Playoff setup for WPIAL hinges on PIAA decision

The WPIAL pushed back the start of the football season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the league still isn’t sure about a playoff format for the 2020 season.

The WPIAL announced July 31 that football games can’t be played any earlier than Sept. 10. The league also pushed back the start of contests for all other sports until Sept. 14. Under the WPIAL’s plan, teams can play a maximum of seven games.

The WPIAL will use one of two formats for the football playoffs, depending on whether the PIAA has playoffs. The PIAA said last week that it’s very possible it will decide to have a shortened fall season, with all sports concluding PIAA championship play by Thanksgiving weekend. The PIAA will decide on a shortened season at a future date.

The WPIAL decided to come up with two playoff plans for football. One is for two weeks of playoffs and one for three weeks of playoffs. Both are under the assumption that the PIAA will order a shortened season. The WPIAL will announce its playoff format once the PIAA makes a decision. Also, the WPIAL hasn’t yet announced whether there will be any title games at Heinz Field this year.

Here are the two WPIAL plans for the football playoffs.

If there are PIAA playoffs … CLASS 6A: This classification has only one conference and the top four teams qualify for the postseason. Semifinals will be Oct. 3031 and the championship either Nov. 6 or 7.

CLASS 5A, 4A, 3A and 1A: Every one of these classifications has three conferences. The top two teams from each of the three conferences qualify, as well as two wild card teams, based on Gardner Points. The quarterfinals will be Oct. 30-31, semifinals Nov. 6-7 and championships Nov. 13-14.

CLASS 2A: This classification has four conferences. The top two teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs. The quarterfinals will be Oct. 30-31, semifinals Nov. 6-7 and the championship either Nov. 13 or 14.

If there are no PIAA playoffs ...

All classifications will have only two weeks of playoffs. The semifinals will be Oct. 30 and the championships Nov. 6.

CLASS 6A: The top four finishers in the one conference qualify for the playoffs.

CLASS 5A, 4A, 3A and 1A: Every one of these classifications has three conferences. The firstplace finisher in each conference will qualify, along with one wild card second-place team, based on Gardner Points.

CLASS 2A: Only the champion of each of the four conferences qualifies for the playoffs.