Previous Polls
SAN MATEO – Undefeated Mt. San Antonio College Concludes Regular Season as Sole Unbeaten Team in National Division, Finishing with a Perfect 10-0 Record
Mt. San Antonio College, led by its impressive performance, has taken the top spot in the JC Athletic Bureau poll of California Community College Football Coaches Association members, receiving 15 first-place votes and amassing a total of 397 points. Defending state champion Riverside City College, with a 9-1 record, secured the second position with 380 points, narrowly edging out 2-time reigning Northern California champion College of San Mateo, which finished with 369 points. Notably, the top three teams have maintained their positions from the previous week, while teams ranked 4-9 have undergone changes.
The top three teams have also secured the top seedings for the 3C2A state championships, set to commence on Saturday, November 30, with region semifinal games. The Southern California pairings feature Mt. SAC hosting ninth-ranked El Camino, which boasts a 7-3 record and is seeded fourth. Meanwhile, Riverside will entertain state No. 8 San Diego Mesa, which garnered the region’s at-large bid and No. 3 seed, with a 8-2 record. In the north, state No. 10 American River will face off against San Mateo, while sixth-ranked Fresno City College will take on No. 5 Modesto JC. The higher seeds will host region finals on December 7, with the north champion earning the right to host the 2024 state title game.
Riverside and San Mateo have a storied history, having split their last two state final meetings. Riverside emerged victorious in 2023, securing a 24-21 win on a game-ending field goal. Interestingly, three of the four playoff openers will be rematches of 2024 season contests. Mt. SAC, which did not face any playoff teams during its 10-0 season run, will look to continue its winning streak. In the south, Riverside has faced playoff teams, including a 62-41 shootout against SD Mesa that decided the Southern League title on November 9, and a 70-45 non-league contest against El Camino.
All four NorCal teams have faced each other, with San Mateo and Modesto posting a 2-1 record against the field. San Mateo’s sole loss came at Modesto, with a 23-20 scoreline, while Modesto fell to American River, 31-20. Fresno and ARC each went 1-2, with the Rams beating American River but losing to Modesto, 31-27, in a game that decided the Valley League title. ARC has won five consecutive games since losing its last two non-league contests to Fresno and CSM.
The only top ten ranked teams not participating in the playoffs are No. 4 Butte and No. 7 Golden West, which have been selected to host regional bowl games. Golden West’s 22-7 non-league loss to Mesa proved to be a deciding factor in the south at-large team selection.
The American Division has region-sponsored championship bowls, featuring Chaffey visiting No. 19 ranked Pasadena CC on November 30, and No. 25 De Anza playing at No. 24 Monterey Peninsula on December 7. The latter matchup marks the USA’s only contest between two 10-0 JC/CC football teams.
The final 2024 poll will be released following the 3C2A state championship.
(Fred Baer, JC Athletic Bureau)
