All four Glenbard football programs sit at 5-2 with two regular-season games left, and every one of them is chasing a first-round bye or home game in the expanded IHSA playoffs.
The 2026 postseason field grew to 384 teams this year, 48 per class, with the top 16 seeds in each class earning first-round byes. Shaw Local's Steve Soucie has projected that all teams with three or more wins are a virtual lock for the postseason. That puts every Glenbard school in the field.
Here is where each program stands.
Glenbard West (5-2, 35 playoff points)
The Hilltoppers, ranked No. 16 in the Sports Illustrated Illinois Top 25 as of Monday, Oct. 5, host York on Saturday, Oct. 10. Soucie projects Glenbard West near the Class 7A/8A dividing line. Northwestern commit Brady Johnson and quarterback AJ Rayford lead an offense that beat Hinsdale Central 42-24 in Week 7.
York (4-3, 36 playoff points) arrives after an 18-17 overtime upset of previously undefeated Downers Grove North on Oct. 3. A Glenbard West win Saturday would strengthen the Hilltoppers' case for a first-round bye. They close the regular season against Proviso West in Week 9.
Glenbard East (5-2, 34 playoff points)
The Rams have won five straight after opening 0-2. They travel to Riverside-Brookfield on Friday, Oct. 9, in a game expected to decide the Upstate Eight East title.
Riverside-Brookfield (6-1) has won six consecutive games since a Week 1 loss to Class 8A Sandburg. Quarterback Braeden Novak leads the Bulldogs. Glenbard East wraps up the regular season with a conference crossover game against South Elgin in Week 9 and is positioned to lock in a first-round bye in Class 7A with two more wins.
Glenbard South (5-2, 25 playoff points)
The Raiders will extend their playoff streak to 15 consecutive appearances this fall. Quarterback Tommy Bauman and Glenbard South travel to West Aurora (4-3) on Friday, Oct. 9, before hosting Riverside-Brookfield (6-1) in Week 9.
Glenbard South is projected in the Class 5A bracket, where two wins down the stretch could secure a first-round home game or even a bye. The Raiders shut out Elmwood Park 41-0 in Week 7.
Glenbard North (5-2, 30 playoff points)
The Panthers have secured a playoff spot after back-to-back losing seasons. Senior running back Angelo Gatses rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown in a Week 6 win over Lake Park, and junior quarterback Logan Kramer has thrown for 739 yards and six touchdowns against two interceptions this season.
Glenbard North plays at Wheaton North (5-2) in Week 9. The Panthers fell to Geneva 62-35 on Oct. 3.
Week 8 schedule
- Glenbard West vs. York, Saturday, Oct. 10
- Glenbard East at Riverside-Brookfield, Friday, Oct. 9
- Glenbard South at West Aurora, Friday, Oct. 9
- Glenbard North — Week 9 vs. Wheaton North
