The CIF State Federated Council voted Friday to approve a proposal that will expand the state football playoffs to 51 teams and to as many as 13 bowl championship games.
The measure passed, 71-64, despite opposition from the CIF’s largest section, the Southern, which includes all of Orange County. Two other sections also voted against the proposal, Central Coast and North Coast.
Under the current format, 18 teams are selected by a committee to participate in the two-round CIF State playoffs system, which includes one regional round and five state championship bowl games.
The new format, which will begin next season, will give a spot in the state playoffs to every team that wins a section championship. Teams will be allowed to decline a chance to participate in the state playoffs, but must do so before the second game of their section playoffs.
There could be as many as 13 state championship bowl games under the new format, and they will be played throughout the state.
There will be two Open Division games — one for all teams and one for teams with an enrollment of 1,500 or below.
