Illinois high school cancels varsity football season weeks before kickoff – USA Today

• Eisenhower High School in Decatur, Illinois, has canceled its 2026 varsity football season.
• Opponents scheduled to play Eisenhower can either accept a forfeit win or find a new opponent.

Eisenhower High School (Decatur, Illinois) is cancelling its 2026 high school varsity football season, just two weeks ahead of the season opener.

Week 1 of the 2026 Illinois High School football season is scheduled to open on Aug. 20. While Eisenhower will not play a varsity schedule, it will continue to field a junior varsity team.

The school announced the cancellation of the season in a Facebook post on Monday, Aug. 11.

“Eisenhower High School Announces 2026 Football Program Update:

“Decatur Public Schools #61 announces that Eisenhower High School will not field a varsity football team for the 2026 season due to low participation numbers and a concern for student safety.

“The school’s junior varsity football program will continue as scheduled, providing student-athletes with the opportunity to participate and develop within the program.

“The school has notified the Illinois High School Association, scheduled opponents, student-athletes, families, and coaching staff of this decision.”

The Panthers finished the 2025 season with a 1-8 record, which included a 27-21 win over Lanphier in week eight. It was the fifth straight season with a 1-8 record for the program, which follows up a pair of 0-9 seasons the two years prior.

Eisenhower’s opponents for the 2026 season included: MacArthur, Lincoln, Southeast, Lanphier, Mascoutah, Mt. Zion, Rochester, U-High and Glenwood.

According to IHSA Associate Executive Director Matt Troha, Eisenhower’s opponents will have two options:

• Accept a forfeit win and not play a Varsity game that week
• Schedule a different opponent and take the result of what happens on the field vs. the new opponent

“In most cases, it is too late, but there are a few teams out there that only have eight games on the schedule, so it’s possible that a few add games, but unlikely they all do,” Troha said via email to USA TODAY Sports.

“In recent years, we have also had some teams choose to double-up and play a conference team twice. So, they could choose to do that within their league as well.”