High school football is so close, the smell of those delicious pork chops grows by the hour.

Monday marks the opening of Illinois High School Association football practice across the state, meaning Week 1 games are set to kick off in 17 days. On Oct. 26, the eight-class, 256-team field will be announced for the 2024 edition of the football playoffs.

Here are 24 questions and answers to consider ahead of the 2024 season.

1. What's on the slate for Week 1?

Opening night should be a whirlwind. Two games are being played in Peoria. Champaign Centennial visits Peoria High, while Normal Community comes to Richwoods. Manual will play on the state championship field, visiting Normal U-High at Hancock Stadium. Peoria Notre Dame also will be in Normal, taking on Normal West. Five Mid-Illini Conference teams host games highlighted by Washington welcoming Maple Park Kaneland and Dunlap bringing in Galesburg. Farmington (vs. Illini West), Deer Creek-Mackinaw (vs. Warsaw West Hancock) and Tremont (vs. Seneca) are some of the area schools opening at home.

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2. Who is the favorite to the win the Mid-Illini Conference?

That's a tough call. Reigning undefeated league champ Washington, which has new coach Todd Stevens patrolling the sidelines, is a slight favorite based on last season's success. Morton only suffered one loss and returns a lot of experience on both sides of the ball. Dunlap, however, might be the team to beat, returning its quarterback, running back and top two targets. The Eagles end their season with Washington, Morton and Metamora in successive weeks.

3. What are the rules of the so-called 'Week 0' scrimmages?

New for 2024 is the preseason scrimmage rule, or "Week 0." The IHSA member schools voted to allow scrimmages against an opposing school a week prior to the season beginning. Those scrimmage rules include IHSA officials participation, four separate 12-play segments, no special teams and a 48-play limit among other stipulations. Several area schools are taking advantage of this newly implemented practice game on Aug. 23.

4. Who is Peoria High's Breon Green?

Green is the heir apparent to the Lions quarterback job. Football fans will be hearing more and more about the 5-foot-9, 165-pound junior this season. He steps in for graduating Tino Gist, who was one of the program's all-time best passers. Fully expect to see lots and lots of highlights of this dual-threat QB, who was called a "dynamic athlete, that's scary" by new head coach Aaron Montgomery.

5. Will Richwoods make the playoffs?

Call it a 50-50 chance for the Knights going to the postseason. Richwoods last made the playoffs in 2017, going 7-5 and making a run to the Class 5A quarterfinals. The Knights, who won three on-the-field games last season, ride a bit of momentum by winning two of their last three to end 2023. Richwoods has two very dynamic players, one on each side of the ball, with linebacker Sean Glover and wide receiver Amari Johnson.

6. Who are the Peoria area's best running backs?

Ten of the Peoria area's top running backs to watch were released earlier this month. Half of those backs have a great chance to be the area's leading rusher this season. Seandon Buffington (Morton), Jaiduan Cranford (Metamora), Jack Hanley (Peoria Notre Dame), Jackson Oldham (Dunlap) and Zeb Rashid (Annawan/Wethersfield) will likely be battling it out for rushing supremacy.

7. How's Manual going to be this season?

The Rams don't have an easy schedule. Manual has a front-loaded slate with Normal U-High, Richwoods, Bloomington, Peoria High, Normal Community and Peoria Notre Dame in its first six weeks. Not worry, though, coach Dennis Bailey will the Rams ready to compete. Look for quarterback Amare Breedlove, cornerback Kyren Campbell, athlete Tyree Porter ATH and lineman Darren McClendon to make an impact.

8. Will Peoria Notre Dame play at Dozer Park again?

Yes. The Irish are back for their eighth-annual "Shamrock Classic" game at the Peoria Chiefs minor league baseball field. PND has played at Dozer Park since 2015, going 6-2 including last season's 53-21 win over Champaign Central. In 2024, Peoria Notre Dame will host city rival Manual in an Oct. 4 homecoming game.

9. What position is Dunlap's Mack Sutter playing this season?

Sutter, the four-star junior, will be playing all over this season. After sharing quarterback duties a year ago, the highly-touted Division-I recruit plans to play middle linebacker, wideout, slot, tight end, H-back and maybe even some special teams. He recently narrowed down his college list to 12 school including Alabama, Georgia, Illinois and Iowa.

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10. What does the LincolnLand Conference look like in Year 2?

The small-school league, which combined the Prairieland and Lincoln Trail conferences last season, once again has split the division into large and small-school divisions. Bureau Valley has replaced Aledo Mercer County in the large school, which also features Illini West, Elmwood/Brimfield, Farmington, Warsaw West Hancock, Knoxville, Lewistown/Valley/Cuba and Macomb. The small-school field hasn't changed with Abingdon-Avon, South Fulton, Havana, Annawan/Wethersfield, Monmouth United, ROWVA/Williamsfield, Princeville, Rushville-Industry and Stark County.

11. Who is going to be the area's breakout player?

John Bargen. The Dunlap quarterback has the potential to have a monster season as the full-time starter. After sharing duties with Mack Sutter last season, Bargen is the one and only QB1 with Sutter stepping into more of a tight end/wideout role. Bargen, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound junior, has shown a tremendous offseason work ethic to consistently improve.

12. How many Peoria-area playoff teams return from 2023?

There were 20 teams from Class 1A to Class 6A from the Peoria area in the 2023 playoffs. Those squads included Dunlap, Washington, Peoria High, Metamora, Morton, Peoria Notre Dame, Kewanee, Monmouth-Roseville, Eureka, Princeton, Olympia, Knoxville, El Paso-Gridley, Farmington, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Annawan/Wethersfield, Princeville, Stark County, ROWVA/Williamsfield and St. Bede.

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13. What's the outlook on Peoria Notre Dame?

Peoria Notre Dame is coming off a 7-4 season where the Irish made a run to the Class 4A second round. Now, coach Pat Armstrong will lead an experienced and talented squad. While graduating eight all-Big 12 Conference players, the Irish have back Jack Hanley, Lawson Alwan, Brady Mullens and Ben Mullens. Circle Week 8 on the schedule where Missouri power Christian Brothers out of St. Louis comes to Peoria.

14. How's Sam Durley's first year at East Peoria going to be?

Durley, the former record-setting Eureka College quarterback, took over the program in December, providing EP some excitement heading into 2024. He'll bring a spread offense while returning all-Mid-Illini Conference players in Joe Clark, Connor Lieschedit and Jose DelToro. The Raiders had a promising start to 2023, starting the season 2-2 including a one-point loss to Limestone. However, EP ended the season on a five-game losing streak.

15. Are there any Peoria-area seniors heading to the Big Ten Conference?

Just one, as of now. Princeton tight end Noah LaPorte will be suiting up for Northwestern in fall 2025. He gave the Wildcats his verbal commitment in June. This comes following his big junior campaign where he caught 34 balls for 517 receiving yards. Eight of those receptions by the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder were for touchdowns.

16. Who is the preseason favorite for Journal Star Player of the Year?

Forget the shortlist, there's at least 10 players that can become the Peoria-area's next best player. Those players, in alphabetical order, include Amare Breedlove (Manual), Seandon Buffington (Morton), Ty Dykes (Tremont), Noah LaPorte (Princeton), Connor Liescheidt (East Peoria), Ben Mullens (Peoria Notre Dame), Cameron Nickel (Metamora), Carter Prina (Washington), Zeb Rashid (Annawan/Wethersfield), Mack Sutter (Dunlap), TQ Webb (Peoria High) and Lane Wheelwright (Farmington).

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17. How are things going to be for Metamora?

The Redbirds are a sleeper pick to the win the Mid-Illini. Metamora went 8-3 last season, making a run to the Class 5A second round and have a sprinkling of experience all over. Coach Jared Grebner has a very strong backfield returning in junior Jaiduan Cranford (1,202 yards, 14 TDs) and senior Evan Keil (693 yards, 8 TDs). Junior Stephen Petri steps in as QB1, while Western Illinois commit and senior linebacker Cam Nickel will be a force.

18. How tough is the Big 12 Conference in 2024?

The league is coming off a banner season where seven of the 11 schools were playoff qualifiers. Of those seven squads, three — Normal West, Peoria Notre Dame and Normal Community — won at least one postseason game. Normal West made the deepest run, losing to Downers Grove North in the Class 7A state semifinals. Fully expect to see more success within the Big 12 for 2024.

19. How are the numbers looking for some of the small-school teams?

Farmington, for example, remains as one of the biggest small-school football programs. The Farmers have nearly 100 kids out, providing a great opportunity for tons of development from their strong underclass numbers. Winning as much as Farmington coach Toby Vallas has done over the years doesn't hurt either. Vallas has at least eight wins over the last seven seasons including a 9-2 mark in 2023.

20. What schools are in the Heart of Central Illinois Conference?

This newly formed league combines the Heart of Illinois and Central Illinois conferences to make the HOCIC. The large-school division includes Deer Creek-Mackinaw, El Paso-Gridley, Eureka, Tremont, Clinton, Colfax Ridgeview/Lexington, Downs Tri-Valley and Shelbyville. The small-school division is Fieldcrest, Fisher, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, Heyworth, Le Roy, Macon-Meridian, Moweaqua Central A&M, Tuscola and Warrensburg-Latham.

21. Will we see IVC back in the playoffs?

Experience at quarterback will be key for the Grey Ghosts. Bryce Ratcliff will be undercenter for his third season, giving coach Tim Heinz, who has 99 win at the Chillicothe-based school, yet another great QB in 21-year tenure. IVC, which last made the playoffs in 2019, has won just 10 games over the last four years including a 1-8 mark in 2023. The Ghosts are in one of the toughest small-school leagues in the Illini Prairie Conference, so it will be tough sledding.

22. Will Peoria Heights bounce back from its three-win season?

Optimism is high for the Patriots, who went 3-6 during last season's 8-man campaign. Coach Kendal Parker does lose his starting QB Camron Williams to graduation, but will have junior Gabe Shaver stepping in to run the offense. Key returnees include WR/CB Augie Kulman, S Kaison Davis, DT Darien Jones and OL/DL Ethan Horn. Heights starts its season by hosting Bushnell-Prairie City — the first of four home games for the Patriots.

23. Does Canton also have a new coach?

Correct. The Little Giants hired IVC offensive coordinator Nick McCormick in March to help resurrect the Fulton County program just seven years removed from the Class 4A state semifinals. The former Elmwood/Brimfield quarterback will look to 24 seniors in building off last season's Week 9 win over Limestone. A few names to keep an eye on include Dane Watts, Trevor Taff, Jameson Frame, Braxton Rock and Drake Haffner.

24. Where are the 2024 IHSA state championships?

Hancock Stadium on the Illinois State University campus is in Year 2 of a five-year contract hosting the eight IHSA state championships. The title games are scheduled for Nov. 29-30. Northern Illinois and the University of Illinois had previously alternated years of playing home to the state finals since 1998.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria football preview 2024: 24 questions for Illinois high school season