterisk (**) denotes conference representative.
Other Journal Star-area teams: 12 Rushville-Industry* 6-1; 14 Stark County* 6-1; 24 Annawan/Wethersfield 4-3; 35 Abingdon-Avon 3-4; 40 Deer Creek-Mackinaw 3-4; 41 ROWVA/Williamsfield 3-4; 47 South Fulton 2-5; 54 Havana 1-6; 56 St. Bede 1-6; 57 Fieldcrest 1-6; 63 United 0-7.
Other Journal Star-area teams: 11 Elmwood/Brimfield* 5-1; 23 El Paso-Gridley 4-3; 26 Illini West 4-3; 39 Bureau Valley 3-4; 46 Knoxville 2-5; 63 Tremont 0-7; 67 Lewistown/Valley/Cuba 0-7.
Other Journal Star-area teams: 20 Macomb 5-2; 24 Peoria Notre Dame 4-3; 27 Kewanee 4-3; 51 Illinois Valley Central 1-6; 53 Hall/Putnam County 1-6; 57 Canton 0-7; 59 Manual 0-7.
Other Journal Star-area teams: 3 Peoria High* 6-1; 15 Metamora 5-2; 32 East Peoria 4-3; 36 Morton 3-4; 38 LaSalle-Peru 3-4; 54 Galesburg 1-6.
Journal Star-area teams: 12 Washington 5-2; 23 Dunlap 5-2; 47 Peoria Richwoods 2-5.
IHSA champs: 3 Peoria-area teams with the best shot at an Illinois state title
Journal Star-area teams: 17 Pekin 5-2.
For the full list of playoff hopefuls around Illinois high school football, click here.