The WPIAL on Tuesday revealed a new system for determining teams while finalizing its postseason plans for next football season.
Rather than rely on mathematical formulas as was done previously, the WPIAL will empower its football committee to choose at-large qualifiers. That’s a big change since five of the six classifications have wild card teams.
The number of playoff qualifiers varies by class.
Class 6A – four qualifiers
Class 5A – 12 qualifiers (top three in each conference plus three wild cards)
Class 4A – eight qualifiers (top two in each conference plus two wild cards)
Class 3A – 12 qualifiers (top three in each conference plus three wild cards)
Class 2A – 13 qualifiers (top three in each conference plus four wild cards)
Class A – 16 qualifiers (top three in each conference plus four wild cards)
WPIAL administrator Vince Sortino said members of the football committee now can evaluate a team’s entire season rather than rely on the mathematical formulas.
Rather than rely on mathematical formulas as was done previously, the WPIAL will empower its football committee to choose at-large qualifiers. That’s a big change since five of the six classifications have wild card teams.
The number of playoff qualifiers varies by class.
Class 6A – four qualifiers
Class 5A – 12 qualifiers (top three in each conference plus three wild cards)
Class 4A – eight qualifiers (top two in each conference plus two wild cards)
Class 3A – 12 qualifiers (top three in each conference plus three wild cards)
Class 2A – 13 qualifiers (top three in each conference plus four wild cards)
Class A – 16 qualifiers (top three in each conference plus four wild cards)
WPIAL administrator Vince Sortino said members of the football committee now can evaluate a team’s entire season rather than rely on the mathematical formulas.
