CSM Football Power Rankings: Aug. 24, 2026: Big 12, Heart of Central Illinois teams start season on top
- Jonathan Michel
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
With the first games in the book for the 2026 Illinois high school football season, plenty of things have changed and plenty of things have stayed the same from where last season left off.
What stayed the same?
Central Illinois has no shortage of small-school state contenders as several powers such as El Paso-Gridley, Tri-Valley and Bloomington Central Catholic proved to be hard to beat. Normal Community and Normal West relied one strong performances from their quarterbacks like they have in years past to establish themselves as contenders too.
What changed?
The start date of the season, for one, after the newly-expanded IHSA playoffs that include 48 teams per class and an extra round moved the season’s first games up to August 21. Mother Nature didn’t take too kindly to it as several games were delayed or postponed by lightning or rain. On the field, Richwoods won its first game over Peoria High since 2017 and several Mid-Illini contenders all fell in the same week.
The Big 12 and Heart of Central Illinois conferences lead the way in the first Clutch Sports Media football power rankings of the season with three representatives each, including both No. 1 teams. Teams in the Mid-Illini and Big 12 are part of the large school rankings while area schools from any other conference are in the small school rankings.
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