Illinois High School Association member schools have approved all 12 proposed by-law amendments following the conclusion of the annual all-school referendum, IHSA officials announced Tuesday.
Voting wrapped up Monday, with results independently certified on Tuesday. More than 90 percent of the IHSA’s 802 member high schools participated in the process.
One of the most significant changes impacts high school football. Beginning with the 2026 season, the IHSA football playoffs will expand from 32 teams per class to 48 teams per class. With eight classifications remaining, the total number of playoff teams statewide will grow from 256 to 384.
While the football practice start date will remain the same, the regular season will begin one week earlier. This change eliminates the traditional Week Zero scrimmage, with the first regular-season games scheduled for August 20, 2026.
Member schools also approved several governance and eligibility changes. Among them is a restriction preventing cooperative athletic teams with a combined enrollment exceeding 3,500 students from competing for IHSA State Series team championships.
Additional amendments adjusted start dates for several sports, including football, softball, boys volleyball, and girls wrestling, with most changes taking effect during the 2026 or 2027 seasons. Under the new rules, softball practices may begin as early as February 23, 2026, with games starting March 9.
Another approved proposal establishes a video review process for certain ejections in tackle football involving flagrant contact.
The IHSA released a full breakdown of vote totals for each proposal following certification of the results. You can check out the vote totals on the IHSA website.