With just two weeks left in the WPIAL regular season, there are still a number of playoff spots to be decided. Every classification has teams still vying to be part of the postseason field. Two of the 17 conference championships have been clinched with Central Catholic in 6A and Gateway in 5A claiming their respective titles. Here’s a look at the playoff scenarios entering Week 8. Check out our WPIAL Standings Page for all of the tiebreakers.
6A Playoff Scenarios
The top four teams in the 6A Tri-County Conference will make the playoffs. The top two teams get home semifinal games.
Already In
- Central Catholic has clinched the conference title
- North Allegheny has clinched a playoff spot
Clinching Scenarios
- Canon-McMillan and Mt. Lebanon will both clinch playoff spots if Seneca Valley loses to Central Catholic
- North Allegheny clinches the #2 seed and a home playoff game if Seneca Valley loses
5A Playoff Scenarios
The top two teams in each of the three conferences are guaranteed a playoff spot. Two of the three third place teams will earn Wild Card spots based on conference records, Gardner Points, and Tiebreaker Points.
Allegheny Six Conference
Already In
- Peters Twp has clinched a playoff spot
Clinching Scenarios
- Peters Twp clinches the outright conference title if Bethel Park loses
- Moon clinches a playoff spot with a win over Upper St Clair AND a Bethel Park loss
Big East Confernece
Already In
- Gateway has clinched the conference title
Clinching Scenarios
No clinching scenarios this week. Penn-Trafford and Franklin Regional will finish 2nd and 3rd. The winner of their head-to-head game Week 9 will be 2nd, the loser will be 3rd.
Since Penn-Trafford and Franklin Regional are both 3-1 in conference play, the loser of their game will have 2 conference losses. Therefore, if either the Allegheny Six or Northeast Conference have a three-way tie for first place, the third place team in that conference would get a Wild Card over the third place team in the Big East due to having just 1 conference loss.
Northeast Conference
No teams have clinched yet.
Clinching Scenarios
- Penn Hills clinches a playoff spot with a in over Shaler
- Woodland Hills clinches a playoff spot with a win over Pine-Richland
4A Playoff Scenarios
13 teams make the 4A playoffs. The top four teams from the Big Seven and Greater Allegheny Conference qualify, along with the top five teams from the Parkway Conference.
Big Seven Conference
The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
Already In
- McKeesport, Latrobe, and Trinity have clinched playoff spots
Clinching Scenarios
- The winner of McKeesport-Latrobe clinches the conference title if Thomas Jefferson loses to Connellsville
- Thomas Jefferson clinches a playoff spot with a win over Connellsville
Greater Allegheny Conference
The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
Already In
- Mars and North Catholic have clinched playoff spots
Clinching Scenarios
- Mars clinches the conference title with a win over Hampton AND a North Catholic loss
- Hampton clinches a playoff spot with a win over Mars OR a Highlands loss
Parkway Conference
The top five teams qualify for the playoffs.
Already In
- Aliquippa, Montour, Central Valley, and West Allegheny have clinched playoff spots
Clinching Scenarios
- Aliquippa clinches the conference title with a win over Chartiers Valley AND a Central Valley loss
- Chartiers Valley clinches a playoff spot with a win over Aliquippa AND an Ambridge loss
If Chartiers Valley loses and Ambridge wins, the two will play a Casket Match in Week 9 for the final playoff spot
3A Playoff Scenarios
The top four teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs, making the field 12 total teams.
Allegheny Six Conference
The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
Already In
- Knoch and East Allegheny have clinched playoff spots
Clinching Scenarios
- Knoch clinches the conference title with a win over East Allegheny
- East Allegheny clinches the conference title with a win over Knoch AND a Shady Side Academy loss
- Shady Side Academy clinches a playoff spot with a win over Deer Lakes OR a Freeport loss
- Deer Lakes clinches a playoff spot with a win over Shady Side Academy AND a Freeport loss
Interstate Conference
The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
Already In
- Elizabeth Forward, Belle Vernon, and Southmoreland have clinched playoff spots
Clinching Scenarios
- Mt. Pleasant clinches a playoff spot with a win over South Allegheny
Western Hills Conference
The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
Already In
- Avonworth and West Mifflin have clinched playoff spots
Clinching Scenarios
- Avonworth clinches the conference title with a win over Seton LaSalle OR a West Mifflin loss
- Beaver clinches a playoff spot with a win over Quaker Valley
- South Park plays a non-conference game but can clinch a playoff spot if Quaker Valley loses
2A Playoff Scenarios
A total of 14 teams qualify for the playoffs in 2A. Five teams from the Allegheny and Midwestern Conferences qualify and four teams from the Century Conference qualify.
Allegheny Conference
The top five teams qualify for the playoffs.
Already In
– Steel Valley has clinched a playoff spot.
Clinching Scenarios
- Steel Valley clinches the conference title with a win over Yough AND a Serra Catholic loss
- Imani Christian clinches a playoff spot with a win over Ligonier Valley
- Serra Catholic clinches a playoff spot with a win over Apollo-Ridge
- Burrell clinches a playoff spot with a win over Derry OR an Apollo-Ridge loss
- Derry clinches a playoff spot with a win over Burrell AND a Ligonier Valley loss
Century Conference
The top four teams make the playoffs.
Already In
- McGuffey and Washington have clinched playoff spots
Clinching Scenarios
- Waynesburg clinches a playoff spot with a win over Sto-Rox. Waynesburg has not made the playoffs since 2014, the 9th longest active drought in the WPIAL.
- Keystone Oaks clinches a playoff spot with a win over Washington AND a Brentwood loss
Midwestern Conference
The top five teams qualify for the playoffs.
Already In
- Neshannock, Mohawk, and Western Beaver have clinched playoff spots
Clinching Scenarios
- Beaver Falls clinches a playoff spot with a win over Freedom
- Ellwood City clinches a playoff spot with a win over Neshannock OR a Riverside loss. Ellwood City has not made the playoffs since 2011, the second-longest active drought in the WPIAL.
1A Playoff Scenarios
Four teams from each of the four 1A conferences qualify for the playoffs.
Big Seven Conference
Four teams make the playoffs
Already In
- Union and South Side Beaver have clinched playoff spots
Clinching Scenarios
- The winner of Union-South Side Beaver clinches the conference title
- Rochester clinches a playoff spot with a win over Northgate
Black Hills Conference
Four teams make the playoffs.
Already In
- Fort Cherry has clinched a playoff spot
Clinching Scenarios
- Fort Cherry clinches the conference title with a win over Carlynton
- Bishop Canevin clinches a playoff spot with a win over OLSH
Eastern Conference
Already In
- Clairton, Jeannette, and Leechburg have clinched a playoff spots
Clinching Scenarios
- Clairton clinches the conference title with a win over Frazier AND a Jeannette loss
- GCC clinches a playoff spot with a win over Riverview
Tri-County South Conference
Already In
- California, Jefferson-Morgan, and West Greene have clinched playoff spots
Clinching Scenarios
- California clinches the conference title with a win over Beth-Center
- Beth-Center clinches a playoff spot with a win over California OR a Monessen loss
