DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis football's senior center Zaire Collier has been ranked among the nation's best returning offensive linemen by Hero Sports, coming in as the 35th-best returner up front as part of the Football Championship Subdivision preseason rankings by Hero Sports.
 
Collier, who earned 2025 Big Sky All-Conference honor, has spent the past two season anchoring the Aggie offensive line making 27 consecutive starts at center, including four NCAA Division I Football Championship playoff games and a pair of Causeway Cup victories.
 
This past season, Collier helped block for the nation's 27th-best rushing offense and he led the protection that ranked as the 12th-best passing offensive in the country. With Collier leading the way, the Aggies rushed for 2,393 total yards and with Collier at the focal point Jordan Fisher racked up 1,121 yards on the ground to give UC Davis its first 1,000-yard rusher 2023.
 
UC Davis opens 2026 fall camp on July 29 and will kick off the 2026 season on August 29 in a Big Sky showdown at Portland State. The Aggies will open UC Davis Health Stadium on Sept. 19 when Stetson makes the cross-country trip to Davis. And on Oct. 3, ESPN2 visits Davis to showcase the 2026 homecoming game against Eastern Washington on national television.
 
BUY 2026 SEASON TICKETS: Season tickets start as low as $100 for new alumni (2017-26 UC Davis graduates) and $140 for the general public. And fans can expect a large collection of perks that include priority access to postseason tickets, select away games and parking. All season ticket holders get a dedicated Aggie Ticket Representative that oversees their account, flexible payment plan options and access to exclusive season ticket holder events. Get your season tickets today by heading here, emailing the Aggie Ticket Office at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu or by calling the ticket office at (530) 752-2471.

BUY 2026 GROUP TICKETS
Football group ticket discounts start at just 10 tickets, and provide a great opportunity for company outings, family gatherings, and parties to enjoy Aggie football together. Create the birthday experience of a lifetime with a player high-five tunnel or enjoy a personal tailgate space prior to the game with your colleagues that's already set up and ready for you! Give the Aggie Ticket Office a call at 530-752-2471 and we can customize an unforgettable experience for your group! Fans can head to THIS LINK to purchase their group ticket packages.
 
BUY 2026 TAILGATE/PARKING SPOTS
Fans can head to THIS LINK or reach out to Jordan Kurtz at 530-304-1433 or at jkurtz@ucdavis.edu for more information to purchase their tailgating or parking spots for the upcoming season.
 
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.