San Jose State jumps to 19th in latest Associated Press football poll

San Jose State jumped six spots to No. 19 in the Associated Press poll released Sunday, the second-highest ranking in its history.

With a victory in its Dec. 31 bowl game, the Spartans (7-0) likely would surpass the No. 18 ranking of the 1939 SSJU team that went 13-0. San Jose State will face Mid-American Conference champion Ball State (6-1) in the Arizona Bowl on Dec. 31.

The Spartans, who cracked the Top 25 last week for the first time since 2012, won the Mountain West championship on Saturday by beating longtime conference kingpin Boise State 34-20.

San Jose State is one of just five undefeated teams in the country. The others are No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 6 Cincinnati and No. 9 Coastal Carolina.

With USC’s loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game Friday, the Spartans are California’s highest-ranked team.