DAVIS, Calif. – Coming off a bye week and a homecoming win over than-ranked No. 14 Northern Arizona, No. 6 UC Davis football returns to the gridiron with a Big Sky road test when the Aggies head to Northern Colorado for a 12 p.m. PT kickoff in Greeley, Colo.
 
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN/FOLLOW
Nottingham Field (8,533) | Greeley, Colo.
Oct. 25 – at Northern Colorado* | ESPN+ | Listen | Live Stats | @UCDavisfootball
            * - Big Sky Conference Game
 
GAME NOTES

• For the 14th time in history both UC Davis and Northern Colorado will meet on the gridiron, with the Aggies entering the game off their bye week and on a four game winning streak ... While an improved Northern Colorado team comes in having knocked off than-ranked No. 13 Idaho on the road to go along with an 3-4 record, and despite dropping their previous game they went toe-to-toe with Sacramento State on the road ... The Aggies also enter the game with a five-game winning streak against the Bears.
• AN AGGIE WIN … Give the Aggies four-straight wins to open conference play, making it the second-straight year UC Davis can claim a four-game undefeated start to conference action ... the win would also extend the Aggies winning streak over Northern Colorado to a series-high six games ... UC Davis would also remain tied atop the Big Sky Conference ... It would also make it two wins off bye weeks for the 2025 Aggies and improve head coach Tim Plough to 3-0 all-time coming off bye weeks. 

PREVIEWING THE BEARS

• Northern Colorado football went toe-to-toe with Sacramento State in a Big Sky shootout Saturday, Oct.  coming up just short in a 40-35 thriller at Hornet Stadium
• Quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. ranks, No. 9 nationally in passing yards per game (259.7); No. 4 in the Big Sky in completion percentage (65.6%); No. 19 nationally in total offense (265.3 YPG)
• Passing Power: The Bears average 272.9 passing yards per game — No. 10 nationally / 3rd Big Sky; Balanced Attack: UNC ranks No. 36 nationally in total offense (396.7 YPG); Takeaway Machine: UNC's 12 takeaways (5 INT, 7 FR) lead the Big Sky; Clean Football: The Bears have committed just 4.3 penalties per game — top 15 nationally; Reliable Protection: The offensive line has allowed just five sacks all season (No. 8 FCS / 2nd Big Sky); Top Targets: Cheeks' 223-yard night is UNC's best since Jaren Mitchell's 242 vs North Dakota in 2019; Defensive Consistency: UNC ranks top five nationally in passing efficiency defense (102.05); Momentum Builder: The Bears have held halftime leads in four of seven games this season

SEASON NOTES

• Rex Connors set the program record for total tackles in the Aggie game at Washington, finishing with eight total tackles in the game to hit the 291 mark for his career. Connors passed Cal Aggie Hall of Famer Kris Spraker who sits at 290 career tackles during his career from 1997-2000. Connors moved into second-place at Utah Tech, passing Jason Hairston who sits at 271 total tackles from 1992-94 and he entered the game at Washington with 279 total tackles.
• During the Aggie bye week, the FCS Committee announced its initial top 10 ranking of the season, placing UC Davis sixth. The seeding means that if the season ended today the Aggies would have a first round bye and host a second round game for the second-straight season.
• On Oct. 22, Stats Perform released it 2025 Jerry Rice Award Watch List and after a torrid start to the season Caden Pinnick was named among the 22 best freshmen in the nation. So far this season Pinnick has a completion percentage of 69.3 percent and has been averaging 235.7 passing yards per game. Starting all six games for the Aggies, Pinnick has rushed for 127 yards on 55 attempts, adding two more touchdowns on the ground for an average of 21.2 rushing yards per game. Nationally, Pinnick ranks third in passing efficiency (181.1); seventh in points responsible per game (18.0) and yards per pass attempt (9.4); eighth in passing touchdowns; ninth in completion percentage and 18th in passing yards per game and passing yards per completion (13.6).
• The Aggies went down to San Luis Obispo to take on "That Team Down South", and after using 14 points in the final 15 the Aggies pulled away from Cal Poly to retain the Golden Horseshoe for the ninth-straight time. In the game Caden Pinnick accounted for 373 yards and four touchdowns while the defense held the Mustangs to just 71 yards rushing on 31 attempts. The ninth-straight win extends the longest winning streak in the history of a series that dates back to 1939.
• During the Aggie win over Cal Poly, Pinnick had himself one of the best games he's had in his short collegiate career. He passed for 313 yards, rushed for 60 yards, and went 21-for-26 for a career-best 81 percent completion percentage. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for one more, and the conference took notice naming him Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week for the second straight week. It's his third weekly award, adding to his Stats Perform National Freshman Player of the Week earlier in the season (week one).
• Since the start of Big Sky Conference play, Aggie quarterback Caden Pinnick has been on fire, going 37-for-53, throwing 601 yards and five touchdowns for a passing efficiency of 196.2. The back-to-back Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week has also rushed for 108 yards and two
• rushing touchdowns, totaling 709 all-purpose yards with an average of 354.5 offense yards over opening pair of conference games.
• Saturday's game against Weber State (presented by the UC Davis Clear Center) saw the Aggies debut a new set of Tahoe-themed jerseys in partnership with the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), celebrating their bold scientific breakthroughs with a bold new color (Bold Aqua) and logo.
• In the Big Sky Conference opener the Aggies took care of business against Weber State, winning 34-12 to go 1-0 early in the conference season. UC Davis used over 330 yards of total offense from Caden Pinnick and the best overall defensive performance up to this point in the season to secure the conference win.
• During the UC Davis win over Weber State, Caden Pinnick had his best game yet as an Aggie collecting over 330 yards of offense while scoring three touchdowns. The excellent performance earned him Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honors, his second weekly award this season. Pinnick finished with 288 passing yards, going 16-for-27 and he threw a pair of touchdown. The Aggie signal caller also ran for 48 yards on 11 attempts, scoring one more touchdown on the ground, the first of his career.
• In the past two games, UC Davis defensive lineman Jacob Psyk has been unstoppable and nearly unblock-able collecting 16 total tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss just int he past two games. The Harvard graduate transfer has also been finding the quarterback, recording 4.5 sacks over the past two games and after the Aggie win against Southern Utah, Psyk was named the Big Sky co-Defensive Player of the Week.
• The Ags finally opened UC Davis Health Stadium when they welcomed not only Southern Utah but also a record number of 17,217 Aggie fans, students and members of the Davis community. The Aggies did not disappoint, putting on a offensive show on the ground that nearly set a record that has stood since 1993 knocking off SUU 50-34 for the home opening win. As a team the Aggies rushed for 357 yards, the most in a game since 2021.
• Jordan Fisher and Carter Vargas were explosive on the ground each breaking the century mark against Southern Utah to give UC Davis a pair of 100-yard rushers in a single game for only the eighth time in program history and first time since 2012. In the game Fisher broke out for his second-career 100-yard rushing game finishing with 170 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, while Vargas averaged 22.7 yards per carry on his way to 136 yards and two rushing touchdowns on just six touches.
• After three games, Jordan Fisher has been averaging a high yardage per carry and his 8.7 yards per carry is evident of that. Nationally that places Fisher second in the country, behind only Montana's Eli Gillman who is averaging 9.1 yards per carry.
• With Fisher and Vargas each running for 100 yards in the Aggie win over Southern Utah, UC Davis became the sixth team to complete that feat:

            EASTERN ILLINOIS (vs. Dayton, Aug. 28)
            - Cole LaCrue, QB (193 yds)/Charles Kellom, RB (133 yds)
            SOUTHERN UTAH (vs. Idaho State, Aug. 30)
            - Joshua Dye, RB (180 yds)/Will Burns, RB (107 yds)
            WEST GEORGIA (vs. Nicholls, Sept. 6)
            - Latrelle Murrell, RB (170 yds)/Davin Wydner, QB (103 yds)
            CHATTANOOGA (vs. Stetson, Sept. 13)
            - Camden Orth, QB (118 yds)/Journey Wyche, RB (115 yds)/Justus Durant, RB (105 yds)
            LEHIGH (at Bucknell, Sept. 20)
            - Luke Yoder, RB (174 yds)/Jaden Green, RB (127 yds)
            MOREHEAD STATE (vs. Kentucky Christian, Sept. 20)
            - Craig Cunningham, RB (138 yds)/Isaac Stopke, RB (102 yds)
            UC DAVIS (vs. Southern Utah, Sept. 20)
            - Jordan Fisher, RB (170 yds)/Carter Vargas, RB (136 yds)
            N.C. CENTRAL (vs. North Carolina A&T, Sept. 20)
            - Chris Mosley, RB (168 yds)/Arthur Rodgers, RB (129 yds)
            SOUTHERN UTAH (vs. Tarleton State, Oct. 4)
            - Joshua Dye, RB (189 yds)/Will Burns, RB (101 yds)

• Rex Connors has been all over the field this season, and in two games where the stats have counted the Aggie all-time leader in tackles has averaged 11.5 tackles per game. That places him atop the Big Sky Conference and fifth in the nation
• An absolute force all night long, Harvard graduate transfer Jacob Psyk set the tone up front for the Aggies in their home opening win over Southern Utah. Psyk set a career-high with seven total tackles, all solo, and he added a pair of sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss. The Crimson big fella also forced two fumbles, and his total numbers earned him Big Sky Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• True freshman cornerback Drew Cofield has started all three games for the Aggies, including the game in Montgomery that didn't finish. That makes him one of two freshman cornerbacks in the nation that can make that claim and one of three defensive freshmen who have started all their team's games.

            TRUE FRESHMEN CORNERBACKS WHO HAVE STARTED ALL GAMES
            Drew Cofield (CB) - UC Davis (six starts)
            Caleb Ricks (CB) - Idaho (seven starts)

• 20 years ago, on Sept. 17, 2005, the 0-2 UC Davis Aggies travelled a few hours down the road to Stanford for its first matchup against the Cardinal in program history. The Aggies had only recently made the transition from Division II to Division I and entered the game 0-2 after close losses to open the season. It meant no difference, despite early turnovers that led directly to Stanford scores, the Aggies held their own up front and on both sides of the ball to keep things close. In the final two minutes Jon Grant took his Aggie offense down the field to set up a game winning score. The pass, caught by Blaise Smith in the corner of the end zone, capped off a great play called by head coach Bob Biggs to give the Aggies a win they still talk about on G Street
• With 15 tackles at Utah Tech, Rex Connors was named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week. Connors finished with eight solo tackles and seven assisted tackles to lead the defense in St. George. The Aggie defensive back also makes it two-straight season an Aggie has won the first week's edition of the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week, joining his brother Porter after his standout performance at California in the 2024 season opener
• Part of the reason the Aggies came back from 17 down at Utah Tech was because of the second half performance by redshirt freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick and he was named the Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week. Pinnick went 21-for-31, finishing with 253 total passing yards, three passing touchdowns and 14 yards rushing. In the second half Pinnick threw for 159 yards and three touchdowns to power the Aggies to 24 second half points. He became the first Aggie to earn national freshman honors since Nick Eaton earned the nod during the 2019 season
• In the Aggie's second shot at getting 2025 started, UC Davis traveled to St. George, Utah and late in the third quarter they were trailing by 17 points. It was there they got rolling, scoring back-to-back touchdowns while holding Utah Tech to a three-and-out sandwiched in-between to get within three points late in the third quarter. A Hunter Ridley field goal near the end of the quarter tied things up and set UC Davis up to finish off its biggest comeback since 2018. Pinnick then hit Samuel Gbatu Jr., for a 60-yard touchdown that put the Aggies ahead for good. Nate Rutchena then sealed the game with an interception to lock up a win that featured 24-unanswered points
• UC Davis and North Dakota State announced on Sept. 1, 2025 a home and home series starting in 2028. The Aggies will head to Fargo, N.D. to face the Bison in 2028 before the series moves to Davis, Calif., in 2029. It is a rematch of former Great West Conference foes and when they meet in 2028 it will be the 12th time in history and the first since 2019.
• UC Davis, for the first time since 2006, opens its first three games away from Davis, California. After the Aggies visit Montgomery, they will travel to St. George, Utah to face Utah Tech before heading to Seattle, Washington to face the Washington Huskies. This year marks the third time in program history the Aggies have begun their season away from home for so long, spending the opening three weekends away in 2006 and 1978

TEAMS PLAYING AT LEAST FIRST THREE GAMES ON ROAD SINCE 2006
            - UC Davis (2025)
            - East Texas A&M (2025)
            - Southeastern Louisiana (2021; 2023)
            - Duquesne (2017)
            - Tarleton State (2013)
            - Charleston Southern (2008; 2009; 2011)

• Returning for 2025 is talented safety Rex Connors, and he brings with him a collection of 2024 honors that have evolved into 2025 preseason accolades. Connors ended 2024 as a four-time All-American, first team All-Big Sky Conference honors and his 74 solo tackles set a program record. This season he comes in ranked as the No. 1 returning safety by HERO Sports and he has already earned multiple preseason All-American honors. Connors also became the first Aggie to be named the Big Sky Preseason Defensive Player of the Year to go along with Preseason All-Conference honors
• UC Davis returns all its starting offensive linemen from the 2024 team, making them one of three teams in the nation that can make that claim. The Ags return tackles Eli Simonson and Ernesto Nava to go along with interior starters Zaire Collier (center), Jace Rodriguez and David Porotesano. David Main, once back from injury, will make the Ags six deep on the offensive line. The collection of talent meant that HERO Sports named the Aggie offensive line as the fourth best returning line in the nation

TEAMS RETURNING ALL FIVE STARTING OFFENSIVE LINEMEN IN FCS
            - UC Davis (Big Sky)
            - Charleston Southern (Big South)
            - North Carolina Central (MEAC)

• Entering 2025 the Aggies have been finding themselves individually on several All-American lists, with five Aggies earning honors. Rex Connors (first team), Winston Williams (second team), Hunter Ridley (second team) and Porter Connors (third team) earned the honor from Stats Perform. While FCS Football Central added Jacob Psyk (second team) to a collection that saw Connors and Ridley earn first team honors, Williams earn second team honors and Porter bring home third team honors. It's the most preseason All-Americans in program history 

SEASON TICKETS: Season tickets are on sale now, and fans can head here to secure their spot in Shredville for the 2025 season. Tickets start as low as $100 for new alumni and $140 for the general public.

GROUP TICKETS: Football group ticket discounts start at 10 or more tickets and provide a great opportunity for gatherings and parties to enjoy Aggie football. If you'd like to create an unforgettable experience with your group, the Aggie Ticket Office is here to help you customize your day! Fans can head to THIS LINK to purchase their group ticket packages.
 
MINI PLANS: Mini Plans are a great way for Aggie fans to save on tickets by bundling multiple games. Choose from 2 different options to get the biggest bang for your buck, and fans get to pick the games that work the best for you. The Pick Any 2 or Pick Any 3 Plans allow fans to pick and choose which games they want to attend at a discounted rate versus buying single-game tickets. Both plans can be purchased here.
 
SINGLE GAME TICKETS: Single game tickets are on sale now and fans can secure their spot at one five home games for as little as $13 a ticket. HEAD HERE to buy single game tickets today.