Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Kickoff for the 2026 high school football season is Friday night, and it’s just one of the big events occurring in Springfield’s north end. Among the District 186 high schools, only Springfield High is home, playing Cahokia.

As well as the Illinois State Fair, the Women’s Pro Baseball League season continues at Robin Roberts Stadium. “Spectator parking: Lanphier High School, Converse Street lot, Memorial Stadium lot along North Grand Avenue, this area will be barricaded from the WPBL,” said District 186 superintendent Terrance Jordan, “so the Women’s Professional Baseball League, they’re going to have their own parking, and were going to have our own.”

Jordan said because of metal detectors, you’ll get into the stadium faster if you leave your bags at home.

Decatur’s Eisenhower High School is sitting out this football season, creating a hole in the schedules of each of its opponents. District 186 director of school support Chris Barham told the school board this week Lanphier has a tentative agreement with Vandalia for its homecoming weekend, while Southeast – particularly because the opening is so close to the playoffs – may just take the weekend off, winning by forfeit.