The 2024 season is officially in full swing and the race for the 2024 Dirty 30 title has never been closer. The season has seen tight games and upsets, with no real clear dominating force thus far.
The top eight programs are separated by an eyelash, with Hutchinson currently leading the pack. The Blue Dragons have played three solid opponents out of the gate, and a couple of narrow wins over the past two weekends has kept them undefeated. This last weekend Hutch escaped with a 33-30 win against No. 26 Iowa Western in overtime after rallying from a two-score deficit. The Blue Dragons get a ye this week.
Gulf Coast is now 3-0 in the Mississippi ranks after nipping Jones, 27-20, on Thursday night. The Bulldogs have now beaten two of the power programs from the Magnolia ranks in three weeks, giving them the early advantage. This week the No. 2 Bulldogs get Southwest CC, which should provide a bit more breathing room.
Mt. San Antonio College leads the way out west after beating a solid Ventura squad to improve to 2-0. The Mounties trailed early but then rattled off 19 straight points in turning back the Pirates. At No. 3 in the Dirty 30 Rankings, Mt. SAC now travels to a red-hot Allan Hancock program that moved on to the big board at No. 30 to start the week.
The Northern California ranks look like a two-team race between former Dirty 30 champion San Mateo and Modesto Junior College. The duo is right next to one another in the rankings with Modesto coming in at No. 5 and San Mateo No. 6. The two teams play each other this week in a top-10 battle, with the winner coming out the early leader in the race for the NorCal title.
The Mississippi ranks have a new challenger in Holmes, who comes in at No. 7 in the rankings after beating Coahoma, 42-23. The Bulldogs are now 3-0 with a battle at Northeast Mississippi on Thursday.
Golden West College popped into the top-10 this week at No. 8 after an exciting win over last season’s Dirty 30 co-champ Riverside City. The Rustlers scored with a minute remaining to stun the Tigers and improve to 2-0. Golden West now faces No. 12 San Diego Mesa, who has outscored opponents 77-8 over the first two weeks.
The rest of the Dirty 30 Rankings follow. Just a reminder, the Dirty 30 Rankings do not include games against club teams, prep schools, non-CCCAA, non-NJCAA or non-HJCAC programs in its rankings.