WRMJ Sports

On Sportsline this week, Ty Taylor and Jim Taylor open the show discussing the IHSA football quarterfinals and reacting to the news of two more schools planning on dropping to 8-man football next year (Dwight and Arcola) before previewing the local girls basketball season.Later in the program, Ty talks with Sherrard girls basketball coach Doug Swanson (46:08), Rockridge girls basketball coach Kyle Chandler (59:45), Mercer County girls basketball coach Brandon Hofmann (1:10:55), and Riverdale girls basketball coach Jay Hatch (1:26:01).

On Sportsline this week, Ty Taylor and Jim Taylor open the show by recapping the first round of the IHSA football playoffs, which featured only one TRAC team (Newman advances). Then, they dive into some of the notable by-law amendment proposals that were brought forward by IHSA member schools earlier in the week.Then, Ty talks with Shelbyville High School Football Coach Bill Duckett. The Rams are the only 2-7 playoff qualifier still alive and are hosting a 2A second round game against Flora this week. Shelbyville picked up a forfeit win and didn't win a game on the field until Week 9 this season (1:09:58).

On Sportsline this week, Ty Taylor and Jim Taylor open the show discussing Quincy's historic 88-84 win over Goode in the 6A playoffs on Friday, before diving into a preview of Orion-Stockton and Rockridge-Newman.Then, Camp Point Central Football Coach and Athletic Director Brad Dixon joins the show to discuss the by-law amendement that he has helped submit that aims to undo the expanded IHSA playoff field and return the postseason to its previous format of 256 qualifiers for next season (38:54).Ty and Jim close the show by touching on Orion and Riverdale winning volleyball regional championships and Mercer County's season, where the Golden Eagles set a new school record for single-season wins, ending in a regional championship loss to Kewanee during the week. (1:17:26)

WRMJ's play-by-play broadcast of Orion's 21-20 win over LeRoy in the Opening Round of the 2026 IHSA Class 1A Football Playoffs on Oct. 24, 2026*Rebroadcast excludes pre-game coverage

On Sportsline this week, Ty Taylor and Jim Taylor open the show by reacting to this week's news that the IHSA's competitive balance committee is recommending a policy change to create separate paths in the state series for team-bracketed sports, ensuring that only one non-boundaried school can advance to the semifinal round. Then, they discuss the opening round of the football playoffs.IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson joins the program to discuss several topics surrounding the upcoming IHSA legislative session, which runs through December. He covers the separate public/private school postseason path idea, a by-law proposal that aims to return to the previous IHSA football playoff model of 256 qualifiers, potential changes to transfer eligibility, and more (37:47). Ty and Jim close the show with reaction to the confirmation that a by-law amendment has been submitted to return to the previous postseason football model. (1:15:17)

WRMJ's 35th annual Pigskin Playoff Preview Guests on the show:Rockridge head coach Sam GravesRiverdale head coach Guy DierikxOrion head coach Matt McCleanEl Paso-Gridley head coach Tanner BenedictFulton head coach Patrick Lower

On Sportsline this week, Ty Taylor and Jim Taylor open the show with a recap of Week 9 around the TRAC and discuss what it impact the results could have on the playoff fied.Then, Friday Night Drive's Steve Soucie joins the show to dive into the latest small school projections, Rockridge's likelihood of being in the 1A field, Mercer County's chances to qualify for the postseason with two wins, the strength of the northern bracket in 2A, if the expanded playoff system will still be in place next year, and more (36:53).Ty and Jim close the program with a rundown of the results from the state-ranked teams in Week 9 and look ahead to Saturday night's WRMJ Pigskin Playoff Preview, which is live at 8 p.m.

***Note: Due to a technical issue, portions of this week's Sportsline program, which airs live at 9 a.m. each week, were corrupted and could not be recovered for upload to our podcast. Our live interview with Mercer County head coach Fred Lucas and our closing segment, presented by Boswell Construction, with a rundown of results from the state-ranked teams were unfortunately wiped out. We apologize for any disappointment in not being able to hear the rebroadcast of those two features this week.On Sportsline this week, Ty Taylor and Jim Taylor open the show recapping a consequential Week 8 in the TRAC, before being joined by Orion head coach Matt McClean (35:50), Rockridge head coach Sam Graves (50:34), and Riverdale head coach Guy Dierikx (1:06:56).

On Sportsline this week, Ty Taylor and Jim Taylor open the show recapping the Friday night portion of the Week 7 TRAC Schedule and briefly preview Saturday afternoon's matchup between Riverdale and Newman.Mercer County head coach Fred Lucas (29:03), Orion head coach Matt McClean (49:32), and Rockridge head coach Sam Graves (1:04:35) join the program to recap their Week 7 results.Ty and Jim close the show by taking a deeper look into what the newly expanded IHSA football playoff field could look like in a couple of weeks, if it will still be in place next year, and run down the state ranked scores from 1A-3A (1:22:56).

On Sportsline this week, Ty Taylor and Jim Taylor open the show recapping Week 6 of the high school football season in the TRAC.Then, Mercer County head coach Fred Lucas, Rockridge head coach Sam Graves, and Kewanee head coach Matt Taylor join the show.Ty and Jim close the show looking at the final scores from the 1A-3A state-ranked teams and look ahead to Saturday afternoon's matchup between Orion and Newman.