VOTE: Which team wins the Southern Section Division 1 title?

Division 1 in the Southern Section is the pinnacle of high school football in the west coast and has a strong case of being the most challenging division in the nation. Frequently, the winner of the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs ends up being a National Champion and the winner of the bracket always wins the State Open Division championship.

There are lots of talented teams in Southern California heading into the 2026 season, but these eight standout above the rest. Santa Margarita beat Centennial for the Division 1 championship last season and went on to beat De La Salle for the Open Division State championship two weeks later.

Before the season kicks off this weekend, we would love to hear who the readers think will win the Division 1 championship this November.

2025 record: 9-2. Last Div. 1 championship: 2022 Key Offensive Returners: Koa Malau’ulu Koa Malau’ulu 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB St. John Bosco | 2028 State CA , Darren Tubbs Jr Darren Tubbs Jr 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR St. John Bosco | 2028 State CA , Maliq Allen Maliq Allen 5'8" | 180 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2027 State CA , Gabriel Villalobos Gabriel Villalobos 6'1" | 310 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2027 State CA , Kaden Franco Kaden Franco 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2027 State CA . Key Defensive Returners: Isala Wily-Ava Isala Wily-Ava 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH St. John Bosco | 2027 State CA , Josiah Poyer Josiah Poyer 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2027 State CA , Ethan Coach Ethan Coach 6'2" | 205 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2027 State CA , Dorian Franklin Dorian Franklin 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB/WR St. John Bosco | 2027 State CA , Darnell Lacy Darnell Lacy 6'3" | 175 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2029 State CA , Dillon Davis Dillon Davis 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2027 State CA . Key New Additions: Elisha Mueller Elisha Mueller 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2028 State CA , Kingston Fatu Kingston Fatu 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Tustin | 2029 State CA

2025 record: 11-3. Last Div. 1 championship: 2025 Key Offensive Returners: Jaion Smith Jaion Smith 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Santa Margarita | 2028 State CA , Ryan Clark Ryan Clark 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Santa Margarita | 2028 State CA , Luke Gazzaniga Luke Gazzaniga 6'4" | 235 lbs | TE Santa Margarita Catholic | 2027 State CA , Adam Iloilo Jr. Adam Iloilo Jr. 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL Santa Margarita | 2029 State CA , Elyjah Aiava Elyjah Aiava 6'1" | 325 lbs | OL Santa Margarita | 2028 CA , Aaron Klatt Aaron Klatt 6'1" | 285 lbs | OL Santa Margarita | 2027 State CA . Key Defensive Returners: Isaia Vandermade Isaia Vandermade 6'4" | 285 lbs | DL Santa Margarita | 2027 State CA , Kingston Jimmerson Kingston Jimmerson 6'1" | 267 lbs | DL Santa Margarita | 2029 State CA , Jake Martin Jake Martin 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Santa Margarita Catholic | 2028 CA , Ca’ron Williams Ca’ron Williams 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Santa Margarita | 2028 State CA . Key New Additions: Matthew Smith Matthew Smith 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Santa Margarita | 2027 CA , Cruz Nunez, Grant Van Raaphorst

2025 record: 8-3. Last Div. 1 championship: 2024 Key Offensive Returners: Gavin Honore Gavin Honore 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Mater Dei | 2027 CA , Asir Nembhard Asir Nembhard 5'8" | 180 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2029 CA , Lex Mailangi Lex Mailangi 6'4" | 340 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2027 State CA , Adam Foglesong Adam Foglesong 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2027 State CA , Joe Hamby Joe Hamby 6'6" | 330 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2027 State CA . Key Defensive Returners: Mata Uiagalelei Mata Uiagalelei 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2027 State CA , Ezekiel Su’a Ezekiel Su’a 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2027 State CA , Montana Toilolo Montana Toilolo 6'3" | 255 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2027 State CA , Dailon Clanton Jr. Dailon Clanton Jr. 6'1" | 205 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2027 State CA , Troy Bishop Troy Bishop 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2028 State CA , Ace Leutele Ace Leutele 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2028 State CA , Danny Lang Danny Lang 6'1" | 155 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2027 State CA , K Patrick Hall K Patrick Hall 6'1" | 165 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2027 State CA , Mike Davis Mike Davis 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2027 State CA , Sosene Schuster Sosene Schuster 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2029 State CA . Key New Additions: Cameron Pooley Cameron Pooley 6'2" | 220 lbs | QB Mater Dei | 2027 State CA , Russell Sekona Russell Sekona 6'3" | 230 lbs | QB Mater Dei | 2028 State CA , Isaiah Danns Isaiah Danns 5'11" | 160 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2029 State CA

2025 record: 10-1. Last CIF championship: 2022 (Div. 2) Key Offensive Returners: Jaxson Stokes, King Webb King Webb 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH Sierra Canyon School | 2028 State CA , Micah Slade Micah Slade 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Sierra Canyon School | 2028 State CA , Tyson Seidman Tyson Seidman 6'4" | 315 lbs | OL Sierra Canyon School | 2027 State CA , Braydenn Mercer Braydenn Mercer 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Sierra Canyon School | 2027 State CA , Lance Ciechanowski Lance Ciechanowski 6'6" | 275 lbs | OL Sierra Canyon School | 2028 State CA . Key Defensive Returners: Myles Baker Myles Baker 6'2" | 195 lbs | DB Sierra Canyon School | 2027 State CA , Faruq Muhammad Faruq Muhammad 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Sierra Canyon School | 2027 State CA , Damion Garrison, Kasi Currie Kasi Currie 6'6" | 285 lbs | DL Sierra Canyon School | 2027 State CA , Stephan Harrison Stephan Harrison 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Sierra Canyon School | 2029 State CA . Key New Additions: Marcus Fakatou Marcus Fakatou 6'7" | 275 lbs | DL Sierra Canyon School | 2027 State CA , Mykel Ramos Mykel Ramos 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Sierra Canyon School | 2028 State CA , Duvay Williams Duvay Williams 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Sierra Canyon School | 2027 State CA , Cooper Cook Cooper Cook 6'3" | 245 lbs | DL Sierra Canyon School | 2027 CA

2025 record: 11-2. Last Div. 1 championship: 2015 Key Offensive Returners: Malaki Davis Malaki Davis 6'1" | 215 lbs | RB Centennial | 2028 State CA , Braylin Drake Braylin Drake 6'0" | 210 lbs | RB Centennial | 2027 CA , Gavin Lorge Gavin Lorge 6'2" | 190 lbs | WR Centennial | 2027 State CA , Jaden Bynum, Xavier Baca Xavier Baca 6'4" | 291 lbs | OL Centennial | 2028 State CA , Saik Fiataugaluia, Nicolas Blum-Smith. Key Defensive Returners: Jaden Walk-Green Jaden Walk-Green 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Centennial | 2027 State CA , Dean Gibson Dean Gibson 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Centennial | 2027 State CA , Andre Pommells Jr., Brett Smith Brett Smith 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Centennial | 2027 State CA , Matt Salmeron, Chase Wallner, Miles Schirmer Miles Schirmer 6'5" | 250 lbs | DL Centennial | 2027 State CA , Lucky Schirmer, Jordan Kirkpatrick Jordan Kirkpatrick 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Centennial | 2028 State CA . Key New Additions: Jaden Jefferson Jaden Jefferson 5'9" | 170 lbs | QB Centennial-Corona | 2027 State CA , Quentin Hale Quentin Hale 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Centennial-Corona | 2027 State CA , Kennie Leggett Jr Kennie Leggett Jr 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Centennial-Corona | 2027 State CA ., Harvey Millan Harvey Millan 5'11" | 201 lbs | LB/DB Mater Dei | 2028 CA , Kye Duval Kye Duval 6'1" | 225 lbs | LB Centennial-Corona | 2028 State CA

2025 record: 9-2. Last CIF championship: 2023 (Div. 2) Key Offensive Returners: Jack Junker Jack Junker 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR/ATH Mission Viejo | 2027 State CA , Dylan Felli Dylan Felli 6'4" | 265 lbs | OL Mission Viejo | 2027 CA , Luke Karby Luke Karby 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Mission Viejo | 2027 State CA , Max Markofski Max Markofski 6'5" | 230 lbs | TE/WR Mission Viejo | 2027 State CA , Tyler Johnson Tyler Johnson 6'5" | 280 lbs | OL Mission Viejo | 2027 CA , Amaziah Siale Amaziah Siale 6'6" | 330 lbs | OL Mission Viejo | 2027 State CA , Baxter Middagh. Key Defensive Returners: Jordan Hicks Jordan Hicks 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Mission Viejo | 2028 State CA , Bryce Warner, Cash Gervase Cash Gervase 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Mission Viejo | 2027 State CA , Noah Lee, JoJo Reed. Key New Additions: Kiingbaraka Kizzee Kiingbaraka Kizzee 6'3" | 180 lbs | DB Mission Viejo | 2029 State CA

2025 Record: 3-9. Last CIF championship: 2021 (Div. 2) Key Offensive Returners: Reagan Toki Reagan Toki 5'10" | 190 lbs | QB Orange Lutheran | 2027 CA , Ezrah Brown Ezrah Brown 6'2" | 170 lbs | QB Orange Lutheran | 2029 State CA , Nico Bland Nico Bland 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Orange Lutheran | 2027 State CA , Chris Flores Chris Flores 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR Orange Lutheran | 2027 State CA , Raiden Velasquez, Lucas Rhoa Lucas Rhoa 6'5" | 305 lbs | OL Orange Lutheran | 2027 State CA , Mario Luna Mario Luna 6'2" | 290 lbs | OL Orange Lutheran | 2029 State CA , Troy Oliva Troy Oliva 6'2" | 280 lbs | OL Orange Lutheran | 2027 State CA . Key Defensive Returners: Chauncey Washington Chauncey Washington 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Orange Lutheran | 2028 State CA , Anhor Johnson Anhor Johnson 5'10" | 155 lbs | DB Orange Lutheran | 2028 State CA , King Rich Johnson King Rich Johnson 5'10" | 155 lbs | DB Orange Lutheran | 2028 State CA , Matthew Zapien Matthew Zapien 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Orange Lutheran | 2027 CA , Anthony McClure. Key New Additions: Hudson Ploog Hudson Ploog 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE Orange Lutheran | 2027 State CA , Austin Attalah Austin Attalah 6'8" | 280 lbs | OL Orange Lutheran | 2028 State CA

2025 Record: 7-5. Last CIF championship: None Key Offensive Returners: Dane Weber Dane Weber 6'2" | 215 lbs | QB Chaparral | 2027 State CA , Michael "Kiko" Farinas, Eli Woodard Eli Woodard 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Chaparral | 2027 State CA , Tycen Johnson Tycen Johnson 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Chaparral | 2027 State CA , Chase Bonta Chase Bonta 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Chaparral | 2027 State CA , Axton Lange Axton Lange 6'8" | 290 lbs | OL Chaparral | 2028 State CA , Caeden Weaver Caeden Weaver 5'11" | 300 lbs | OL Chaparral | 2028 State CA . Key Defensive Returners: Kameron Payne Kameron Payne 6'2" | 245 lbs | DL Chaparral | 2027 State CA , Connor Rios, Caleb Joy, Kayden Dominguez