2026 CIF LA City Section Football Playoffs: Round 1 Games and Predictions to Watch

Four divisions, 56 teams

The CIF LA City Section playoff brackets are set, with 56 programs divided among four divisions. The Open Division has eight teams; Divisions 1, 2 and 3 each have 16.

Carson is the Open Division’s No. 1 seed. Kennedy tops Division 1, Jefferson leads Division 2, and Roosevelt is the No. 1 seed in Division 3. The first-round matchups feature both reigning champions and teams looking to make a postseason run.

Open Division tests await

Carson, the reigning Open Division champion, is a heavy favorite this season. The team has allowed 11 points to City Section opponents, but Palisades will try to pull off an upset in its second straight year in the division.

Division 1 brings offense

Reigning Division 1 champion South Gate faces Hamilton. Hamilton has won four of its last five games, while South Gate is coming off a 41-24 loss to Huntington Park. Senior Nicholas Foncesa, the reigning Division 1 MVP, was injured in South Gate’s regular-season finale, and his status is unknown.

Garfield’s seeding may not reflect its potential as a Division 1 contender. Senior running back Ceasar Reyes leads the Bulldogs into a first-round meeting with Taft, described as a gritty opponent.

Sun Valley Poly arrives on a nine-game winning streak under first-year head coach Boo Williams. It faces Marshall, which is 10-0; the preview suggests the game could exceed 80 combined points.

Division 2 matchups to watch

Two run-focused offenses meet in a matchup expected to be close, with defensive stops likely to matter. Washington Prep has challenged opponents this season, and University coach Bryan Robinson called it “the most athletic team we played this season.” Arleta brings Division 2 experience.

Marquez, last season’s Division 1 championship-game participant, has lost nine straight after facing tough opposition. Its opponent, Legacy, is a small charter school with around 500 students that has made games difficult for every team it has faced.

North Hollywood’s strong running game could be important against Eagle Rock. Panorama junior running back Brandon Hernandez averages more than 200 rushing yards per game, while senior Verdugo Hills quarterback Jered Smith is also described as a key player.

More players and coaches

Contreras junior lineman Edy Ramirez is identified as a standout in an evenly matched game. Arroyo coach Milton Knox, described as a City Section legend, is set to make his playoff debut Friday.

Rancho Dominguez has a notable duo in Zion Leonard, Kawahi Leonard’s half brother, and Robert Wright. South East also enters the postseason with a group of athletes who could trouble opponents.