Very Early Look at the CIF Bowl Divisions - 2024

[Cal 14]

As it is now playoff season for nearly all CIF sections, it may be time to take a very early look at the potential CIF bowl divisions (for those interested).

As in years past, I will not be making any predictions regarding who might win which division. Rather all of the teams listed are the remaining highest seeds in their respective brackets. For the Oakland and San Francisco sections, the teams listed are those assumed to be the top seeds when they are finally published.

Because the list will be long, my commentary will be in a response to the initial post.


Open Division (Section Division, Calpreps ratings)

North: De La Salle (NCS Open, 67.0) vs. South: Mater Dei (SS D-I, 102.6)

D-1AA

North: Folsom (SJS D-1, 59.3) vs. Clovis East (CS D-IAA, 58.3)

South: Lincoln (SDS Open, 60.5) vs. Murrieta Valley (SS D-2, 58.1)

D-1A

North: Pittsburg (NCS D-1, 52.2) vs. St. Ignatius (CCS Open, 42.4)

South: Simi Valley (SS D-3, 46.1) vs. San Marcos (SDS D-I, 39.3)

D-2AA

North: St. Francis (CCS D-I, 43.1) vs. Rocklin (SJS D-2, 42.2)

South: St. Bonaventure (SS D-4, 39) vs. Bakersfield (CS D-IA, 29.4)

D-2A

North: Twelve Bridges (SJS D-4, 36.7) vs. Wilcox (CCS D-II, 29.0)

South: Bakersfield Christian (CS D-II, 29.9) vs. Huntington Beach (SS D-5, 29.8)

D-3AA

North: Bradshaw Christian (SJS D-6, 29.2) vs. Oakdale (SJS D-3, 27.1)

South: Narbonne (LACS Open, 25.1) vs. Muir (SS D-6, 23.3)

D-3A

North: Liberty (NCS D-2, 23.1) vs. Hughson (SJS D-5, 22.5)

South: University City (SDS D-II, 19.1) vs. Porterville (CS D-II, 14.0)

D-4AA

North: Pleasant Valley (NS D-2, 21.7) vs. Carmel (CCS D-III, 16.3)

South: West Torrance (SS D-7, 13.3) vs. Shafter (CS D-IV, 13.3)

D-4A

North: Acalanes (NCS D-3, 16.1) vs. McClymonds (OS, 14.7)

South: Highland (SS D-9, 11.4) vs. Beckman (SS D-8, 9.0)

D-5AA

North: St. Vincent de Paul (NCS D-5, 15.4) vs. Lassen (NS D-3, 10.0)

South: St. Anthony (SS D-10, 4.9) vs. Central (SDS D-III, 4.1)

D-5A

North: Ukiah (NCS D-4, 9.0) vs. Winters (NS D-4, 7.0)

South: Bishop Union (CS D-V, -1.5) vs. Los Amigos (SS D-11, -2.8)

D-6AA

North: Arcata (NCS D-6, 5.6) vs. Summerville (SJS D-7, 5.3)

South: Ramona (SDS D-IV, -4.9) vs. Mary Star of the Sea (SS D-12, -6.3)

D-6A

North: Moreau Catholic (NCS D-7, 1.3) vs. Piedmont Hills (CCS D-IV, 0.0)

South: Eagle Rock (LACS D-I, -7.9) vs. Gahr (SS D-13, -16.3)

D-7AA

North: Lincoln (SFS, -8.7) vs. South San Francisco (CCS D-IV, -10.7)

South: Vista (SDS D-V, -20.5) vs. Arleta (LACS D-II, -23.0)

D-7A

North: Minarets (CS D-VI, -16.9) vs. Biggs (NS, -22.1)

South: Nordhoff (SS D-14, -35.4) vs. Taft (LACS D-III, -35.9)

 

[Cal 14]

There are a number of interesting story lines and we could see politics play a bigger role than normal this year.

North:

1. What to do about Folsom? Their early season loss to Serra could put them behind either/both St. Ignatius or St. Francis due to those teams' wins over the Padres. I don't suspect that the CCS Open winner would be placed in D-1AA, but you could see Pittsburg moved up and the Bulldogs placed in D-1A.

2. SJS lack of competitive playoff equity on full display, now looks like a significant outlier. Any push by the selection for divisional integrity may fall on deaf ears with Twelve Bridges (D-4) and Bradshaw Christian (D-6) rated higher than Oakdale (D-3).

3. What to do about McClymonds? The CIF voters have steadily moved the Warriors to higher divisions until they pretty much settled on having them be in D-2A. This year, however, has not been a typical year for the Oakland team. Would the committee be willing to drop them all the way down to D-4A?

4. What to do about Clovis East? As was the case last year, numerically, it would make more sense to place the CS D-IAA winner in the south, as not doing so places a heavy advantage for the north in all divisions lower than D-1AA. Placing them in the south creates more parity down the list. I doubt the committee has learned its lesson and will probably keep this division in the north.

South:

1. There seems to be more of a drop-off in ratings in the SS than last year. This could lead to a greater advantage for the north, particularly if the CS D-IAA winner remains absent from the south bracket.

2. What to do about the Bakersfield schools? I'm guessing the CS may do some politicking to make sure their D-IA winner is in a higher bracket than the D-II team. I'm also guessing that the ratings could reverse in order with the IA bracket being tougher overall.

3. Retaining intersectional play. In the past, the SS seems to have lobbied to keep their teams from having to eliminate each other in the regional round. This year, they may mostly get this wish granted as the ratings do seem to fall in-line for this to happen. In only one division did there not really seem to be a choice but to have two SS teams face each other.

4. It remains remarkable how low the LACS teams need to be placed among the state brackets. Much of this has to do with the fact that just about everyone and their mothers gets to advance to the playoffs, but as I've noted in previous posts, the section just isn't good at all.

Overall:

1. If all of the section winners elect to participate in the CIF bowl games, we will have complete brackets in both the north and the south. It was not uncommon in years past to have a team have a bye in the regional round.

2. I have five of the seven Central Section teams competing in the south. In addition to the need for more moderately-rated teams in that region, it also balances out and completes the brackets in both regions.

 

[NorCalSportsFan]

Thanks for the early view.

 

[larry legend33]

Talk about watered down. Some really average teams getting a shot at the trophy while some really good teams will be done. Who would have thought Cronin at Ukiah might get another state champ and they aren't in a league champ in a pretty bad league. Cardinal Newman and MC should be playing well into December.
I've been saying it all year. Folsom loss to Serra ended their season. They will not be challenged from this point on. Hell they haven't been challenged all year. Clovis East will get pummeled.