ISU Prepares to Host IHSA Football State Championships
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BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, Ill. — The road to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Football State Championships once again leads to Hancock Stadium. The playoffs kick off tonight, and over the next five weeks, teams from across Illinois will compete for a chance to play at Illinois State University.
Last year, ISU hosted the championships for the first time since 1998, beginning a five-year partnership with the IHSA. Hosting means ISU’s football team gives up the chance to play a home playoff game in the first round, but Head Coach Brock Spack and ISU Athletics say it is a sacrifice worth making.
“When the bid came back out a couple years ago, Coach Spack pushed hard,” said Associate Athletic Director Mike Williams. “They asked several times, ‘Hey coach, you understand this could happen, right?’ and he didn’t care.”
Benefits Beyond the Game
Williams said hosting the championships provides valuable recruiting exposure for both athletics and academics.
“It’s not just football,” Williams said. “Any time you can bring a state championship to your campus and show off what your athletic department and your community are all about, it’s a win for everyone.”
Boosting the Local Economy
The event also brings a strong economic boost to Bloomington-Normal.
“It brings in so much economic impact on those weekends—hotels, restaurants, shopping—everything benefits from it,” Williams added.
The 2025 IHSA State Championships will take place Friday, November 28 for Classes 1A through 4A, and Saturday, November 29 for Classes 5A through 8A.
From Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium, Riley Ward, TV-10 News.
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