The CCS petitioning deadline for teams requesting to play above their natural enrollment level for the CCS football playoffs passed October 7th, and three local programs were on the list requesting to play at the Division I level. Palma, the two-time defending CCS Division I champions, Salinas, the defending CCS Division II champions, and Hollister have petitioned to play at the highest competitive D1 playoff level. 

Petitioning teams must accumulate enough power points (a point system that weights strength of schedule, victories, league championships, league strength) to qualify for play above their natural enrollment level. The CCS considers the new TCAL an "A" league, and the modified MBL, MTAL and SCCAL as "B" leagues. Teams accumulate more points when they play an "A" league team than they play a "B" league team.

With several natural Division 1 schools also vying for Division 1 playoff spots this year, the competition for one of the eight slots will be strong. If Bellarmine (2-3), Oak Grove (4-2), Watsonville (5-0),  Independence (4-1), Silver Creek (4-1) and Milpitas (4-1) all qualify to play at the D1 level, teams with higher enrollment levels are given priority. The CCS website lists the following enrollments levels (and playoff pecking order) for these teams:

Playoff participants and team division assignments will be determined at the CCS football seeding meetings held November 17th after the conclusion of regular season play.