(WSIL) � A longstanding IHSA tradition gets a new home, and a new twist, as the IHSA prepares to unveil its 2019 IHSA Football Playoff Pairings on Saturday, October 26.
The IHSA Football Playoff Pairing Show, which will reveal the brackets and first round match-ups of all 256 playoff qualifiers across eight classes, will air live 8-9 p.m. Saturday on statewide television via the IHSA’s with Quincy Media Inc.
“High school football in Illinois is appointment viewing and the IHSA Football Playoff Pairings show tees off the championship season,� said Quincy Media Regional Vice President Jim McKernan. “Quincy Media is proud to bring this important show to Illinois viewers and fans of the best high school football in the land!�
“October 26 has been circled on the calendars of high school football players, coaches and fans since August,� said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “We are excited to be partnering with Quincy Media on the annual playoff pairing show. Releasing the pairings through this show has become a special tradition, and thanks to the amazing TV network Quincy Media has put together, we are confident more fans in Illinois will be able to find it than ever before.�
HOW TO WATCH
IHSA FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PAIRING SHOWÌý
8 p.m. Saturday, October 26
H&I (Heroes & Icons)
- Antenna: Channel 3.2
- Mediacom: Channel 125
- Charter/Spectrum: Channel 171
- Comcast: Channel 236 or 1191
- Ballard: Channel 11Ìý
Online: NFHS Network via
IHSA TV veteran Dave Bernhard will join WGEM-TV Sports Director Tony Cornish, Jr., and WEEK-TV Sports Director Jim Mattson to reveal and react to the first round matchups in what has become one of the most anticipated nights of the high school football season.
Adding to the tradition, the Chicago Bears and the IHSA will partner to offer viewers a new playoff pairings night experience, streaming a pre and post pairings reveal show on the NFHS Network at .
The IHSA Playoff Pairing Preview Show and IHSA Playoff Pairing Breakdown Show will feature WRMJ’s Jim Taylor, Illinois prep football guru “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran of , and the state’s resident high school football bracketologist Steve Soucie of Friday Night Drive. The IHSA Playoff Pairing Preview Show will stream on from 7:30-8:00 p.m., before returning with the IHSA Playoff Pairing Breakdown Show on from 9:00-10:00 p.m.
“Every pairings night seems to write its own story,� said Soucie, who also serves as the Sports Editor of Joliet Herald News. “From the playoff point cutoff to seeing what class perennial power East St. Louis lands in, we will be discussing all the top storylines. It will be a relaxed atmosphere with three football fans talking about what we know. We are going to have fun with it and think the audience will as well.�
Fans and teams are encouraged to use the hashtag #IHSAPairings throughout the evening on social media to interact with both shows, ask questions and share pictures from team watch parties.
First Round IHSA Football Playoff games will unfold on Friday and Saturday, November 1-2, beginning the drive toward the State Championship games at DeKalb. Northern Illinois University will host the State Championship games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb on Friday, November 29 (1A-4A) and Saturday, November 30 (5A-8A).
OCTOBER 26 FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PAIRING NIGHT SCHEDULE
7:30 PM � 8:00 PM
IHSA Playoff Pairing Preview Show begins on
Hosted by Tim O’Halloran, Steve Soucie & Jim Taylor
8:00 PM � 9:00 PM
Eight playoff classes revealed on statewide TV (see channels above)
Hosted by Dave Bernhard, Tony Cornish Jr., & Jim Mattson
9:00 PM � 10:00 PM
IHSA Playoff Pairing Breakdown Show begins on
Hosted by Tim O’Halloran, Steve Soucie & Jim Taylor
