Class AAAAA
Class AAAA
Class AAA
Class AA
Class A
Class B
6-Man
8-Man
City Conference
Class C

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The first official year of UIL playoffs was in 1920. Playoff teams in 1920 were determined by invitation from the UIL. From 1921-1923 districts were determined by geographic area and not enrollment. In 1924 schools were divided into Classes A and B. In the playoffs Class B teams played in the opening round with the winners advancing to play the Class A champion in the second round. In case of a tie the game was replayed. In 1926 the format was changed and Class A teams played to a state championship while Class B teams played a bi-district game. Another round was added to the Class B playoffs in 1928 and ties were decided by other methods, usually penetrations and then first downs but sometimes by total yardage gained.
The next change in the playoff format came in 1933, when Class C was started for the smallest schools. Class C did not hold playoff games. In 1938, six-man was added by the UIL. Class C went out of existence after the 1938 season. In 1939, Class AA was added as the top classification. AA played to a state championship, A to a regional championship, and B played a bi-district game. Six-Man began playoffs in 1941, and resumed them after a break in 1943. The next change in the playoff system came in 1948, as the schools from the Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Fort Worth school systems were put in their own district called the City Conference. Class A began playing for a state championship that season as well. The City Conference was an ill-conceived idea, and was done away with after the 1950 season.
Starting in 1951, we began to see the basic setup that exists to this day. Classifications were divided into an AAAA, AAA, AA, A, and B, along with six-man. All but Class B and six-man played to a state championship, with B and six-man awarding regional championships. The next change came in 1958 with the addition of an eight-man classification, which also played to a regional championship. Starting in 1972, B, six and eight-man also began playing through to a state championship. Eight-man was done away with after the 1975 season. 1980 saw a change in classification designation, as AAAA, AAA, AA, and A all had an extra A added to them, while Class B and six-man became known as Class A.
In 1982, the second place teams in each classification was allowed into the playoffs. This strengthened the playoffs in some ways and watered them down in others.
1990 saw the beginning of the joke of a playoff system we have today as another team was allowed into the Class AAAAA playoffs, which was made even worse by crowning two state champions in Class AAAAA. Class AAAA followed suit in 1996, while Classes AAA and AA went to this system in 1998.