DAVIS, Calif. - In the second-straight season hosting a postseason game at UC Davis Health Stadium, No. 8 UC Davis football (8-3) will be showcased on ESPN2 when No. 9 Rhode Island (11-2) makes the visit in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Second Round playoff match up.
 
Fans can get tickets to the game by hitting the link, by calling the Aggie Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471 or by emailing the Aggie Ticket Office at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu.
 
NCAA FCS CHAMPIONSHIPS SECOND ROUND
UC Davis Health Stadium | Davis, Calif.
Dec. 6 | 7 p.m. – vs. No. 9 Rhode Island | ESPN2 | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets
 
GAME NOTES

• For the first time in either program's history Rhode Island and UC Davis will face on the field ... It's the first time that Rhode Island has visited the state of California ... For the Aggies its the 13th time they have faced a team from the northeast and the second-straight time a team from that region has made the trip, with Lehigh coming back in 2019
• AN AGGIE WIN … Give UC Davis a second-straight season with at least one playoff game ... Be the second-straight year the Aggies have won a home playoff game ... Move UC Davis into the Quarterfinals for a second-straight season ... Be the first win over Rhode Island in program history ... Improve the Aggies to 3-0 in home second round FCS Playoff games

PREVIEWING THE RAMS

• Rhode Island beat Central Connecticut State 27-19 at Meade Stadium in Kingston, R.I. last Saturday advancing the Rams to the second round of the 2025 FCS Championship
• The Rams finished the season as the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Champions, going 10-2 (8-0) before improving to 11-2 with the first round victory
• Davis, Calif. is the furthest domestic destination Rhode Island Football has played a game in program history and first time the Rams have played a game in California. Meade Stadium in Kingston, R.I. is 2,990 miles away from UC Davis Health Stadium. It takes roughly 45 hours to drive from stadium to stadium
• The Rams are 0-2 all time against current Big Sky member schools. Both games come in NCAA I-AA Playoff games
• Antwain Littleton Jr., leads the ground attack with 1,125 rushing yards on 225 attempts and the team is averaging 138.9 yards on the ground per game
• In the air Devin Farrell, in 13 games, has gone 245-for-370 throwing 3,452 yards for 22 touchdowns and only eight interceptions
• Moses Meus has made 102 total tackles, 55 solo stops, to lead the way while Rhoan Davy sits just behind him with 98 total tackles, leading the team with 65 solo tackles

SENIOR DAY

• November 22's game senior day, where the Aggies honored 20 seniors before the game

            - Ian Simpson
            - Khalani Riddick
            - Macray Madruga
            - Rex Connors
            - Grant Garretson
            - Grant Harper
            - Jayden Stanley
            - Mitchell Dixon
            - Matteo Perez
            - Winston Williams
            - Cole Batson
            - Fernando Morales
            - Derrell Smith-Porter
            - Porter Connors
            - Hunter Ridley
            - David Main
            - Jace Rodriguez
            - Mike Fesili
            - Eli Simonson
            - Ernesto Nava
 
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.
• In what could be the final Causeway Classic for the foreseeable future UC Davis used 14 fourth quarter points to come back and secure its third-straight Causeway Classic with a 31-27 victory over Sacramento State. Gbatu Jr., caught a 30-yard go-ahead touchdown pass with just about six minutes to go in the game to put the Aggies in front of the Hornets on the way to victory in one of the more exciting games in a rivalry that goes back to 1954.
• For the first time in program history, a linear ESPN network will carry a UC Davis football home game at UC Davis Health Stadium when ESPN2 broadcasts the second round playoff game against Rhode Island. Its the fourth time this year the Aggies have been on national television, the second time on ESPN2 and the third time on a linear ESPN network, all program records.
• What is becoming a regular occurrence, the Aggies will spend a second-straight season in the NCAA FCS Playoffs when they host Rhode Island on Dec. 6. It's the third home game for the Aggies since 2018, and the fourth appearance in the FCS playoffs for UC Davis. Overall it's the 25th time the Aggies have played into the NCAA postseason.
• UC Davis redshirt freshman Caden Pinnick's top season was rewarded when he was named a Jerry Rice Award Finalist. Pinnick becomes the first Aggie to be named a Jerry Rice Award finalist since Rex Connors earned the nod in 2022. During the season Pinnick tied a conference record with three straight Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week awards and twice he was named a National Offensive Player of the Week.
• Defensive lineman and graduate transfer Jacob Psyk had himself a top season up front for the Aggies. His 9.0 sacks, the most by an Aggie since 2018, along with his nationally ranked tackles for loss totals earned him Buck Buchanan Award Finalist honors. It's the second-straight season the Aggies have had a Buck Buchanan Award finalist with David Meyer being named a finalist following his record breaking season.
• Adding to his list of awards following a stellar redshirt-freshman season, Caden Pinnick was named the Big Sky Freshman of the Year. He became only the second Aggie to earn the award, with Nick Eaton getting the nod following the 2019 season.
• After the final game of the season, the Big Sky announced its all-conference team and among the most honorees in the conference were the Aggies with 10 members being named to the list. Samuel Gbatu Jr., Ian Simpson, Eli Simonson, Jacob Psyk and Khalani Riddick were all named to the first team, while Zaire Collier, Nate Rutchena and Drew Cofield earned second team honors and Caden Pinnick with Jordan Fisher rounded things out with honorable mentions.
• Over a three-game stretch from Oct. 25-Nov. 8 the Aggie offensive line opened up holes to the clip of over 200 yards a game, giving the Aggies at least 200 yards rushing in those three games. Over that stretch, the Aggies averaged 226.0 yards per game, scoring four times on the ground. In that three-game window, running back Jordan Fisher twice rushed for over 100 yards, getting 108 (22 attempts) against Idaho State and 103 (21 attempts) at Idaho.
• Hunter Ridley's three field goals of 23, 26 and 46 yards against Idaho State earned the All-American kicker national honors being named the Fred Mitchell Award National Kicker of the Week.
• During the Aggie bye week, the FCS Committee announced its initial top 10 ranking of the season, placing UC Davis sixth. On Nov. 5 the committee announced its second ranking of the season, with the Aggies coming in at No. 10 in the most recent rankings.
• UC Davis remained unbeaten in the Big Sky with a hard-earned road victory at Northern Colorado, surviving the conference test and a second half surge from the Bears the Aggies came away with a 27-16 victory. Hunter Ridley capped the game off with a 41-yard field goal after the Aggies went seven minutes to eat up the clock and put away the Bears. As a team, the Aggies rushed for 238 yards on 39 carries and made four sacks and blocked a pair of kicks come away victorious.
• During the build up the Aggie trip to Greeley, starting quarterback Caden Pinnick was ruled unable to travel and with roughly 48 hours of notice redshirt senior Grant Harper stepped into the starting role for his first career start in college. The experienced Aggie took on the role with no hesitation and behind his play the Aggies took home a win at UNC. Harper finished 15-for-31 with 216 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and had a long of 35 yards. His first half performance, that saw him toss all three of his touchdowns, helped the Aggies build out the foundation that eventually won them the game.
• 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).
• 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.
• Over a two-game stretch from Southern Utah to Weber State, 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.
• 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)
            NORTH ALABAMA (vs. Utah Tech, Nov. 1)
            - Jayvian Allen (102 yds)/Destin Wade, QB (100 yds)
            YOUNGSTOWN STATE (vs. Southern Illinois, Nov. 8)
            - Jaden Gilbert, RB (149 yds)/Beau Brungard, QB (104 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 (11 starts)
            Caleb Ricks (CB) - Idaho (12 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 

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:
UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.
 
For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/.