DAVIS, Calif. -- Following its 27-17 upset of then-No. 19 Idaho, UC Davis football moved into the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 rankings, checking in at No. 23. This is the first time the Aggies have appeared in either poll since October 21, 2019, when they were 23rd by Stats Perform (then known as STATS) and 22nd by the American Football Coaches Association.

UC Davis appeared among the Others Receiving Votes for each of the preseason and Week 1 rankings, despite having its originally scheduled Feb. 27 opener postponed. 

Additionally, Connor Airey, who captured ROOT SPORTS Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, garnered similar accolades from College Sports Madness. The team co-captain and NPB major enjoyed a complete game in Saturday's win against the Vandals: 10 total tackles, two TFLs, a sack, and interception and a quarterback hurry. The senior linebacker was also an honorable mention for Stats Perform's National Defensive Player of the Week award, which ultimately went to Jackson State's Aubrey Miller.

UC Davis is one of three Big Sky Conference teams in the Top 25. Weber State held its spot at No. 2 while Eastern Washington moved from No. 22 to No. 16 after its win over Northern Arizona. The Aggies return to action this Saturday with a road game at Weber. Kickoff time is noon Pacific.

ABOUT UC DAVIS:
With the addition of equestrian and women's beach volleyball in 2018, more than 700 student-athletes represent the fifth-ranked public school in the nation on one of 25 intercollegiate athletics teams.

UC Davis, a national leader in Title IX gender equity and leadership, is centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley; and offers an unrivaled student-athlete experience that features the ideal combination of elite academics, Division I athletics and personal growth.

Ranked annually in the top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility, UC Davis is uncommonly committed to preparing student-athletes for life after graduation with Aggie EVO — an innovative student-athlete outcomes program that helps young women and men develop passions, gain real-world experience, and enjoy a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school. Through Aggie EVO, Intercollegiate Athletics provides unmatched resources and a vast network of working professionals to ensure post-graduation success for its student-athletes.