WPIAL football playoffs set with 52 teams and 17 wild cards
Summarised from 3 outlets · 7 reports · Updated 31 Oct, 23:15 · Archive
The WPIAL has released playoff brackets for its six football classifications, with 52 teams automatically qualifying and 17 wild-card teams selected.
The WPIAL released its 2026 football playoff brackets on Saturday, setting the postseason structure across six classifications. Fifty-two teams automatically qualified for the playoffs, with the WPIAL football committee selecting 17 wild-card teams to complete the field. The wild-card selections included Trinity, Armstrong and Gateway in Class 5A; Blackhawk and Kiski Area in Class 4A; Shady Side Academy, Mt. Pleasant, Burrell and Deer Lakes in Class 3A; Riverside, South Allegheny, Chartiers-Houston and Freedom in Class 2A; and Monessen, Union, Serra Catholic and Frazier in Class A.
Defending champions Central Catholic received the top seed in Class 6A after an undefeated regular season. The Vikings outscored their Class 6A opponents 307-17 and have won 11 WPIAL titles overall, reaching the finals 12 times in 13 seasons. Avonworth earned the No. 1 seed in Class 3A, Pine-Richland received the top seed in Class 5A, South Fayette in Class 4A, Bishop Canevin in Class 2A, and Washington in Class A.
Avonworth's top seeding in Class 3A generated controversy, as the Vikings had suffered a season-opening loss to Hopewell. The team's only other loss came against No. 2 seed Propel Braddock Hills, whom Avonworth defeated on Friday night. Similarly, Washington secured the Class A top seed despite an 8-7 loss to defending WPIAL champion Clairton in Week 5, while second-seeded Shenango finished the regular season undefeated at 9-0.
In Class 6A, the four-team tournament begins 13 November. Pine-Richland, Penn-Trafford, Upper St. Clair and North Hills received first-round byes in Class 5A. Bishop Canevin, Seton LaSalle and Apollo-Ridge have byes in Class 2A. Championship games for Class 6A and 4A are scheduled for 21 November at Pine-Richland, while finals for the four other classifications take place 28 November at Acrisure Stadium.
How it is being reported
- Unofficial 2026 District 3 football playoff bracketsPostseason action begins FridayPennLive · 31 Oct, 20:42
- 2026 WPIAL football playoff forecast: Predicted champions, players and teams to watch in all six classesPittsburgh Post-Gazette · 31 Oct, 20:31
- 2026 WPIAL football playoff brackets revealedThe WPIAL has released its 2026 high school football playoff brackets, featuring first-round matchups across six classifications, with games scheduled for Nov. 6.PennLive · 31 Oct, 18:42
- Breaking down the 2026 WPIAL football playoffsAfter a WPIAL football regular season that came down to the wire in Week 10 to decide championships in almost every conference, the playoffs are about to commence. The WPIAL football committee unveiled the postseason brackets Saturday afternoon. Here’s a breakdown of each class, with favorites, top contenders and predictions:TribLIVE · 31 Oct, 18:09
- WPIAL announces football playoff pairings and seedingsPittsburgh Post-Gazette · 31 Oct, 17:53
- Defending champions Central Catholic, Avonworth earn top seeds for WPIAL football playoffsDefending champions Central Catholic and Avonworth were awarded No. 1 seeds in Class 6A and 3A, respectively, for the 2026 WPIAL football playoffs Saturday.TribLIVE · 31 Oct, 17:51
- WPIAL football playoff picture: 52 teams have clinched spots and 17 more will be selected as wild-card teamsPittsburgh Post-Gazette · 31 Oct, 03:18
In this story: Central Catholic · Avonworth · WPIAL · Pine-Richland · South Fayette · Bishop Canevin · Washington · Propel Braddock Hills
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