CIF-SS moves toward dramatic change in football playoff system

La Serna head coach Margarito Beltran holds up the championship plaque as La Serna's Frankie Palmer (9) reacts with his teammates after defeating Norwalk in double over-time 41-38 during a CIF-SS Southeast Division championship football game at Cal State Fullerton stadium in Fullerton, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. (Keith Birmingham Pasadena Star-News)

La Serna head coach Margarito Beltran holds up the championship plaque as La Serna’s Frankie Palmer (9) reacts with his teammates after defeating Norwalk in double over-time 41-38 during a CIF-SS Southeast Division championship football game at Cal State Fullerton stadium in Fullerton, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. (Keith Birmingham Pasadena Star-News)

A CIF-Southern Section high school football postseason in which playoff divisions are determined by teams, not leagues, got one step closer to becoming a reality on Thursday.The Southern Section Executive Committee agreed to move forward with the concept of creating playoff divisions for football based solely on the competitive equity of teams. The concept will soon become a proposal made to the Southern Section Council at its Oct. 6 meeting. That would be followed by a vote of league representatives in January. The new format could be in place by the 2016-17 school year.“We want to make a difference,” CIF-Southern Section commissioner Rob Wigod said. “If you’re in a leadership position, it’s your job and responsibility to make a difference. And I firmly believe this could be one of the biggest differences made in the Southern Section in our over 100 years of history. I really believe that.“This is a major change from what we’ve been doing.”

Steve’s take: I like it. This should pave the way for more-balanced playoff brackets. Also when a team dominates in a division, the entire league doesn’t have to suffer when CIF-SS decides that team should play in a more-challenging division. Teams, over a two-year period, will be placed in a division that is equal to their talent level. It looks all positive.

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