The Central Coast Section (CCS) has announced that beginning in the fall of 2026 it will create a new Division VI for high school football playoffs, a tier that will feature only teams classified in D Leagues. The decision comes as the section seeks to address longstanding concerns about mismatches between schools of different competitive ratings.
Division VI will be populated exclusively by D‑rated programs, ensuring that postseason matchups occur among schools of comparable size and resources. The Santa Lucia Division, which has been reclassified as a D League, will see its champion automatically advance to the Central Coast Section semifinals, while the overall D‑VI champion will not progress to the state‑level CIF NorCal Regional bowl game.
Structure and Intent Behind the New Division
The new division is designed to create a more even playing field by eliminating potential mismatches against teams from A, B, and C‑rated leagues. It will consist of four teams: the champions of the three D‑rated leagues across the section, plus one at‑large qualifier selected from among the D leagues. This format is expected to strengthen the other divisions and provide smaller schools with a realistic opportunity to contend for a CCS championship.
Coaches and administrators have voiced cautious optimism about the change. Joseph Manfre, athletics director at Pajaro Valley, believes the new structure gives teams a better chance to compete on a more equitable stage. Sergio Escobar, head coach of the Cardinals, added that the division offers a legitimate pathway for teams to win a CCS title, a prospect that previously felt out of reach for many programs.
Beyond the core four teams, the Santa Lucia Division will also include five additional schools — Gonzales, Greenfield, Marina, Rancho San Juan, and Seaside — alongside traditional powerhouses such as Santa Cruz and Harbor. Athletic directors note that coaches will need to be strategic in scheduling non‑league opponents, balancing competitive challenges with the need to manage injury risk.
The move also reshapes the landscape of other D‑rated leagues. The Peninsula Athletic League’s Lake Division and the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s West Valley Division remain the other two D Leagues, each poised to contribute champions to the new Division VI. The Central Coast Section, the Pacific Coast Athletic League, the Blossom Valley Athletic League, and the Peninsula Athletic League will all play integral roles in administering the new structure.