New CIF Football Format

1/31/15

Yesterday, the CIF approved a new 13-division format for the state football championship.  This ensures that every 11-man section champion will get at least a regional bowl game.  Also, the divisions will be based on competitive equality and not by enrollment.  One division will have a play-in game for the Northern California regional bowl.  At this point, I do not know how they will work that out, or how they will decide "competitive equality".  That did not stop me from wondering what the regional bowl games would look like if the CIF did that this year.  This blog will provide one possibility.  Based solely on calpreps.com ratings, here is what the regional games would look like.

First what we need to know: The Northern California region is the Central Coast, North Coast, Northern, Oakland, Sac-Joaquin, and San Francisco sections.  The Southern California region is the Los Angeles, San Diego, and Southern sections.  Starting next year, the Central Section will be split between North and South. The Central Section Divisions I, III, and V champions will be in the North.  The Divisions II, IV, and VI champions will remain in the South.

Next what we must assume: For this blog, we are going to assume that all the higher-rated teams will choose to host, and not have the game at a neutral site, or have the opponents host.

Division Open Large
North: Folsom @ De La Salle (Concord)
South: Centennial (Corona)

Note: Normally, the lower-division would have the play-in game.  However, in this, I can see the top division having the play-in game.  I am sure the CIF would want to give the top team in the South a bye week.

Division 1A
North: Campolindo (Moraga) @ Grant (Sacramento)
South: Mission Viejo @ Oceanside

Division 1AA
North: Clayton Valley (Concord) @ Edison (Fresno)
South: El Capitan (Lakeside) @ Redlands East Valley (Redlands)

Division 2A
North: Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton) @ Enterprise (Redding)
South: Paso Robles @ Trabuco Hills (Mission Viejo)

Division 2AA
North: Sutter @ Oakdale
South: Crescenta Valley (La Crescenta) @ Ridgeview (Bakersfield)

Division 3A
North: Aptos @ Hanford
South: St. Augustine (San Diego) @ Narbonne (Los Angeles-Harbor City)

Division 3AA
North: Central Catholic (Modesto) @ St. Francis (Mountain View)
South: Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates) @ Colony (Ontario)

Division 4A
North: McClymonds (Oakland) @ San Benito (Hollister)
South: Liberty (Madera) @ Palm Springs

Division 4AA
North: Salesian (Richmond) @ Justin-Siena (Napa)
South: Pomona @ Christian (El Cajon)

Division 5A
North: Terra Nova (Pacifica) @ Capital Christian (Sacramento)
South: Nipomo @ Bishop's (La Jolla)

Division 5AA
North: Winters @ Bear River (Grass Valley)
South: St. Margaret's (San Juan Capistrano) @ Hamilton (Los Angeles)

Division 6A
North: Maxwell @ Corcoran
South: Kennedy (Delano) @ Garden Grove

Division: 6AA
North: Stone Ridge Christian (Merced) @ Mission (San Francisco)
South: La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla) @ Los Angeles

Note: One source I read says all divisions will be based on "competitive equality". Another source says only two divisions will be based on "competitive equality" and the rest will be on enrollment.  I went with the first source for my model.  If it turns out that the second one is correct, then Mission (San Francisco) and Los Angeles would be placed in higher divisions.

Sources: Modesto Bee, sfgate blog, calpreps.com,