CSM Pick 'Em: Quarterfinals 2026
And then there were five.
A handful of football teams in the Central Illinois area have reached the quarterfinals of the IHSA playoffs and are three wins away from a state championship.
The road isn’t easy for anyone as Normal Community, Normal West, Morton, El Paso-Gridley and Heyworth take on teams that were state ranked alongside them for most of the season.
Normal Community looks to keep its unbeaten season alive against Chicago Catholic League power Brother Rice while El Paso-Gridley and Heyworth enter Saturday at 11-0 as well. The Titans look to reach the Class 2A semifinals for the second straight season facing Aurora Christian while Heyworth is in the quarterfinals for the first time in program history, taking on Clifton Central.
Morton hits the road to take on Mahomet-Seymour, who handed the Potters their only loss of the season in Week 1 and Normal West faces Wheaton Warrenville South, a member of a strong DuKane Conference.
Clutch Sports Media will be providing free live audio-only broadcasts of Normal Community vs. Brother Rice, Morton vs. Mahomet-Seymour and El Paso-Gridley vs. Aurora Christian on clutchsportsil.com. Kickoff of Morton’s game is set for 4 p.m. while Normal Community and El Paso-Gridley’s game begin at 5 p.m.
Six CSM staff members have made their picks and comments for who they think will win in Saturday’s games. Our broadcasters are ineligible to pick winners of the game they are broadcasting and will pick the winner of another game instead.
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