CIF-SS Football Playoffs Tip Off Friday With 18 Matchups
The Southern Section has released its first-round brackets, setting up games across Divisions 2 through 14 starting at 7 p.m.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
The CIF Southern Section released its football playoff brackets on Sunday, finalizing the first-round matchups for the 2026 postseason. The tournament kicks off Friday night with games in Divisions 2 through 14, while teams in the Open Division receive a bye and do not play until Nov. 13.
All first-round contests are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The brackets pair teams based on their regular-season records, creating several high-stakes collisions. In Division 2, Capistrano Valley (8-2) hosts Notre Dame (7-3), while Corona del Mar (8-2) faces Chaminade (7-3) at a venue to be determined.
Division 3 features two distinct matchups. La Serna (9-1) hosts Valencia (8-2), and Murrieta Vista (4-6) faces its division-best rival, Crespi (9-1). In Division 4, three games are on the slate: Westlake (7-3) at Dana Hills (8-2), Newbury Park (6-4) at Downey (6-4), and Hart (8-2) at Quartz Hill (9-1).
Division 5 includes the largest number of games in the first round. Agoura (9-1) meets Torrance (7-3) at Zamperini Stadium. Other matchups include Trabuco Hills (7-3) at Moorpark (8-2), Oaks Christian (3-7) at Temecula Valley (9-1), and Simi Valley (5-5) vs. El Dorado (8-2) at a site to be determined.
The remaining divisions feature specific pairings. Division 6 sees Paraclete (4-6) at Summit (8-2), Lancaster (7-3) at Laguna Beach (4-6), Glendora (6-4) at Calabasas (8-2), and Valley View (7-3) at St. Francis (5-5). Division 7 includes Saugus (7-3) at Citrus Valley (8-2) and Oak Park (7-3) at Serrano (6-4).
Harvard Westlake (6-4) plays Rio Hondo Prep (7-3) in Division 8 at a location to be determined. Division 10 pairs Royal (9-1) with Nogales (10-0) and Grace (8-2) with Granite Hills (6-4). Division 11 features Canyon Springs (7-3) at Crescenta Valley (6-4) and Viewpoint (8-2) at Hemet (6-4). The first round concludes with Antelope Valley (6-4) visiting Carter (8-2) in Division 12.
