Normal, IL – A fast-approaching winter storm sweeping across Illinois this weekend has forced Illinois State University (ISU) to close its campus on Saturday, disrupting a major statewide sporting event and prompting widespread schedule changes.
According to ISU officials, the university will shut down all operations on Saturday, November 29 due to hazardous weather expected across the Bloomington-Normal region and other parts of Illinois. The closure directly impacts the second day of the 2025 IHSA Football State Finals, which were set to continue at Hancock Stadium.
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) confirmed that the Class 5A, 6A, 7A, and 8A state championship games scheduled for Saturday are being postponed. The organization emphasized that the games will not be played on Sunday, November 30, but will instead be rescheduled for dates still being coordinated with ISU leadership.
Friday’s slate of championship games—covering 1A through 4A—is unaffected, with the first contest already completed and additional matchups unfolding throughout the evening.
“This postponement is unprecedented in the state playoffs’ 51-year history,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said. “All of the competing teams have been alerted that their state championship games will not be played on November 29, but they will be played in the coming days. We appreciate the patience and understanding of these schools and communities as we work to determine the best and safest solution.”
As of Friday afternoon, the storm is forecast to bring heavy snow, strong winds, and potentially dangerous travel conditions across central Illinois.
