It’s a no-brainer that students at Jesuit High School Sacramento love sports, but I wanted to conduct a schoolwide survey to get some hard numbers behind it. Students were asked to name their favorite sports team across four major leagues: NFL, NBA, MLB, & the NCAA. As expected, the top of the lists were dominated by West Coast squads, but a few national blue-bloods cracked the rankings.

Here’s the whole breakdown and what it means for the Jesuit fandom:

MLB: California Sweeps the Top 3

1. San Francisco Giants
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
3. Athletics
4. New York Yankees
5. Boston Red Sox

The Giants edged out their old rivals for the crown, a result that might spark a few debates at lunch. The Dodgers recent success and Sac-LA heritage established the Dodgers as the two. Surprisingly, the Athletics, who are calling Sacramento home until at least 2027, failed to win over more fans. The Yankees and Red Sox rounded out the list with the fourth and fifth spots, showing that storied history still matters.

NFL: The Battle of the Bay Lives On

1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Las Vegas Raiders
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. Los Angeles Rams
5. New England Patriots

No surprise here: the 49ers reign king at Jesuit. The faithful have been rooted in the Central Valley for decades, and continue to see winning season after winning season. The Raiders’ second-place finish keeps the Bay Area Rivalry alive even after the team’s controversial move to Las Vegas. The Seahawks and Rams take third and fourth, representing the rest of the West Coast, while the Patriots’ dynasty-era legacy lands them at fifth.

NBA: The Kings Claim the Throne

1. Sacramento Kings
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Los Angeles Lakers
4. Boston Celtics
5. Dallas Mavericks

The Kings at number one reflect the strong loyalty we have here at Jesuit. Despite decades of losing seasons and prolonged embarrassment, the Marauders stay strong and hope for some relevance for our hometown team in the future. The Warriors’ number two spot ties into the 2010s dynasty and the locality of the most liked NFL team, the 49ers. The Lakers, with their Hollywood history and LeBron James, take third. The Celtics take fourth with their beloved brand, trailed by the Mavericks in the East.

NCAA: California Love

1. UCLA Bruins
2. Michigan Wolverines
3. Stanford Cardinal
4. Duke Blue Devils
5. Cal Golden Bears

College sports fandom was expected to be more scattered, and the survey reflects that. UCLA and Stanford take first and third for California, while Cal sneaks in at five. Michigan and Duke, two recognizable brands for college sports and great schools academically, show that big national names still shine through. 

What It All Means:

Looking at every league, the pattern is unmistakable: local is king at Jesuit. Students identify a real connection to Sacramento and the Bay Area teams., The presence of Boston and New York teams shows students respect excellence and tradition. The results also highlight how sports unite our school. Whether it’s a Niners fan chirping at a Raiders fan for another losing season or a bandwagon Celtics fan laughing at the dejected Kings supporters, sports give a common ground to show authenticity, loyalty, and passion.