Sure, there are still three weeks left in the regular season, but Week 10 and the 32-team football playoff brackets (24-team in 1A) are starting to come into focus.

The playoff format, which has 16 preliminary games in 4A and 2A, and 12 in 1A before the winners are placed in the championship bracket, began last year. It opened the door to more teams having a shot at a state championship beyond the district’s allotment.

Seeding and matchups are paramount, but last year four lower seeds advanced in both the 4A and 2A, including East Valley, which as the No. 18 seed beat No. 15 North Kitsap 30-13.

The 1A prelim round held form with all 12 of the higher seeds advancing.

Here’s a look at how the top teams in the Stat Hound footprint could fare when the Week 10 pairings are set.

CBBN (Class 4A)

2024 qualifiers (prelim seed): Moses Lake (8), Eastmont (20), Sunnyside (30).

2025 prelim berths: Four.

Safely in (current RPI): Eastmont (8), Moses Lake (10).

Work to do (current RPI): Sunnyside (30), Wenatchee (38), West Valley (45).

The skinny: Moses Lake and Eastmont meet Friday and for the third straight year that will in all likelihood decide the conference championship The remaining schedule for each is favorable conference-wise. … The Grizzlies are catching up from a front-loaded schedule, and a couple more lopsided wins should send them back to the preliminary round. ... Wenatchee took a major step by beating West Valley on Friday, and can all but qualify with a win this coming Friday against Davis. ... West Valley still has Moses Lake and Eastmont still on the schedule, so there's a chance to shake things up.

CWAC (Class 2A)

2024 qualifiers (prelim seed): Othello (10), Prosser (13), East Valley (18), Toppenish (25).

2025 prelim berths: Five.

Safely in (current RPI): East Valley (1), Othello (5)-Prosser (18) winner, Selah (17)-Prosser (18) winner,

Work to do (current RPI): Othello (5)-Prosser (18) loser, Selah (17)-Prosser (18) loser, Selah (17), Ephrata (29), Toppenish (32), Ellensburg (44).

The skinny: The Red Devils have wins over the two biggest hurdles on their schedule (Prosser, Othello) and only seem to be getting stronger. … Friday’s winner of Othello and Prosser would have just one league loss and favorable matchups the final couple weeks, while the loser would definitely need to win out and perhaps impressively with only two berths. THe Mustangs have the Vikings -- and another chance -- after that. … Selah (East Valley, Ephrata, Prosser) has the most opportunities to help its cause. It would be quite the turnaround for the Vikings under second-year coach Greg Haste, after winning just two games in 2023. … Ephrata lost by just a point in Week 1 and were in it against Othello on Friday. The Tigers stand a good chance of qualifying. … Toppenish has battled back after losing QB Jason Sanchez, and has a couple shots to improve its resume with Ephrata and Othello in the next two weeks. ... Ellensburg has gained some footing since a slow start and finishes the regular season with Prosser and East Valley.

SCAC (Class 1A)

2024 qualifiers (prelim seed): Royal (1), Cashmere (4), Zillah (12), Connell (14).

2025 prelim berths: Four, with a fifth playing a Caribou Trail team for another berth.

Safely in (current RPI): Royal (3), Cashmere (13). Zillah (14).

Work to do (current RPI): Connell (20), Naches Valley (23), Wapato (33).

The skinny: Hard to imagine the seeding committee not making five-time defending 1A champ Royal the top seed, with Cashmere not too far behind. The Knights and Bulldogs could be on a collision to meet again this year in the playoffs, and perhaps a week later than last year’s semifinal tussle. … Zillah theoretically could drop its two final conference games, but Leopards coach Ryan Watson has his sophomore-led crew on course for another state berth. … Connell’s opening-week loss to Zillah has it on the 'work to do.' But even with a loss to Cashmere, which wouldn’t hurt the Eagles’ RPI, wins in Week 8 and 9 likely gets them in the field. ... Naches Valley could go from winless to state in a year. With Royal and Cashmere still on the schedule, it would take a Herculean effort, but at least the opportunities are there. ... LIke the Rangers, Wapato has the opponents to make some noise (Connell, Royal).