The IHSA announced on Monday that the state football finals will be carried live not only on a statewide TV network, but on ESPN3.com.

According to the IHSA, this will be ESPN's first venture into carrying a prep state final on any of its numerous platforms.

The games will be played on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 26-27, at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in Champaign. They'll be available live at www.espn3.com, and will be available later at www.ihsa.tv.

The Chicago-area TV outlet for the football state finals is WPWR (Channel 50). It also will carry the boys and girls basketball state tournaments.