How did that football-shaped crystal ball work out?

Does a crystal ball shaped like a football actually work? Let’s find out.

Back in August we made three bold predictions for the 2025 IHSA football season. It was our second annual shot in the dark (the first shot wasn’t great), and a tradition we hope to continue.

Here’s a look at this season’s results.

Private conversation

In 2024 private schools won seven of the eight state football championships. The only game standing in the way of a clean sweep was an East St. Louis victory over Geneva in Class 6A.

The prediction in August? Private schools wouldn’t dominate to that extent this season.

The verdict? Mixed, trending toward wrong.

The theory was sound. Three of last year’s winners — DePaul Prep, Chicago Christian and Althoff Catholic — didn’t qualify for the playoffs this season. And if they had, they would’ve been bumped up to higher classes.

This year’s title game weekend (which stretched into Tuesday and Wednesday with the 5A through 8A games) started with three straight public school wins. Then came Montini’s impressive 4A win over Rochester.

And then an avalanche of private schools prevailed in the upper classes. Even without three-time champions Nazareth and Loyola in the final, they still rolled.

The big surprise came in 6A, where Fenwick stunned East St. Louis 38-28 in the final. There was another surprise earlier in the 8A quarterfinals when Mt. Carmel hammered Lincoln-Way East 48-7.

So five of the titles went to private schools, and they represented seven of the 10 finalist spots in the five biggest classes. Not quite the level of 2024, but still pretty dominant.

Flipping out

This prediction may be a work in progress, that a high-profile football recruit would flip commitments from one college to another.

The verdict? Spot on, but admittedly a mild prediction on the bold scale.

South Elgin senior tight end Gavin Mueller had been committed to Colorado since May but flipped to Miami (Florida) last month after taking an official visit to see what the Hurricanes were all about. He affirmed his commitment to Miami last week during the early signing period.

The spotlight now turns to the Class of 2027, which is incredibly talented in this area. Carmel quarterback Trae Taylor is already committed to Nebraska and Maine South quarterback Jameson Purcell to Indiana.

It’s wide open for other top recruits like Montini quarterback Israel Abrams, Libertyville tight end Brock Williams and Hinsdale Central lineman Tommy Riordan.

Take two

This prediction, a bit tongue in cheek, was a repeat from 2024 when we said Loyola wouldn’t three-peat in 8A. Oops.

The prediction in 2025 was Loyola wouldn’t four-peat. Or maybe Nazareth wouldn’t. Or maybe Mt. Carmel.

The verdict? Mixed, leaning toward a cop out.

Loyola was knocked out by Mt. Carmel and Nazareth by Fenwick, but Mt. Carmel cruised to a fourth straight title. The Caravan, by the way, will be favored to five-peat next year with a bunch of Power Four college-caliber talent returning.

That prediction won’t be a bold one.