DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis football, coming off a second consecutive season making a deep run into the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, will get its 2026 spring season started on Friday, Apr. 3, with the Spring Game scheduled for an Apr. 18, 10:15 a.m. kickoff at UC Davis Health Stadium on the morning of the City of Davis's annual Picnic Day.
 
When the Aggies take the field to showcase their offseason work, the Davis community is encouraged to make the Spring Game a part of their Picnic Day morning. Not only will there be exciting football to watch, but there will also be events throughout the day that should make the event a fun part of anyone's Picnic Day.
 
"We've decided to do our Spring Game on Picnic Day because of what that day means to Davis," said head coach Tim Plough. "It's a celebration of the school and community that we love. We want the football team to be a focal point of that celebration, and we hope the community, alumni, and students will come out and celebrate this program, Davis and these players.
 
"The team and I want to continue the trajectory we've been on as a program by packing in Shredville on Picnic Day and together we can 'Find Joy'."
 
Things will open with the fan favorite, "Kids Run", helping lead the Aggies onto the field. Throughout the modified game there will be opportunities for fans and Davis students in attendance to win prizes and take part in competitions and at the end of the day the Aggies will be signing autographs for fans on the field.
 
Families are also encouraged to bring their kids, as during the game the Aggies will open the practice to allow them to take the field and run drills with the team in a community unifying event that fans will not want to miss.
 
Around the concourse there will be concessions open for purchase, with Woodstock's and food trucks available for fans to purchase. Fans will also be able to renew and purchase their 2026 season tickets, securing their spot in "Shredville" for another exciting season in Davis.
 
The Spring Game is free of charge for anyone to attend.
 
"This is Phase Two of the offseason for us, and we feel that we have had a great 10 weeks in the winter led by [Assistant Athletic Director, Sports Performance] Jeff Bourque and his staff," said Plough. "We're excited to get out on the field and start to develop our depth, our competitive mindset, and the mastering of our craft."
 
The Aggies will host 15 practices over the month of April, with the Spring Game coming during the middle part of the month. Practices are open to the public when held on the UC Davis Health Stadium field, but not during the Bob Biggs Practice Field portions of the practice.
 
UC Davis opens its 2026 season at Portland State on Aug. 29 in a Big Sky showdown and on Sept. 19 Stetson makes the trip to Davis for the 2026 home opener.
 
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 No. 1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as No. 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.