2023 junior college football season

2023 junior college football season
National ChampionshipRed Grange Bowl, Glen Ellyn, IL, (NJCAA D-III)
ChampionIowa Western (NJCAA D-I)
DuPage (NJCAA D-III)
Riverside City (3C2A)
  • ← 2022
  • junior college football season

The 2023 junior college football season was the season of intercollegiate junior college football running from September to December 2023. The season ended with three national champions: two from the National Junior College Athletic Association's (NJCAA) Division I and Division III and one from the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A).

The NJCAA Division I champion was Iowa Western who defeated East Mississippi 61–14 in the NJCAA National Football Championship.[1] The NJCAA Division III champion was DuPage who defeated Rochester C&T 33–29 in the Red Grange Bowl.[2] The CCCAA champion was Riverside City who defeated San Mateo 24–21 in the 3C2A State Championship.[3]

Conference changes and new programs

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Membership changes

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Team Former conference New conference Source
ASA Miami D-III independent School closed [4]
Moorpark American Pacific (APL) National Northern (NNL)
El Camino National Central (NCL) National Northern (NNL)
Antelope Valley American Pacific (APL) National Northern (NNL)
Santa Barbara City American Pacific (APL) National Northern (NNL)
Citrus American Metro (AML) National Central (NCL)
Long Beach City National Northern (NNL) National Central (NCL)
Orange Coast American Metro (AML) National Central (NCL)
Golden West National Southern (NSL) National Central (NCL)
San Bernardino Valley National Southern (NSL) National Central (NCL)
East Los Angeles National Northern (NNL) National Central (NCL)
Riverside City National Central (NCL) National Southern (NSL)
Grossmont American Mountain (AML) National Southern (NSL)
Mt. San Jacinto American Mountain (AML) National Southern (NSL)
Desert American Mountain (AML) American Metro (AML)
Chaffey National Central (NCL) American Metro (AML)
Victor Valley American Mountain (AML) American Metro (AML)
Compton American Mountain (AML) American Metro (AML)
Pasadena City American Mountain (AML) American Pacific (APL)
Glendale (CA) American Metro (AML) American Pacific (APL)
Los Angeles Southwest American Metro (AML) American Pacific (APL)

Conference standings

[edit]

NJCAA Division I

[edit]
2023 Iowa Community College Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 1 Iowa Western $^   2 – 0     12 – 1  
No. 7 Iowa Central   1 – 1     7 – 4  
Ellsworth   0 – 2     2 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NJCAA Division I playoff participant
Rankings from NJCAA Division I poll
2023 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 3 Hutchinson $^   6 – 0     10 – 1  
No. 6 Dodge City   5 – 1     8 – 3  
No. 15 Highland (KS)   3 – 3     6 – 5  
Garden City   3 – 3     5 – 6  
Butler (KS)   2 – 4     5 – 5  
Coffeyville   1 – 5     3 – 7  
Independence   1 – 5     2 – 8  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NJCAA Division I playoff participant
Rankings from NJCAA Division I poll
2023 Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
North Division
No. 2 East Mississippi #x$^   6 – 0     10 – 3  
No. 13 Northwest Mississippi #   5 – 1     7 – 3  
Northeast Mississippi   4 – 2     6 – 3  
Holmes   3 – 3     6 – 3  
Itawamba   2 – 4     3 – 6  
Mississippi Delta   1 – 5     2 – 7  
Coahoma   0 – 6     1 – 8  
South Division
No. 4 Copiah–Lincoln #x   5 – 1     10 – 2  
No. 8 Mississippi Gulf Coast #x   5 – 1     8 – 2  
Jones (MS) x   5 – 1     6 – 3  
Hinds   3 – 3     3 – 6  
East Central (MS)   2 – 4     4 – 5  
Pearl River   1 – 5     1 – 8  
Southwest Mississippi   0 – 6     1 – 8  
Championship: East Mississippi 27, Copiah–Lincoln 20
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • ^ – NJCAA Division I playoff participant
    # – MACJC playoff participant
Rankings from NJCAA Division I poll
2023 Northeast Football Conference standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 14 Lackawanna $   2 – 0     7 – 3  
Monroe College   0 – 2     6 – 5  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NJCAA Division I poll
2023 Southwest Junior College Football Conference standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 5 Kilgore $^   7 – 1     9 – 2  
No. 10 Trinity Valley   5 – 2     7 – 3  
No. 12 Navarro   5 – 3     6 – 5  
Tyler   4 – 3     5 – 4  
New Mexico Military   4 – 3     6 – 6  
Cisco   3 – 4     4 – 4  
Blinn   1 – 6     3 – 6  
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M   0 – 7     0 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NJCAA Division I playoff participant
Rankings from NJCAA Division I poll
2023 NJCAA Division I independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Sussex County   –   8 – 2 – 0
No. 9 Snow   –   9 – 3 – 0
No. 11 Georgia Military   –   7 – 4 – 0
Community Christian (MI)   –   0 – 6 – 2
Community Christian (CA)   –   0 – 3 – 0
Rankings from NJCAA Division I poll

NJCAA Division III

[edit]
2023 Minnesota College Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 Rochester C&T y$^   5 – 1     8 – 3  
No. 3 NDSCS y   4 – 1     8 – 3  
No. 4 Mesabi Range   4 – 2     5 – 4  
Minnesota State C&T   4 – 2     4 – 4  
Central Lakes   3 – 4     4 – 6  
Vermilion   1 – 5     1 – 6  
Minnesota West C&T   0 – 6     0 – 7  
Championship: Rochester C&T 24, NDSCS 16
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – Red Grange Bowl participate
Rankings from NJCAA Division III poll
2023 NJCAA Division III independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 DuPage ^   –   11 – 1 – 0
Louisburg   –   5 – 4 – 0
Hudson Valley   –   5 – 5 – 0
Nassau   –   5 – 5 – 0
Erie   –   3 – 7 – 0
Hocking   –   0 – 9 – 2
Rankings from NJCAA Division III poll

3C2A

[edit]

SCFA

[edit]
2023 American Metro League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 23 Chaffey $   5 – 0     11 – 0  
Santa Ana   4 – 1     9 – 2  
Desert   3 – 2     6 – 5  
West Los Angeles   2 – 3     2 – 8  
Victor Valley   1 – 4     1 – 9  
Compton   0 – 5     0 – 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from 3C2A poll
2023 American Pacific League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Pasadena City $   5 – 0     9 – 2  
Glendale (CA)   3 – 2     6 – 4  
Los Angeles Southwest   3 – 2     6 – 4  
Santa Monica   3 – 2     5 – 5  
Los Angeles Valley   1 – 4     4 – 6  
Pierce   0 – 5     3 – 7  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from 3C2A poll
2023 National Central League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 4 Mt. San Antonio $^   7 – 0     10 – 1  
No. 9 Golden West   6 – 1     8 – 3  
No. 11 Citrus   4 – 3     8 – 3  
No. 15 East Los Angeles   4 – 3     7 – 4  
No. 21 Cerritos   3 – 4     5 – 5  
Long Beach City   3 – 4     4 – 6  
Orange Coast   1 – 6     1 – 9  
San Bernardino Valley   0 – 7     1 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – 3C2A playoff participant
Rankings from 3C2A poll
2023 National Northern League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 6 Ventura +^   6 – 1     8 – 4  
No. 13 Allan Hancock +   6 – 1     7 – 4  
No. 18 College of the Canyons   5 – 2     6 – 5  
No. 12 El Camino   4 – 3     7 – 4  
No. 20 Bakersfield   4 – 3     6 – 5  
Santa Barbara City   2 – 5     4 – 6  
Moorpark   1 – 6     3 – 7  
Antelope Valley   0 – 7     1 – 9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – 3C2A playoff participant
Rankings from 3C2A poll
2023 National Southern League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 5 Fullerton $^   7 – 0     10 – 1  
No. 1 Riverside City ^   6 – 1     12 – 1  
No. 14 San Diego Mesa   4 – 3     7 – 4  
No. 25 Saddleback   4 – 3     5 – 5  
Mt. San Jacinto   4 – 3     4 – 6  
Palomar   2 – 5     3 – 7  
Southwestern (CA)   1 – 6     1 – 9  
Grossmont   0 – 7     0 – 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – 3C2A playoff participant
Rankings from 3C2A poll

NCFC

[edit]
2023 American Golden Coast League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Monterey Peninsula $   6 – 0     8 – 3  
San Jose City   5 – 1     8 – 2  
Hartnell   3 – 3     7 – 4  
Cabrillo   3 – 3     6 – 4  
West Hills Coalinga   2 – 4     5 – 5  
Merced   2 – 4     3 – 7  
Gavilan   0 – 6     0 – 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from 3C2A poll
2023 American Pacific 7 League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 22 Foothill $   5 – 0     11 – 0  
College of the Redwoods   4 – 1     9 – 2  
Los Medanos   3 – 2     5 – 5  
De Anza   1 – 4     2 – 8  
College of the Siskiyous   1 – 4     2 – 8  
Yuba   1 – 4     1 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from 3C2A poll
2023 National Bay 6 League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 San Mateo $^   5 – 0     11 – 2  
No. 7 CC of San Francisco ^   4 – 1     9 – 2  
Laney   3 – 2     4 – 6  
San Joaquin Delta   2 – 3     3 – 7  
Diablo Valley   1 – 4     2 – 8  
Chabot   0 – 5     0 – 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – 3C2A playoff participant
Rankings from 3C2A poll
2023 National Norcal League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 3 American River $^   5 – 0     10 – 2  
No. 8 Butte   4 – 1     9 – 2  
No. 24 Sierra   2 – 3     5 – 6  
Feather River   2 – 3     3 – 7  
Santa Rosa   2 – 3     3 – 7  
Shasta   0 – 5     1 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – 3C2A playoff participant
Rankings from 3C2A poll
2023 National Valley League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 10 Modesto $^   5 – 0     7 – 4  
No. 17 Fresno City   4 – 1     6 – 5  
No. 16 Reedley   3 – 2     7 – 4  
No. 19 College of the Sequoias   2 – 3     6 – 5  
Sacramento City   1 – 4     4 – 6  
Contra Costa   0 – 5     6 – 5  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – 3C2A playoff participant
Rankings from 3C2A poll

Postseason

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Playoffs

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NJCAA Division I

[edit]
Semifinals
December 2/3
Campus sites 		Championship game
December 13
War Memorial Stadium—Little Rock, AR
      
1 Hutchinson 23
4 East Mississippi 27
4 East Mississippi 14
2 Iowa Western 61
3 Kilgore 7
2 Iowa Western 47

[5][6]

3C2A

[edit]
SCFA playoffs
[edit]
Semifinals
November 25
Campus sites 		Regional finals
December 2
Campus sites
      
1 Mt. San Antonio 48
4 Riverside City 51
3 Ventura 26
4 Riverside City 45
2 Fullerton 24
3 Ventura 27
NCFC playoffs
[edit]
Semifinals
November 25
Campus sites 		Regional finals
December 2
Campus sites
      
1 San Mateo 41
4 Modesto 19
1 San Mateo 30
2 American River 27
2 American River 41
3 CC of San Francisco 6
State Championship
[edit]
3C2A State Championship
December 9
Wheelock Stadium—Riverside, CA
   
1 San Mateo 21
4 Riverside City 24

[7][8]

Bowl games

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3C2A had eleven bowl games, featuring teams that did not qualify for the 3C2A postseason tournament.

Date Time (EST) Game Site Teams Results
Nov 19 4:00 p.m. Southern California Bowl Campus sites Santa Ana (8–2)
Desert (6–4) 		Santa Ana 56
Desert 48
Nov 20 12:30 p.m. Beach Bowl El Camino (6–4)
Golden West (8–2) 		El Camino 22
Golden West 19
Nov 21 5:00 p.m. Strawberry Bowl San Diego Mesa (6–4)
Allan Hancock (7–3) 		San Diego Mesa 42
Allan Hancock 20
Nov 25 2:00 p.m. Gridiron Classic Bowl Contra Costa (5–5)
Fresno City (6–4) 		Contra Costa 21

Fresno City 14

Patriotic Bowl East Los Angeles (6–4)
Bakersfield (6–4) 		East Los Angeles 31

Bakersfield 27

4:00 p.m. Western State Bowl Citrus (7–3)
College of the Canyons (6–4) 		Citrus 42

College of the Canyons 13

5:00 p.m. American Division Championship Bowl Chaffey (10–0)
Pasadena City (9–1) 		Chaffey 16

Pasadena City 12

Dec 1 5:00 p.m. Golden State Bowl College of the Sequoias (5–5)
Sierra (5–5) 		College of the Sequoias 31
Sierra 28
Dec 2 12:00 p.m. Northern California Bowl Butte (8–2)
Reedley (7–3) 		Butte 30
Reedley 24
2:00 p.m. American Division Bowl Foothill (10–0)
Monterey Peninsula (8–2) 		Foothill 35
Monterey Peninsula 22
Grizzly Bowl College of the Redwoods (8–2)
Hartnell (7–3) 		College of the Redwoods 63
Hartnell 0

NJCAA coaching changes

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This list includes all head coaching changes announced during or after the season.

School Outgoing coach Reason Replacement Previous position
Central Lakes Greg Medeck Hired as athletic director by Central Lakes[9] Toby Thurman[9] Armijo HS (CA) head coach (2019–2023)
Coffeyville Jeff Leiker Resigned[10] Nick Dobler[11] Coffeyville defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2020–2023)
Dodge City Terry Karg Resigned Ryan Lusby[12] Texas–Permian Basin assistant head coach and offensive coordinator (2023)
Ellsworth Kory Vaught Resigned[13] Matt White[14] UVA Wise defensive coordinator (2020–2023)
Garden City Tom Minnick Fired[15] Kiyoshi Harris[16] Boise State recruiting coordinator (2022–2023)
Minnesota State C&T Austin Jones Resigned Bernard Holsey[17] Minnesota State C&T defensive coordinator and defensive line coach (2023)
Minnesota West C&T Conner Kunkel (full-season interim) Resigned Jermaine Smith[18] Campbell defensive analyst (2023)
Nassau Jamel Ramsay Hired as head coach by Maritime[19] Jhaleel Oswald[20] Nassau defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator (2021–2023)
New Mexico Military Kurt Taufa'asau Hired as head coach by New Mexico Highlands[21] Oliver Soukup[22] Eastern New Mexico defensive coordinator (2023)
Vermilion Earnest Wilson Resigned Tyree Johnson[23] Crookston HS (MN) defensive coordinator (?–2023)

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Murphy, Alex (December 14, 2023). "East Mississippi battered by Iowa Western in NJCAA national championship". The Dispatch. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "Three-peat reality in 33-29 stunner over Rochester C&TC". College of DuPage. December 2, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "RCC Gridiron Glory: Tigers Soar to Victory in 3C2A Football State Finals". rccd.edu. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  4. ^ Schwartz, Natalie (February 24, 2023). "Embattled for-profit ASA College closes without teach-out plan". Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  5. ^ "Teams Set for 2023 NJCAA D1 Football Championship". AMP. December 6, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Reed, Jeff (December 14, 2023). "Former Boll Weevil leads Reivers to title | Arkansas Democrat Gazette". www.arkansasonline.com. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  7. ^ "3C2A Championships". 3C2A. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Pope, Dennis (December 10, 2023). "Riverside City College beats San Mateo to win CCCAA football championship". Press Enterprise. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Perrine, Jessie (January 22, 2024). "CLC Names Head Football Coach". Westbank Journal. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  10. ^ "Coffeyville Community College Announces Jeff Leiker's Transition from Head Football Coach to Exclusive Role as Athletic Director". Red Raven Athletics. November 17, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  11. ^ "Coffeyville Defensive Coordinator Nick Dobler Accepts Red Raven Head Football Coach Position". Red Raven Athletics. November 20, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  12. ^ Smith, Mike (June 14, 2024). "Ryan Lusby Tabbed as Next Head Football Coach". Dodge City Conquistadors. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  13. ^ VanWingen, Marissa (November 15, 2023). "Vaught steps down as ECC football coach". Times Citizen. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  14. ^ "Ellsworth Hires Matt White as Head Football Coach". ECC Athletics. December 21, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  15. ^ "Minnick and Garden City part ways". Garden City Athletics. November 14, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "Kiyoshi Harris introduced as the 24th head coach in program history". Garden City Athletics. November 28, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  17. ^ "Former NFL player Bernard Holsey named head coach of Spartans Football". Minnesota State Community and Technical College. November 21, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  18. ^ "Minnesota West Community & Technical College Welcomes Jermaine Smith as New Head Coach". Minnesota West Athletics. February 17, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  19. ^ "Jamel Ramsay Tabbed to Lead Maritime Football Program". Maritime College Athletics. March 27, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  20. ^ "Jhaleel Oswald Elevated To Head Football Coach At NCC". Nassau Lions. May 15, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  21. ^ "Kurt Taufa'asau Named NMHU Head Football Coach". New Mexico Highlands Athletics. May 29, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  22. ^ "Soukup set to take reins of Bronco football". New Mexico Military Institute. June 18, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  23. ^ "New Football Head Coach". Vermilion Athletics. June 27, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
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