Sports

Illinois High School Football Champion Subject To Potential Punishment After Incriminating Photo Of Illegal Practice

#Illinois
by Last Updated

iStockphoto

Mount Carmel may have violated IHSA practice rules.


Chicago Mount Carmel has the top high school football program in Illinois. The Caravan have won four straight state championships with eyes on a fifth in 2026.

Preseason practice got underway last week for IHSA members. A photo of Mount Carmel’s most recent session sparked controversy.

It seemingly publicized an illegal practice. Players appeared to be in full pads, a violation of the IHSA calendar. Making the optics worse, the post was quickly deleted after gaining attention.

Chicago Mount Carmel is an Illinois powerhouse.

Google Maps

Location of Chicago Mount Carmel High School on Illinois map.


Mount Carmel High School is an all-boys Catholic high school in Chicago’s Woodland neighborhood. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, the school has been operated by the Carmelite order of priests and brothers since 1900.

The football team is currently ranked No. 1 in the state of Illinois and 37th nationally. It’s won 17 state titles since 1980, including each of the last four at the 7A level.

Former Northern Illinois signal caller Jordan Lynch took over for legendary coach Frank Lenti in 2018. Lenti spent more than three decades on the sidelines. Lynch has been able to build on the foundation laid.

Over the last eight years, the Caravan are 89-11. That includes five state championships. They again expect to be a contender in 2026.

The team has five of the state’s top 50 recruits in the 2027 cycle. Four are committed to Big Ten programs to include Purdue, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Another is planning to play at Notre Dame. The Caravan also have three of Illinois’ top 25 recruits in the following class, all with notable P4 offers.

Simply put, Chicago Mount Carmel is loaded. Their 2026 season, however, might be getting off on the wrong foot.

Did Illinois high school football champion violate practice rules?

A photo of a recent Mount Carmel practice session was posted to X this weekend. It appeared to show players in full pads. That would be a violation of IHSA rules.

According to the preseason practice guidelines, practice can begin on August 5th. That represented a shift up from last season following a vote in the offseason.

While the season is technically underway, there are restrictions. Practices held on August 5th and 6th must be helmets only. Practices on the 7th, 8th, and 10th are helmets and shoulder pads.

Only on the 11th can teams begin competing in full pads.

During the first two days of practice, helmets and appropriate footwear should be the only protective equipment permitted. During days three through six, helmets, shoulder pads, and appropriate footwear should be the only protective equipment permitted.

Beginning on calendar day seven (Tuesday of Week 6 in the IHSA standardized calendar), all protective gear may be worn, and full contact may begin.

-IHSA rulebook

Pat Swanson is a defensive assistant at 6A Antioch Community High School in Illinois. He also coaches lacrosse. Swanson was the one to bring light to the potential practice violation.

The post that he screenshot has since been deleted.

At this point in time, I’ve been unable to find any documented punishment for the Mount Carmel football team, or even acknowledgement that a violation occurred. There has been no update from the school or IHSA.

Practice violations, however, can produce harsh consequences. In Texas, Gainesville recently suspended its head coach for one full season due to the use of “contact equipment” in offseason sessions.

It will be interesting to see if punishment is given to the four-time defending state champions. This post will be updated should any penalty be handed down.