California High School Football Computer Rankings (10/22/2024)

Week 8 of the 2024 California high school football season is almost upon us and High School on SI unveils its latest computer rankings for the state.

They look very different from the human rankings, but that’s exactly what makes them interesting.

SBLive’s formula was created using the linear algebra-based ranking algorithm inspired by the Colley Bias-Free Ranking method. Colley’s method was developed by Wes Colley, Ph.D., an astrophysicist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He developed his algorithm to address the subjectivity and controversy surrounding BCS college football selection in the 1990s and early 2000s using a method that did not use subjective variables.

In the Southern Section, the top two teams at the top – both in the nation and state – No. 1 Mater Dei and St. John Bosco are also ranked No. 1 and No. 2 on the computers after tough wins in the Trinity League last week -Rankings.

The two Trinity League, sectional, state and national powers have combined to win every CIF Open Division title game since 2015. In every season except 2021 – there was no 2020 season due to the pandemic – the teams met for the Southern Section crown.

The winner of the regular season game doesn’t always have the upper hand in the playoffs. In fact, the teams split their two meetings in 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2023. Last season was a prime example of how the regular season showdown obviously creates a revenge factor, as Bosco won in October (28-0) but lost by the same margin in the group finals (35-7).

Both teams were victorious the Friday before this week’s game, as Mater Dei defeated No. 11 JSerra Catholic 41-17 and St. John Bosco defeated then-No. 8 Servite 27-17.

1,235 points

1,194 points

1,122 points

1,054 points

1,042 points

In a 1-on-2 battle last week, Oregon-bound QB Akili Smith completed 13 of 20 for 189 yards and a touchdown, and Aden Jackson and Junior Curtis combined for 182 yards and three scores as No. 1 Lincoln died No. 2 Cathedral Catholic, 27-7.

1. Lincoln (6-2)

.938 points

2. Catholic Cathedral (6-2)

.935 points

3. La Costa Canyon (8-0)

.921 points

4. Rancho Bernardo (7-1)

.890 points

5. Mission Hills (6-2)

.885 points

All eyes will be on Sofi Stadium on Friday for the East LA Classic, pitting No. 1 Garfield against Roosevelt. Last week saw one of the state’s games of the year as Venice defeated Palisades 45-44.

1. Garfiled (6-2)

.817 points

2. San Pedro (6-3)

.807 points

3. Narbonne (6-2)

.806 points

4. Carson (5-3)

.795 points

5. Birmingham (3-4)

.790 points

The vaunted Tri-River Athletic Conference is full steam ahead, and last week top-ranked Clovis East defeated No. 8 Clovis 52-33 as Tyus Miller threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns and Lindsey Graves, Tyrone Bishop and Caleb Slocum each ran for touchdowns, offsetting a 154-yard rushing performance from Maddox Merrill.

Fourth-ranked Clovis North took care of No. 6 Buchanan, which fell 13 spots to No. 19 with a score of 51-14, as Jackson Cinfel ran 18 times for 160 yards and two touchdowns and Mckay Madsen scored three scores. Luca Smith was an efficient 12 of 16 for 130 yards and two touchdowns for Ramzee Hamm.

1. Clovis East (8-0)

1,139 pts

2. Hanford (8-0)

1,005 points

3. Arroyo Grande (7-1)

.963 points

4. Clovis North (6-2)

.924 points

5. Central (6-2)

.906 points

Somehow, the section’s No. 1 team, Saint Francis, fell three spots to No. 4 after trailing 13-0 at halftime and scored 27 unanswered points in the second half, led by the section’s leading rusher, Kingston Keanianna , who finished with 211 yards and three touchdowns. HostSt. hit. Ignatius, 27-13. St. Ignatius fell to No. 5 in the computer rankings.

1. Carmel (7-0)

.978 points

2. Los Gatos (6-1)

.934 points

3. Christopher (7-1)

.912 points

4. Saint Francis (6-1)

.910 points

5. St. Ignatius (5-2)

.909 points

Top-ranked Lincoln had little trouble winning its 12th straight Bell Game 54-0 against Washington as junior running back Michael Washington rushed for 159 yards and three touchdowns.

According to Ethan Kassel, the Mustangs had a 392-84 yardage margin and won their 32nd straight Academic Athletic Association game overall.

1. Lincoln (4-2)

.567 points

2. Balboa (3-4)

.440 points

3. Lowell (2-4)

.359 points

4th Mission (2-4)

.296 points

5. Galileo (1-5)

.214 points

In the duel between the two top teams, it wasn’t much of a battle at all, as top-ranked De La Salle jumped out to a 35-0 lead early in the second quarter to secure a 42-14 win over San Ramon Gorge. A spectacular 89-yard kickoff return by Jaden Jefferson set the tone, and Dom Kelley added touchdown runs of 4 and 81 yards. San Ramon Valley fell just one spot in the computer rankings to No. 3 despite two touchdown passes from Rhett Thompson.

1. De La Salle (6-0)

1,146 points

2. Cardinal Newman (7-0)

1,062 points

3. San Ramon Valley (7-1)

1,004 points

4. Pittsburg (6-1)

.985 points

5. San Marin (6-1)

.946 points

OAKLAND SECTION

Due to a fight that ended the McClymonds-Oakland game two minutes into the second quarter, the data for this period is somewhat skewed. McClymonds was awarded a 21-0 win, which wasn’t reflected here, leaving them in second place, although the Warriors haven’t lost to an Oakland Section team on the field since 2009. McClymonds and Oakland each lost games last week because they didn’t have enough players on the teams.

1.Oakland (4-2)

.584 points

2. McClymonds (2-4)

.523 points

3. Oakland Tech (3-3)

.484 points

4. Castlemont (3-3)

.440 points

5. Skyline (1-5)

.210 points

Top-ranked Folsom built a 42-0 lead at halftime and then got a lot of players into the game as seven different players scored touchdowns, with junior receiver Jason Hill Jr. being the only one in a 69-7 win over Whitney scored two goals. Five-star QB Ryder Lyons was 16 of 23 for 171 yards and five touchdowns, while Carter Jackson and Daymion Rivera combined for 11 carries, 122 yards and a touchdown.

1. Folsom (7-1)

1,100 points

2. St Mary’s (6-2)

1,090 points

3. Twelve Bridges (8-0)

1,008 points

4. Hughson (8-1)

.916 points

5. Rocklin (7-1)

.914 points

NORTH SECTION

Second-ranked Winters remains on a destructive path with a 48-0 win over East Nicolause, a week after beating Colusa by the same score. This season, the Warriors, who are coming off a 77-0 win over Rio Vista, have outscored their opponents 307-43.

1. Foothills (7-1)

.929 points

2. Winter (7-0)

.855 points

3. Company (5-1)

.825 points

4. Shasta (5-2)

.816 points

5. Red Bluff (5-2)

.797 points