Riverdale, Johnston City Lead Top Picks in 2026 IHSA Class 2A Playoffs

Port Byron Riverdale is selected to defeat Eastland-Pearl City in the 2026 IHSA Class 2A Round of 32. The 9-0 Riverdale team seeks its first playoff victory since 2001, a milestone that contrasts with its winless seasons in 2022 and 2023. Eastland-Pearl City enters with a 5-5 record, having faced tough competition in the NUIC Conference and utilized running clocks in its first-round win.

Peotone is picked to beat Illini West 8-2. The Illini West offense struggled in its two losses, scoring only eight points combined. Peotone, which has scored at least 40 points in five of its last six games, relies on a rugged running style to advance. Tri-Valley is also favored to defeat Bismarck-Henning, with the Vikings holding an 8-1 record against the Blue Devils' 6-4 mark.

Bismarck-Henning scored 170 points over its final four weeks of regular-season play. Tri-Valley’s only loss came to El-Paso Gridley. In the next matchup, Wilmington is expected to edge Farmington. Both teams entered the postseason after rare regular-season losses, with Wilmington falling to Coal City and Farmington facing an unorthodox schedule that limited its offensive output.

El Paso-Gridley, which is 9-0, is projected to beat Stillman Valley. The Titans earned a first-round bye following a forfeit win in Week 9. Stillman Valley advanced narrowly against Reed-Custer in the waning seconds of its opening-round game. Erie-Prophetstown is picked to defeat Warrensburg-Latham, seeking its first postseason win since 2021. The Panthers started the season 5-0, while the Cardinals were shut out in their final two regular-season games.

Aurora Christian is expected to beat Winnebago, with the Indians entering the game after back-to-back 42-point victories. Winnebago improved after starting the season 1-4. Maroa-Forsyth is favored over Oregon, which managed an opening-round win over Westville despite a two-game slide into the playoffs. Maroa-Forsyth is playing out of the north side of the bracket, a different geographic slot than usual.

Johnston City is selected to defeat Carlinville, with the 9-0 Cavaliers allowing no opponent to score more than 19 points. Carlinville has both scored and allowed more than 300 points this season. Newton is picked to beat Chester, a team that lost to Paris by two points in Week 1. Newton defeated Paris by six points in Week 6. Nashville is also favored over DuQuoin, having won their Week 7 meeting by 42-19.

Vandalia is expected to beat Hamilton County, which allowed 31 points in its first six games before allowing nearly three times that amount in its final three losses. West Frankfort is picked to defeat St. Teresa, an independent that played a schedule of teams with at least four wins each. Red Bud is selected to beat Auburn, which scored 150 points in its final three regular-season games. Flora is favored over Moweaqua Central A&M, whose defense allowed only 21 points across its four losses.

Pana is picked to beat Shelbyville, which became a poster child for the new playoff system by entering the field as a 1-7 team and winning its opening-round game despite a 2-7 record. Pana has won its last six games after starting 1-2.