The four official 2024 San Diego CIF flag football playoff brackets* [updated Nov. 11] are set.
Go here for complete season game schedules and results.

* The selection process divides the top 48 MaxPreps/Calpreps** state-ranked local teams into 4 equal size groups. The top 12 teams become Division I, the next 12 become Division II, and so on.

The top 4 seeds in each division get a first round bye and teams 5-12  are paired into a standard structure, similar to the national collegiate tackle football 12-team playoffs. Some minor adjustments avoid first-round same-league pairings.

**The entirely computer generated and proprietary MaxPreps.com/Calpreps.com ranking algorithm, based solely on wins and losses, plus the opponents strength of schedule, is described here.

Henrik Jonson, Webmaster

The Webmaster

The CIF flag playoff structure follows the format and selection process used for tackle football, one based on the Power Ranking algorithm of the MaxPreps/Calpreps system*.

Four divisions, based primarily on their state ranking, will be filled with 12 teams each, seeded per their ranking. League champions are guaranteed a spot, no matter their record or ranking. See Steve Brand’s tackle football scenarios. The playoff participants will be revealed Nov. 6, with first games Nov. 12.

All teams fell in the state rankings this week except Bonita Vista (12-5),  but all insignificantly, and the status quo dominated the local Top 10 list. Now No. 4,  Classical (20-4) dropped one state spot, although from 3 to 11 nationally. The Caimans topped No. 1 Newport Harbor (23-2) early in the season but were sunk by the Sailors, 37-0, last month.

Complete season game schedules and results here.

Top 10 San Diego Section teams, according to the MaxPreps/Calpreps ranking system*, as of Oct. 30:

Others in the state top 100: 57 Westview (12-2), 60 La Costa Canyon (10-3), 63 Mission Hills (9-3), 71 Poway (13-2), 87 San Marcos (12-3).

*The entirely computer generated and proprietary MaxPreps.com/CalPreps.com ranking algorithm, based solely on wins and losses, plus the opponents strength of schedule, is described here.

Henrik Jonson, Webmaster

519 MATCHES PLAYED, JUST 88 REMAINING

During the last 10 days of the regular season, most are focused on their League opponents, as the San Diego Section playoffs are on the horizon. The four brackets of 12 teams each will be revealed Nov. 6, with first games Nov. 12. All League champs are  automatically included.

Top rungs on the local ladder are held by state No. 3 Classical (19-4), No. 17 Mira Mesa (15-2), and climber No. 26 Torrey Pines (14-7), which won a 12-6 thriller over Mission Hills (9-3).  Calexico Vincent Memorial (12-2) lost to Brawley (16-6) but slipped just 1 rung. Our Lady of Peace rebounded with wins over Scripps Ranch (9-10) and Morse (7-8) to regain the No.  5 spot.

Complete season game schedules and results are here.

Top 10 San Diego Section teams, according to the MaxPreps ranking system*, as of Oct. 23:

Others in MaxPreps top 100: 58 La Costa Canyon (10-3), 62 Mission Hills (9-3), 64 Westview (11-2), 75 Poway (13-2), and 88 San Marcos (12-3). NR=Not Ranked.

* The entirely computer generated and proprietary MaxPreps.com ranking algorithm, based solely on wins and losses, plus the opponents strength of schedule, is described here.

Henrik Jonson, Webmaster

San Diego Section playoffs will consist of four divisions/brackets of 12 teams each, to be chosen by a CIF committee. Only criteria given is that seeding is based on record and MaxPreps* ranking, and brackets will include all League champions. Brackets reveal is on Nov 6.

The top 4 seeds get a first-round bye, then meet the winner of the 4 lower seed games.  D-II and D-IV start play Nov. 12, and D-I and D-III on Nov. 13. Home team will be the higher seed.

D-IV and D-II quarterfinals are Nov. 14, with DIII and D-I two days later.  Semifinals are Nov.19, at the higher seeds and finals Nov. 23, all games at a single site, to be announced.

“The Top 10 Club” spots remain with state No. 3 Classical (18-4) and Mira Mesa (14-2) at the vertex. It welcomes Mission Hills (8-2) to replace Grossmont at No. 10. Brawley went 4-0 for the week but crept up only one to ninth. The movers are Cathedral (11-3), rising to fourth, and Our Lady of Peace (15-6) falling to No. 8, after a 1-2 week.

Complete season game schedules and results are here.

Top 10 San Diego Section teams, according to the MaxPreps ranking system*, as of Oct. 17:

Others in MaxPreps top 100: 60 Grossmont (9-4), 62 Bonita Vista (9-5), 66 Westview (10-2), 74 Poway (11-2), and 88 San Marcos (11-3)

* The entirely computer generated and proprietary MaxPreps.com ranking algorithm, based solely on wins and losses, plus the opponents strength of schedule, is described here.

Henrik Jonson, Webmaster

State No. 3 Classical (17-4), with a 36-26 win over local No. 9 Torrey Pines (10-7), remains the team to emulate. A month is left in the season and more than 400 games have been played by 72 San Diego Section teams. The Caimans have played the most games (21) and the most out-of-section games (10).

With 152 more regular season contests scheduled, and the postseason creating an additional two dozen, the sum will near the Section preseason-predicted 600 total.

The local elite 10 remains a clique, with just minor reshuffling. Mira Mesa (13-2) stays at No. 2, with wins over San Diego (5-11) and Mission Bay (11-3). Our Lady of Peace (11-1), which was 12-3  in 2023, is once again a contender at No. 3, having bested Lincoln (4-3) and Kearny (6-8). The MaxPreps 100 welcomed Mission Hills (6-2) and dismissed Mission Bay (11-3).

Complete schedules and results are here.

Top 10 San Diego Section teams, according to the MaxPreps ranking system*, as of Oct. 10:

Others in MaxPreps top 100: 67 Westview (8-2), 70 Bonita Vista (7-5),  72 Poway (10-2),  86 San Marcos (10-2), 95 Mission Hills (6-2), 97 Imperial (10-5)

* The entirely computer generated and proprietary MaxPreps.com ranking algorithm, based solely on wins and losses, plus the opponents strength of schedule, is described here.

Henrik Jonson, Webmaster