The Illinois High School Association expanded its football in 2026, giving more programs a chance to compete for a state championship. The first round delivered a mixed verdict: More teams earned a postseason berth, but higher seeds largely controlled the results.

But did expanding the postseason make the playoffs better?

The first night of competition offered a mixed answer.

Higher-seeded teams won 59 of the 74 completed first-round games, while lower seeds pulled off 15 upsets. The average margin of victory was 17.5 points, suggesting a sizable competitive gap in many matchups.

Teams with just two or three regular-season victories struggled considerably, although a handful of underdogs nearly delivered memorable upsets.

The expanded field undoubtedly created more postseason opportunities.…