New Trier is playing in a brand-new football division this fall, and the league may scrap it after one season.

The Central Suburban League (CSL) split its football alignment into three four-team divisions for 2026, ending a two-division format the league had used since 1972-73. New Trier landed in the CSL South alongside Maine South, Evanston Twp High School and Glenbrook South.

ETHS Athletic Director Chris Livatino told the Evanston Roundtable on Sept. 19 that CSL officials plan to evaluate the setup in October. "If the IHSA playoffs remain the same, this could just be a one-year thing," Livatino said. He added that the league is trying to create a more competitive playing field and will explore opportunities with other conferences before making a final decision.

The realignment traces back to November 2025, when the CSL ended its scheduling arrangement with the Mid-Suburban League. The MSL had dominated head-to-head matchups for eight years and declined when CSL officials proposed trimming the crossover schedule from two weeks to one. After the split, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) expanded the state playoffs by 16 teams per class, easing the scheduling gap.

For New Trier, the CSL South has already delivered a marquee early test. The Trevians fell to Maine South 35-28 on Sept. 10 in their first divisional game, according to Journal & Topics. New Trier bounced back with a 56-0 rout of Niles West on Sept. 18 in Skokie, improving to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the CSL South, The Record North Shore reported.

Senior running back Throy Nightingale Jr., a Notre Dame Prep transfer, has scored 12 touchdowns through five games. Purdue-commit quarterback Jackie Ryder leads an offense averaging 45 points per game.

Head coach Brian Doll said on Sept. 5, ahead of the Maine South game, that the Hawks are "the team to beat in our conference."

The Trevians host Deerfield for homecoming on Friday, Sept. 25, in a crossover matchup. The real divisional stakes come later: New Trier closes the regular season against Evanston at Northwestern's new $870 million Ryan Field on Friday, Oct. 16. That CSL South finale will be the first high school football game played at the rebuilt 35,000-seat stadium, according to New Trier News.

Whether the CSL South title even exists next fall depends on what league officials decide in October.