With three-time 7A State Champion Mount Carmel moving up to Class 8A, there's plenty of team chomping at the bit for a chance to be the new team hoisting the state championship hardware. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 7A Playoffs.

Here are previews and picks for IHSA first-round playoff games for teams from the Suburban Life coverage area.

Can anyone prevent a collision course game between East St. Louis and Nazareth in the state championship? A lot of teams would like to think so. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 6A Playoffs.

Here are first-round playoff breakdowns for teams from the Suburban Life coverage area.

Gallery

Here are Tony Gadomski's photos from Friday's game between Riverside-Brookfield and Glenbard East.

Glenbard East junior kicker Moises Velazquez nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Rams a thrilling 45-43 victory over Riverside-Brookfield and their second consecutive Upstate Eight East title.

After playing free safety and slot receiver last season, Riverside-Brookfield senior Warren Mason is primarily a defensive player this season. He's one of the players that's helped lead the 7-0 Bulldogs to their best start since 2001. That, plus notes on Lemont and more.

Riverside-Brookfield's Bryan Rimpila delivered a massive hit on a squib kick in which the Bulldogs recovered and went on to score the go-ahead TD for a 21-17 comeback win over Glenbard South on Friday night to stay unbeaten.

Jackson Failla had to do a lot of research in the offseason to prepare for his senior year after his family moved from Pennsylvania to the Chicago area. But the Nazareth quarterback is fitting in seamlessly, throwing six touchdowns in his first start at Joliet Catholic.