How the 2016 high school football season rounds into form will soon be unveiled.

The WPIAL will meet Monday to discuss section and conference alignments, along with how to align its six championship games, and will release its new structure in mid-February.

In the meantime, every PIAA school has been slotted in terms of classification for the 2016-17 athletic calendar, the first year in which the state will have six football divisions.

Among Butler County area schools, Butler and Seneca Valley are Class 6A — along with 10 other WPIAL schools — while Grove City is the lone Class 5A team. Mars and Knoch are in Class 4A.

Slippery Rock, Freeport and Karns City are in Class 3A, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic and Moniteau are Class 2A, Summit Academy, A-C Valley and Union are Class 1A.

Now come the questions.

Does the WPIAL form a pair of six-team divisions in Class 6A, which would likely include Butler, Seneca Valley, Pine-Richland, Shaler, North Allegheny and Central Catholic in a northern division? Hempfield, Mt. Lebanon, Canon-McMillan, Norwin, Bethel Park and Peters Township would comprise the southern division.

Hampton (5A) and Knoch (4A) are in different classifications now. There are 18 teams in 5A and 18 in 4A, likely meaning two nine-team sections. Does that put an end to the Hampton-Knoch series, an annual game since 1966?

Karns City joins Saint Marys and Punxsutawney as the only 3A teams in District 9. Moniteau is one of five 2A teams in that district. Do the Gremlins and Warriors continue to play other? One would have to think so.

Because Slippery Rock and Freeport are also Class 3A, Karns City may have interest in playing those schools. But there are eight other 3A teams in District 10 and 23 3A teams in the WPIAL. Would either Slippery Rock or Freeport have room for Karns City?

Moniteau is one of five 2A programs in District 9. The Warriors already play Brookville and Clarion regularly, but do they pick up Kamne and Brockway and the extra travel that goes with it? And where do their other opponents come from?

Union and A-C Valley are two of 14 Class 1A teams in District 9. Both could fill out their schedules within their class and within their district. Of course, that would mean not playing Moniteau or Karns City anymore.

Because the WPIAL’S Class 6A, 5A and 4A champions will enter the PIAA quarterfinals, it is likely eight teams will qualify for the playoffs out of each class. The WPIAL’s 3A, 2A and 1A champions enter the PIAA semifinals, which could set up a 16-team district playoff field.

Will any of those title games be played at Heinz Field?

There is time to sort all of this stuff out, but one thing is certain. Local high school football is in for a new look.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.