Sac-Joaquin Section passes bylaw to shift football playoff format, implements bowl games

A major change is coming to Sac-Joaquin Section football. Member schools overwhelmingly approved a new bylaw this week that will shorten the season by one week and reduce all playoff brackets from 12 to eight teams. The amendment, proposed by the Football Advisory Committee, passed by a vote of 55-2 and will take effect immediately. Under the new format, seeds 1-8 in each division will compete for section championships and CIF NorCal Regional berths, while teams ranked 9-16 will now be eligible for postseason bowl games. The change aims to streamline the postseason schedule and create more competitive matchups while giving additional programs an opportunity to end their seasons with a meaningful game. Placer High School Athletic Director Mike Sabins was the Foothill Valley League representative on the Board of Managers and said the proposal was passed unanimously among the league's ADs at a meeting last week, prompting him to vote in favor of the bowls. "This proposal came to us last year as a first read to take a look at it when it was proposed. The section took a look at the past success of teams seeded 9-16 in the playoffs and I think there was one time in 14 years that they made it past the quarterfinals," said Sabins. "This gives those teams an opportunity to play one more game that means something and then they can get right onto their sports if they play winter sports." Coaches across the section have mixed reviews on the new bylaw, noting they like the idea of teams getting a bye week to rest while bowl games are played but also that they dislike it being harder to make the playoffs. "I'm in a wait-and-see spot," said Placer coach Joey Montoya. "I see the reason behind it and if it gives those 9-16 seeds a way to end the season well, then it's a good thing. It also makes it tougher to get into the dance and someone who has a very hard preseason might be kept out because they struggled early but maybe got better later." Montoya pointed out some teams may be reluctant to schedule harder nonleague opponents to ensure they are in the postseason. "I'm not sure how I feel about it. I like the playoffs we had. I thought it created competitive matchups. I think this format will be OK, but the bowl games might create a bunch of unforeseen issues," said Lincoln coach Allen Berg. "What if winter sport athletes decide not to play? I know a nine or 10 seed probably has not won a section championship, but all rounds of games were pretty competitive unless there was a dominant team in that bracket." Berg also noted there will always be people unhappy with the playoff format no matter the decision that is made. Bear River coach Jeremy Kerr said he is not a fan of the new format, noting the Bruins went 8-2 last season but were the 10 seed and wouldn't be in the playoffs under this new system. "All the hard work of the season would come down to one bowl game. It really hurts the teams with winning records that are in lesser-ranked leagues," said Kerr. "Scheduling a good preseason is a crapshoot because you can't guarantee that you'll play a team that will help your ranking. Higher-ranked teams won't want to play lower-ranked teams because it could hurt their playoff chances." There are also questions about how seeding would work and if the four-win minimum still applies for postseason qualification. In Division V, there are six teams with at least four wins currently. Oakmont and Rio Linda, both 3-3, would round out the playoff bracket with the seventh and eighth seeds. Of the teams ranked 9-16, only No. 14 Foothill and No. 15 Center have at least three wins. In Division II, Chavez of Stockton is 7-0 but ranked eighth, meaning if it doesn't go undefeated, it may miss the playoffs and be in a bowl game instead. It has also been reported that league champions are not guaranteed a playoff spot if they don't fall into the top eight rankings. Coaches, parents and fans expressed their opinions on the new ruling on X underneath the section's post announcing the rule change, with the voices overwhelmingly against the move. Jake Kincaid, an assistant coach at American River College, said, "This is the biggest slap in the face to student-athletes. Work hard all season, go on a run and win your league, then potentially get 'rewarded' with just a bowl game? Not to mention this being implemented immediately derails the hopes of many teams this season, midseason." Many others questioned the section implementing this system four weeks before the postseason and asked why it wouldn't be implemented next year instead. Though concerns were raised about introducing the format midseason and a 2026 start was suggested, the talks of waiting a year died out and the board ultimately voted to implement it this season.