Another year, another challenging schedule for the IC Catholic Prep football team.
Coach Bill Krefft’s squad, which went 8-4 last year and advanced to the Class 3A state quarterfinals, will square off against a schedule loaded with teams from the Chicago Catholic League. ICCP will face three teams that reached a state semifinal contest last year.
The Knights open 2026 action at home on Friday, Aug. 21 (7:30 p.m. kickoff) against Nazareth Academy out of La Grange Park. Nazareth, a Class 6A school, went 11-2 last season (state semifinals) and is coached by former Addison Driscoll Catholic head coach Tim Racki. Nazareth won last year’s meeting 24-21.
ICCP then heads to Bloomington in Week 2 for a neutral site game at Illinois Wesleyan University against St. Mary’s Southside Catholic from St. Louis. Game time is 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28 at Illinois Wesleyan. St. Mary’s went 9-4 last season and reached the Missouri Class 4 state semifinals. ICCP won last year’s meeting against St. Mary’s by a 33-7 count.
In Week 3 on Friday, Sept. 4, ICCP heads to Chicago to face St. Ignatius College Prep (7 p.m. kickoff) before opening Chicago Catholic League White Division action against Chicago DePaul College Prep at home on Friday, Sept. 11 (7:30 p.m. kickoff). Ignatius went 2-7 last season, while DePaul posted a 3-6 mark a year ago. The Knights downed Ignatius 33-12 in Week 3 last year.
The Knights host Chicago Leo (3-6 a year ago) on Friday, Sept. 18 (7:30 p.m.) before heading to Burbank on Friday, Sept. 25 to square off against St. Laurence in another CCL White game (7:30 p.m. kickoff). St. Laurence went 8-5 last year and reached the state semifinals.
ICCP then heads to Lisle on Friday, Oct. 2 to face Benet Academy (7:30 p.m.) before hosting Wilmette Loyola Academy, a Class 8A school, on Friday, Oct. 9 (7:30 p.m. start). Benet went 3-6 last year. Loyola went 4-5 in 2025.
The Knights close out the regular season at home on Friday, Oct. 16 against Joliet Catholic Academy in their final CCL White game (7:30 p.m. start). JCA went 4-6 last year and qualified for the Class 6A state playoffs, losing in the first round.
ICCP plays only two schools with IHSA-adjusted enrollments less than 1,000 students (Chicago Leon and Joliet Catholic). The Knights play four schools with adjusted enrollments of more than 1,900 and three with adjusted enrollments of 2,000-plus (St. Ignatius, DePaul Prep and Loyola Academy). Loyola has an adjusted IHSA enrollment of 3,143. ICCP IHSA-adjusted enrollment is 457.
2026 IC Catholic Prep football schedule
Date Opponent Time
Friday, Aug. 21 Nazareth Academy (Home) 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 28 St. Mary’s Southside (Away) 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 4 St. Ignatius (Away) 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 11 DePaul Prep (Home) 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 18 Chicago Leo (Home) 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 25 St. Laurence (Away) 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 2 Benet Academy (Away) 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 9 Loyola Academy (Home) 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 16 Joliet Catholic Academy (Home) 7:30 p.m.
