(Beaver County, PA) The playoff format for the 2024 WPIAL playoffs will have a few changes in 2024 with the postseason only two weeks away. Each conference’s top teams will still get an automatic qualifier, but the WPIAL Football Steering Committee will will select 16 wild card teams across five classifications. In addition to the new wild card teams in 2024, conference champions in each classification will be guaranteed a home game as opposed to the previous format, in which the top two teams were given a home game automatically. Co-chairperson of the WPIAL Football Steering Committee Mike Burrell has noted that this format will ensure a stronger field of playoff teams. The WPIAL football playoffs in 2024 will begin with opening round games on November 1 with district playoffs running until November 16 for Classes 6A and 4A and until November 23 for Classes 5A, 3A, 2A and A.
Class 5A and Class 3A
- 13 total playoff spots
- Top four teams receive first-round bye
- All conference champions will host its opening-round game
- Three total wild card teams
Class 4A
- 8 total playoff spots
- Top two teams in each conference automatically qualify
- Each conference champion will host first-round games
- Two total wild card teams
Class 2A
- 13 total playoff spots
- Top three teams from each conference automatically qualify
- Top two teams in the classification receive first-round bye
- Conference champions and higher seeds host opening round games
- Four total wild card teams
Class A
- 16 total playoff spots
- Top three teams from each conference automatically qualifying
- Conference champions and higher seeds will host opening round games
- Four total wild card teams