2026 IHSA playoffs: Steve Soucie’s Class 5A playoff analysis and picks

Quarterfinal roundSycamore (8-4) vs. Wauconda (9-2): Sycamore survived the wildest game of the Round of 16 with its controversial win over Antioch and now will try to focus on beating its second consecutive opponent from the Northern Lake County. Wauconda lost to the same Antioch team Sycamore just got by, falling 21-0 in Week 9.Pick: SycamoreSt. Francis (7-5) vs. Cary-Grove (9-2): St. Francis is the lone team remaining in the field that would not have made the playoff field had the process involved just 256 teams instead of 384. To be fair, St. Francis’ play as of late looks nothing like that of a five-loss team. Cary-Grove uncharacteristically lost two of its first five games, but now the Trojans appear back to being the dynamic postseason team they typically are.Pick: St. FrancisMahomet-Seymour (11-0) vs. Morton (10-1): Mahomet-Seymour is aiming for the program’s 12th victory which would tie the school record for the best season ever in terms of victories along side the school’s 197