CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL >>> | INTERACTIVE BRACKET
The seedings are now set for the 2024 Big West Men's Water Polo Championship, hosted by UC Davis at Schaal Aquatics Center on Friday-Sunday, Nov. 22-24. 
 
The first round commences on Friday, Nov. 22, the semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 23 and the title game on Sunday, Nov. 24. Whoever emerges victorious will earn The Big West's automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship. 
 
UC Irvine (18-8) is the No. 1 seed after going a perfect 5-0 in conference play and securing the regular season title. The Anteaters took home the conference crown last year, hoisting the trophy in 2023. UCI has earned a BYE heading into the first round of action and will face the winner of the No. 4/5 matchup on Saturday. 

The other side of the bracket sees UC San Diego as the No. 2 seed with a 3-2 record in conference competition.  

UC San Diego (16-11) and UC Davis (9-13) tied for second in the league table with identical records of 3-2. UCSD edged the Aggies 12-11 in their last meeting and held the tiebreaker for the second seed with the previous result. UC Davis (9-13) will be the third seed. The Tritons are tasked with facing the winner of the No. 3 or 4 seed on Saturday following their BYE. 
 
UC Santa Barbara (15-11) sees itself in the fourth slot in the standings with a mark of 2-3, the same conference record as Long Beach State (17-10) who gets the No. 5 seed following the result of UCSB's thrilling 15-13 OT victory. LBSU bounced back and bested UCI 16-5 during a non-conference decision in the regular season finale. The rematch between the Beach and Gauchos is set to repeat in the first round of the championship on Friday, Nov. 22 at noon.  
 
Cal State Fullerton (11-18) locks up the sixth and final spot in the upcoming championship field. When UCD and CSF clashed in the 2024 Big West season, the Aggies downed the Titans 19-12 and will now hold an advantage in their home pool on Friday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. 
 
The winners of the UC Santa Barbara-Long Beach State and UC Davis-Cal State Fullerton matchups will square off in the first semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 23 at noon. The victors of the semifinals will move on to the championship game, slated for a noon start on Sunday, Nov. 24. 
 
Last season, UC Irvine won the championship title as the top seed. In the final, the Anteaters defeated No. 2 seed UC Santa Barbara, 11-9. Entering the postseason, UCI has claimed the 2024 regular season title for a second straight season.  
 
THE 2024 BIG WEST MEN'S WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP 
Hosted by UC Davis at Schaal Aquatics Center 
Championship Homepage 
 
Friday, Nov. 22 
Noon | No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara vs. No. 5 seed Long Beach State 
2 p.m. | No. 3 seed UC Davis vs. No. 6 seed Cal State Fullerton 
 
Saturday, Nov. 23 
Noon | Winner of Game 1 vs. No. 1 UC Irvine 
2 p.m. | Winner of Game 2 vs. No. 2 UC San Diego 
 
Sunday, Nov. 24 
Noon | Championship Final