PHOENIX — The High School football season is just about at the halfway point. The AIA has released the way each level will qualify for the state playoffs. It is much different from previous years because of the reduced season length and cancellations.
3A Conference
(16-team play-in bracket): In order to qualify, a school must have played a minimum of four (4) games to be considered. The top two teams from each of the six (6) regions will receive an automatic bid to the 16-team play-in bracket to be played in Week 8.
The final four play-in entries will be chosen from the third place region teams as selected by the 3A Conference region chairs (using AIA Rankings, head-to-head and analytical data as needed).
The top six (6) seeds in the play-in games will be the No. 1 seeds from each region and will be seeded based on the AIA Rankings powered by MaxPreps. The No. 7 through No. 16 seeds of the remaining teams will be based on the AIA Rankings.
The winners of the play-in games will advance to the eight-team state tournament bracket. Results from the play-in games will be included in the final rankings to determine the seeding for the state tournament bracket. The state tournament will consist of three rounds and will be single elimination.
- 3A Play-in: Top two teams from each region (12 total) and four at-large third-place region teams as determined by 3A Conference.
- 3A State Tournament: Eight (8) winners from play-in games.
2A Conference
(16-team play-in bracket): In order to qualify, a school must have played a minimum of three games (3) to be considered. The top team in each region for a total of five (5) teams will receive an automatic bid to the 16-team play-in bracket to be played in Week 8. The top 11 non-region championship teams based on the AIA Rankings powered by MaxPreps will be selected to participate in the play-in round.
The play-in bracket will be seeded based on the AIA rankings. The winners of the play-in games will advance to the eight-team state tournament bracket and will be seeded according to the AIA rankings following the play-in round. The state tournament will consist of three rounds and will be single elimination.
- 2A Play-in: Top team from each region (5 total) and 11 teams as determined by AIA Rankings powered by MaxPreps.
- 2A State Tournament: Eight (8) winners from play-in games.
1A Conference
(8-team bracket): In order to qualify, a school must have scheduled a minimum of six (6) games including all regional opponents. The top two (2) teams in each region will earn an automatic bid to the state tournament.
1A Conference region chairs will break any ties (if necessary). Each of the region champions will serve as the top four (4) seeds on the state tournament bracket, and all eight teams will be seeded by 1A Conference leadership.
The state tournament will consist of three rounds and be single elimination.
