Countdown to prep football: Five of the area’s toughest schedules

You’ve got to beat the best to be the best, a cliche far too many high school football teams are taking to extremes in 2026.

Some of this season’s schedules are absolutely brutal, partly because of the expanded playoffs. The calendar pushed a week earlier and a scramble ensued to fill open dates, even if it meant tougher competition.

The Daily Herald’s countdown to prep football continues this week as we bring you insight related to the 2026 football campaign for teams, players and coaches throughout our coverage area. We’ll reach No. 1 on Aug. 21 — opening night for the bulk of the state.

So far we’ve listed 10 of the area’s top senior recruits, nine juniors to watch, eight quarterbacks on our radar, seven new head coaches and six stellar season openers.

Building on last week’s list of season openers, now we’ll break down five of the area’s toughest schedules.

Batavia

The Bulldogs boast perhaps the area’s top offense heading into the season, a unit led by Wyoming-bound quarterback Michael Vander Luitgaren. They’ll need every point with the schedule they’ve lined up.

Batavia switched out both nonconference games from last year, adding Maine South — which eyes a return to the Class 8A title game with quarterback and Indiana commit Jameson Purcell — and Rochester, a nine-time state champion that finished second in Class 4A last year.

Then it’s time for play in the DuKane Conference, one of the state’s deepest and toughest leagues.

Glenbard West

You can pretty much cut and paste the Hilltoppers into this list every season.

Glenbard West also swapped out its early nonconference games. The Hilltoppers face Lockport, an 8A semifinalist last season, and St. Rita, a 7A runner-up.

This is nothing new for a program that banks on success in the West Suburban Silver, even with heavy hitters like Downers Grove North, Hinsdale Central, Lyons Twp. and York awaiting.

Naperville North

It’s a new era for the Huskies, who shift to a schedule balanced between conference and nonconference games. Both halves will be challenging but especially the nonconference slate.

It starts with New Trier, Libertyville and Barrington — all playoff qualifiers in 2025 — and closes with East St. Louis in the regular-season finale. The Flyers are loaded again, and likely to be nationally ranked in the preseason.

In between is a typically strong DuPage Valley Conference string of games.

Neuqua Valley

The Wildcats, like DVC mate Naperville North, filled a chunk of their schedule with tough nonconference games.

Three 2025 playoff teams start it out, including Class 8A finalist Oswego, Minooka and Hersey. Another returning postseason team, Normal Community, awaits in Week 7.

Wins won’t be easy to find in a schedule that includes District 204 rivals Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley, and crosstown opponents Naperville North and Naperville Central.

Warren

The toughness of the Blue Devils’ schedule depends on the strength of the North Suburban Conference, typically topped by themselves, Lake Zurich, Libertyville and Stevenson.

If the NSC is strong, it’ll make the early nonconference games against powerhouses Loyola and Maine South even more important. It’s possible those teams will vie for the Class 8A title Thanksgiving weekend.