2026 IHSA playoffs: Steve Soucie’s Class 8A playoff analysis and picks

Round of 32 picksOak Park River-Forest (5-5) at Lincoln-Way East (9-0): Oak Park-River Forest is coming off its most comfortable victory of the season as it poured 58 points on East Aurora and its defense held the Tomcats to single digits, only the second time they’ve managed that this year. Lincoln-Way East is hoping they can keep the momentum going after the bye week, especially on defense where it has allowed just 45 points over the last six weeks of games.Pick: Lincoln-Way EastHinsdale Central (7-3) at Von Steuben (7-1): The Red Devils have really taken shape over the second half of the season, winning five of its last six including some solid wins over seven-win teams from York and Downers Grove South. Von Steuben’s defensive prowess looks impressive on paper having allowed just 56 points in their eight contested games but it has come against a much lesser caliber opponent.Pick: Hinsdale CentralMarist (6-4) at Mount Carmel (7-2): It’s hard to find a team with a more impressive res