2026 Illinois Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings

State champion Chicago Mt. Carmel (Chicago) enters 2026 as the top-ranked team in the MaxPreps preseason top 25 for Illinois. The Caravan defeated Oswego 20-3 to capture the IHSA state championship. Four-star senior linebacker Roman Igwebuike returns after helping the squad go undefeated. Other players to watch from the Prairie State this season include five-star seniors David Folorunsho of St. Patrick (Chicago) and Israel Abrams of Montini Catholic (Lombard) . 2. East St. Louis , 9-4 3. Brother Rice (Chicago) , 13-1 4. Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park) , 11-2 5. Loyola Academy (Wilmette) , 4-5 6. Montini Catholic (Lombard) ,...