DAVIS, Calif. — Seven UC Davis football standouts were named to the 2026 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team, the league announced Sunday as part of Big Sky Kickoff Weekend.

The Aggies placed three players on offense and four on defense, with each selection having earned preseason or postseason recognition in 2025. The group helped UC Davis finish 9-4 overall and 6-2 in Big Sky play last season.

The preseason team and the conference's offensive and defensive most valuable players were selected by media members who cover the Big Sky and Football Championship Subdivision nationally.

OFFENSE

WR Samuel Gbatu Jr., redshirt senior
TE Winston Williams, redshirt senior
OL Zaire Collier, senior

DEFENSE

DL Rayne Mayo, junior
LB Porter Connors, redshirt senior
DB Rex Connors, redshirt senior
DB Drew Cofield, sophomore

UC Davis opens the 2026 season with a Big Sky matchup at Portland State on Saturday, Aug. 29. The Aggies make their UC Davis Health Stadium debut against Stetson on Saturday, Sept. 19.

BUY 2026 SINGLE GAME TICKETS

Single game tickets are on sale now. Secure your seats for any of UC Davis' six home games today.

BUY 2026 MINI PLANS

Mini Plans offer a great way to save by bundling multiple games. Choose from two different options and select the games that fit your schedule.

Both Mini Plan options include the Montana game and allow fans to add one or two additional home games at a discounted rate compared to purchasing single-game tickets. All Mini Plan seats are located in Sections 119 or 125 on the west side of UC Davis Health Stadium.

BUY 2026 SEASON TICKETS

Season tickets start at just $100 for new alumni (2017–26 UC Davis graduates) and $140 for the general public. Season ticket holders also receive a variety of exclusive benefits, including priority access to postseason tickets, select away games and parking.

Additional benefits include a dedicated Aggie Ticket Representative, flexible payment plan options and invitations to exclusive season ticket holder events. Purchase your season tickets today. For more information, email the Aggie Ticket Office at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu or call (530) 752-2471.

BUY 2026 GROUP TICKETS

Group ticket discounts begin with just 10 tickets and provide the perfect opportunity for company outings, family gatherings, birthday celebrations and more.

Create a memorable birthday experience with a player high-five tunnel or reserve a turnkey tailgate space for your group before kickoff. Call the Aggie Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471 to customize an unforgettable game-day experience.

BUY 2026 TAILGATE/PARKING SPOTS

For more information about purchasing tailgating or parking for the 2026 season, contact Jordan Kurtz at (530) 304-1433 or jkurtz@ucdavis.edu.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:

UC Davis, ranked No. 2 among public universities by the Wall Street Journal in the value of a college degree, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked top in the United States 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. 

For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/.