BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (KWQC) – The IHSA football playoffs will be expanding by 50 percent in 2026.

IHSA member schools approved an amendment to expand the playoffs from 32 teams per class to 48.

There will still be 8 classifications increasing the total number of playoff teams from 256 to 384.

As a result of the change, the start of the season will be moved up by a week in August to allow the season to still finish with State Championship games the week of Thanksgiving.

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PRINCETON, Ill. (WMTV) – The Illinois State Patrol is investigating a death after officials found a suspect’s vehicle wanted in connection to a Wisconsin homicide, Illinois State Police reported.

Just before 10 p.m. on December 10, ISP troopers and several other agencies attempted to pull a vehicle over in Princeton, Illinois, that was wanted in a Rock County homicide.

Officials did not specify which Rock Co. case this incident is connected to.

Princeton is about an hour and 45 minutes away from Rock County, Wisconsin.

After the driver did not pull over, police chased the vehicle into the Great Sauk Trail Rest Area on I-80 westbound.

When officers went up to the vehicle, authorities stated the driver was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Authorities did not identify the driver.

ISP is working with the Bureau County State’s Attorney’s Office in this investigation.

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