IHSA Top 50 Football

IHSA Top 50 Football

Top 50 IHSA Football Programs | 1974-2024

The IHSA will conduct the 50th edition of its Football Playoff State Series in 2024, culminating with the 50th State Championship games at Hancock Stadium in Normal on Friday & Saturday, November 29-30. To help commemorate the milestone, the IHSA compiled a committee of current and former high school football coaches, administrators, and media members to select the Top 50 Football Programs during the playoff era (1974 to 2024).

To see the Top 50 release schedule, what programs have been recognized so far, and read more about IHSA football history, see the tabs below...

#41
ALTHOFF CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | BELLEVILLE
Program Record Since 1974: 329-184
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 26
IHSA Playoff Record: 47-23
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 5/3
1980-4A: Althoff 10, DeKalb 7                                      12-1
1989-3A: Althoff 38, Princeton 7                                 13-1
1990-3A: Althoff 21, Rock Island Alleman 13            13-0
2012-2A: Mercer County 14, Althoff 7                        10-4
2015-4A: Chicago Phillips 51, Althoff 7                       13-1
State Final Coaches: Glenn Schott (1980, 1989, 1990), Ken Turner (2012, 2016)
Althoff Catholic: Due to changes in how the IHSA classified non-boundaried and private schools, Althoff has achieved the rare distinction of having played in every classification from Class 1A to 5A. Often playing larger schools, Althoff was moved up several classifications on a regular basis, especially when its enrollment number was based on the average enrollment of its opponents. Althoff claimed three state titles in an 11-year span, earning the program’s first crown in 1980 before going back-to-back in 1989 and 1990. In the 1980 4A final against DeKalb, Althoff’s Jeff Schulte recovered a third-quarter fumble to set up a 38-yard touchdown run by Mike Laney on a draw play up the middle. Jeff Junker, who’d made a 38-yard field goal earlier, converted the extra point to end the scoring of a 10-7 triumph. “We had talked about using that (draw) play all week,” Coach Glenn Schott told the media. “Mike did a heck of a job running it, especially getting by that last man.” The Crusaders closed the 1980s with another title, topping Princeton, 38-7, in 3A. Althoff’s 1989 regular season had included five 6A opponents, three 5A foes, and one 4A school. Explosive running back Hickey Thompson suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Althoff’s third game. “Any time you win, it’s great, but these guys overcame a lot for this title and they have a lot to be proud of,” said Schott, who watched Althoff erase a 7-6 deficit against Princeton by scoring 32 unanswered points. Da Rond Stovall led the Crusaders with 96 rushing yards. Keith Schwartz, who made a 35-yard field goal for Althoff, finished the season with 57 conversion kicks. Thompson returned in 1990 to gain a then-record 3,105 rushing yards, a total that has since slipped to seventh in state history. His efforts punctuated a 13-0 season that ended with a 21-13 win over Rock Island Alleman in 3A. Thompson gained 257 yards on a 3A title-game-record 41 carries. His two touchdowns gave him 41 for the season, tying the 15th most in state history. He might have had more, but he wasn’t needed in many blowouts. “He only played the fourth quarter in three ballgames,” Schott said. The Crusaders roared back in the 2000s, qualifying for the 5A playoffs six consecutive years before Schott turned the coaching reins over to Ken Turner, who took Althoff to title games in 2012 (2A) and 2015 (4A). Schott ended his 38-year tenure in 2007 with a 245-127-3 record. Among his final stars was Jason Ford, who ended the 2008 season with 6,417 career rushing yards, the eighth most in state history. 

The IHSA will release the Top 50 Football Programs on the corresponding dates below.

Learn more about the selection process here.

   #50:   August 13

   #49:   August 15

   #48:   August 20

   #47:   August 22

   #46:   August 27

   #45:   August 29

   #44:   September 3

   #43:   September 5

   #42:   September 10

   #41:   September 12

   #40:   September 17

   #39:   September 19

   #38:   September 24

   #37:   September 26

   #36:   October 1

   #35:   October 3

   #34:   October 8

   #33:   October 10

   #32:   October 15

   #31:   October 17

   #30:   October 22

   #29:   October 24

   #28:   October 25

   #27:   October 26

   #26:   October 26

   #25:   October 26

   #24:   October 29

   #23:   October 31

   #22:   November 1

   #21:   November 2

   #20:   November 5

   #19:   November 7

   #18:   November 8

   #17:   November 9

   #16:   November 11

   #15:   November 12

   #14:   November 13

   #13:   November 14

   #12:   November 18

   #11:   November 19

   #10:   November 20

   #9:     November 21

   #8:     November 22

   #7:     November 23

   #6:     November 25

   #5:     November 26

   #4:     November 27

   #3:     November 28

   #2:     November 29

   #1:     November 30

The following programs just missed the cut in making the list of the Top 50 IHSA Football programs from 1974-2024, but received votes from multiple committee members:

  • Alleman | Rock Island

  • Anna-Jonesboro

  • Aquin | Freeport

  • Aurora Christian

  • Belvidere

  • Bloomington

  • Bolingbrook

  • Calhoun | Hardin

  • Camp Point Central

  • Carlinville

  • Coal City

  • Dakota

  • Downers Grove South

  • Forreston

  • Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley

  • Glenbard North | Carol Stream

  • Hampshire

  • Harrisburg

  • Johnston City

  • Kaneland | Maple Park

  • LeRoy

  • Lexington

  • Lincoln-Way Central | New Lenox

  • Lockport Township

  • Marshall

  • Morgan Park | Chicago

  • Naperville North

  • Normal Community

  • Oswego

  • Prospect | Mt. Prospect

  • Richwoods | Peoria

  • Robeson | Chicago

  • Simeon | Chicago

  • St. Joseph-Ogden

  • St. Laurence | Burbank

  • Stevenson | Lincolnshire

  • Triopia | Concord

  • Tri-Valley | Downs

  • Washington

  • Williamsville

IHSA partner, Minerva Promotions, is offering exclusive IHSA Top 50 Football Program gear for the schools who have been selected. You can order gear here and see samples below...


CUSTOMISED BACK OF SHIRT BY PROGRAM



STANDARD FRONT OF SHIRT