The 2025 high school football season has arrived in Illinois. Practices began on Monday, Aug. 11 and games kick off Friday, Aug. 29 across the Peoria area.
The Journal Star’s preseason coverage of the high school season includes complete schedules, lists of the top players at multiple positions, new coaches and so much more.
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Here’s a compilation of our coverage for 2025:
Best high school football players around Peoria
Journal Star reporter Adam Duvall selected the top players in the Peoria area with our second annual Dandy Dozen. He also broke down the top players in five positional categories: Linemen, defenders, receivers, running backs and quarterbacks. Here are links to each of the lists, for subscribers only.
Practice makes perfect
The first day of high school football practice in Illinois was Monday, Aug. 11. Adam Duvall took a spin around central Illinois to talk to players and coaches at Peoria High, Metamora and Limestone. Here are questions ahead of the 2025 season, our coverage of the first day and offseason stories.
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Who’s playing in Peoria?
We have every game for you, plus a few highlights we spotlighted for you. Week 1 is Aug. 29, with playoff pairings set on Oct. 25 — and the first postseason games in the first weekend of November. When it comes to filling your Friday night calendar, we have you covered.
Alabama football recruit Mack Sutter
Dunlap senior Mack Sutter has been a story off of his own the last couple years, attracting offers from nearly every NCAA Division-I power program before committing to Alabama in the offseason. Here is a look at our recent stories about the Class of 2026 tight end:
COMING SOON: Team previews around Peoria
We will be predicting and previewing the Peoria teams in the Big 12 Conference, along with all eight teams the Mid-Illini Conference. We’re also looking at new coaches, ranking each team and picking the programs with the best shot at a state title.
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Pigskin in Peoria: Predicting how the city’s 4 teams will finish in the Big 12 Conference
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Team-by-team look: Predicting the Mid-Illini Conference
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Peoria’s new faces: Here are the new head coaches in Peoria-area high school football
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Power rankings: We rank every team in the Peoria area
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Title hunting:Peoria-area football teams with the best shot at winning a state title
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Week 1 picks: We predict every game around Peoria
COMING SOON: Around the state ahead of 2025
From returning all-state players and the top teams across Illinois, here are news and notes from the IHSA football offseason.
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All-staters: The returning Illinois high schoool players who made all-state last season. Here is the list
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Massey ratings: Ranking the best high school football teams around the U.S., Illinois and Peoria
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IHSA champs: We pick all eight of the Illinois state champs
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois high school football: Peoria’s ultimate fan guide