For longtime Northern California sports fans, the nickname "Say Hey" is synonymous with #24, legendary baseball Hall of Fame centerfielder Willie Mays.
For the 2020 San Jose State University football team, #24 is the Spartans' final ranking in the Associated Press and Amway College Football Coaches national polls.
San Jose State won its first seven games and the Mountain West championship after defeating Boise State, 34-20. The Spartans first received votes in the coaches' poll on November 8 after their 28-17 comeback win over San Diego State and votes in both November 15 polls following a 34-17 victory over UNLV a week later to go to 4-0.
Coach Brent Brennan's squad was ranked 25th in both polls after a 30-20 win over Nevada to advance to the Mountain West championship game. Finishing with a 7-1 win-loss record, San Jose State's highest ranking in the Associated Press poll was 19th and 20th in the coaches' poll after winning the conference championship.
The Spartans and USC, 21st in both polls, were the only two West Coast schools in the final top-25.
San Jose State also finished 22nd in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Prior to the recently completed season, 2012 was the last time San Jose State finished nationally-ranked in both polls. The Spartans were a consensus #21 after posting an 11-2 win-loss record and a 29-20 victory over Bowling Green in the Military Bowl played in Washington, D.C.
| Final Associated Press poll | Final Amway coaches poll | ||
| Team (record) | Points | Team (record) | Points |
| 1. Alabama (13-0) | 1525 | 1. Alabama (13-0) | 1500 |
| 2. Ohio State (7-1) | 1463 | 2. Ohio State (7-1) | 1432 |
| 3. Clemson (10-2) | 1378 | 3. Clemson (10-2) | 1349 |
| 4. Texas A&M (9-1) | 1324 | 4. Texas A&M (9-1) | 1317 |
| 5. Notre Dame (10-2) | 1279 | 5. Notre Dame (10-2) | 1247 |
| 6. Oklahoma (9-2) | 1243 | 6. Oklahoma (9-2) | 1219 |
| 7. Georgia (8-2) | 1144 | 7. Georgia (8-2) | 1146 |
| 8. Cincinnati (9-1) | 1074 | 8. Cincinnati (9-1) | 1031 |
| 9. Iowa State (9-3) | 1035 | 9. Iowa State (9-3) | 997 |
| 10. Northwestern (7-2) | 893 | 10. Northwestern (7-2) | 919 |
| 11. BYU (11-1) | 862 | 11. BYU (11-1) | 796 |
| 12. Indiana (6-2) | 773 | 12. Florida (8-4) | 766 |
| 13. Florida (8-4) | 764 | 13. Indiana (6-2) | 762 |
| 14. Coastal Carolina (11-1) | 725 | 14. Coastal Carolina (11-1) | 649 |
| 15. Louisiana (10-1) | 664 | 15. Iowa (6-2) | 606 |
| 16. Iowa (6-2) | 581 | 16. Louisiana (10-1) | 596 |
| 17. Liberty (10-1) | 576 | 17. North Carolina (8-4) | 538 |
| 18. North Carolina (8-4) | 532 | 18. Liberty (10-1) | 476 |
| 19. Texas (7-3) | 485 | 19. Oklahoma State (8-3) | 456 |
| 20. Oklahoma State (8-3) | 417 | 20. Texas (7-3) | 402 |
| 21. USC (5-1) | 306 | 21. USC (5-1) | 400 |
| 22. Miami (Fla.) (8-3) | 284 | 22. Miami (Fla) (8-3) | 275 |
| 23. Ball State (7-1) | 183 | 23. Ball State (7-1) | 157 |
| 24. San Jose State (7-1) | 80 | 24. San Jose State (7-1) | 100 |
| 25. Buffalo (6-1) | 51 | 25. Buffalo (6-1) | 51 |