The IHSA football playoffs are in the books — and once again, the private schools, particularly those from the Chicago Catholic League, dominated the state stage. Five of the eight state champions came from the CCL programs. Thatsuccess has reignited one of the oldest and most divisive debates in Illinois high school athletics: Should public and private schools compete in the same postseason?

We unpack what’s driving this renewed controversy, explore proposals that have been floated to “level the playing field” — from complete separation, to expanded multipliers, to open enrollment and more and talk about what it all means for athletes, schools, and the future of competition in our state.

Our final Prognosticus episode of the 2025 season. It’s the biggest weekend of the year — the IHSA State Championships are here, and we’ve got wall-to-wall coverage of everytitle matchup featuring our Chicago Catholic League football powerhouses.

In this episode, Joe and Dan recap the thrilling CCL IHSA semi-final high school football games, highlighting standout performances, surprising outcomes, and the challenges faced by teams in the Chicago Catholic League. They discuss the dominance of teams while also analyzing the strategic decisions made by coaches during critical moments. The conversation culminates in a preview of the upcoming state championship games.

Coach Mike Passarella from DePaul Prep joins us in this episode and helps us preview and predict the Chicago Catholic League football semi finals playoff games.

In this episode we recap another big weekend across the Illinois high school football scene— breaking down the storylines, standout performances, and defining moments that shaped the action for the Chicago Catholic League and the playoffs Quarterfinals. Whether it’s playoff football, postseason pushes, or rivalry matchups that lived up to the hype, we’ve got it all covered — with insights, analysis, and a little bit of that Chicago Catholic League flavor that makes THE Varsity Voices what it is.

Welcome to another playoff edition of THE Varsity Voices: Chicago Catholic League Sports Talk. In this episode we break down an unforgettable weekend of second-round action in the IHSA football playoffs — where the Chicago Catholic League once again proved it belongs among the state’s elite.

These games had everything — grit, big plays, and playoff pressure at its finest. We recap the highlights, the heroes, and the turning points that defined each game and once again show why the Chicago Catholic League is the premier football conference in the State.

In this episode we break down every matchup, every storyline, and every prediction and this week, it’sall about the Chicago Catholic League’s march through the postseason and all looking to punch their ticket to the next round. We’ve got ranked battles, classic rivalries, and underdog stories all colliding this weekend so buckle up — we’re breaking down each game with insight, analysis,and those all-important Prognosticus Predictions that make Friday nights and the playoffs so special.

In this episode we’re diving into the opening round of the IHSA state playoffs. The road to Champaign has officially begun, and the Chicago Catholic League made its presence felt in a big way. We’ll break down the key moments, the standout performances, and what these results mean moving forward as the field narrows and the competition ramps up. So buckle in— we’ve got playoff football to talk about, and THE Varsity Voices is ready to break it all down!