High school football: Previewing and predicting the Class 8A state football playoffs

The Ramblers are still the heavy favorites to win the Class 8A state championship in Champaign.

Loyola’s Will Nimesheim (21) drags Mount Carmel’s Nicholas Jaujokas (4) across the goal to score.

Loyola’s loss to Mount Carmel on Saturday dropped the Ramblers to a No. 6 seed. Lincoln-Way East, York, Plainfield North and South Elgin are unbeaten, so slotted in before Loyola. But the Ramblers are still the heavy favorites to win the Class 8A state championship in Champaign.

Class 8A pairings

#32 Conant (5-4) at #1 Lincoln-Way East (9-0)
#17 Neuqua Valley (7-2) at #16 Lane (7-2)
#25 Stevenson (6-3) at #8 Warren (8-1)
#24 Andrew (6-3) at #9 Huntley (8-1)
#29 Belleville East (5-4) at #4 South Elgin (9-0)
#20 Bolingbrook (6-3) at #13 Maine South (7-2)
#28 Lockport (5-4) at #5 Glenbard West (8-1)
#21 Homewood-Flossmoor (6-3) at #12 Glenbrook South (8-1)

#31 Oswego East (5-4) at #2 York (9-0)
#18 Marist (6-3) at #15 Naperville North (7-2)
#26 Downers Grove South (6-3) at #7 Palatine (8-1)
#23 Minooka (6-3) at #10 Glenbard East (8-1)
#30 Rich (5-4) at #3 Plainfield North (9-0)
#19 Naperville Central (6-3) at #14 Lyons (7-2)
#27 Plainfield South (6-3) at #6 Loyola (8-1)
#22 Edwardsville (6-3) at #11 O’Fallon (8-1)

Class 8A Preview

Favorite: Loyola

Top Contender: Lincoln-Way East

Darkhorse/Bracket Buster: Bolingbrook

Best first round game: Bolingbrook at Maine South

Toughest path to title game: Glenbard West

Class 8A Predictions

First round

Lincoln-Way East defeats Conant

Neuqua Valley d. Lane

Warren d. Stevenson

Andrew d. Huntley