The UC Davis Aggies football team represents the University of California, Davis in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Aggies currently play their home games at UC Davis Health Stadium and are coached by Tim Plough.

History The football program's first season took place in 1915, and has fielded a team each year since with the exception of 1918 during World War I and from 1943 to 1945 during World War II, when the campus, then known as the University Farm, was shut down. The team was known as the Cal Aggies or California Aggies from 1922 to 1958 when UC Davis was called the Northern Branch of the College of Agriculture.

UC Davis competed as a member of the NCAA College Division through 1972; from 1973 to 2003, the Aggies competed as an NCAA Division II program. In 2004, UC Davis promoted its football program to the Division I FCS (then I-AA) level and joined the Great West Conference (then known as the Great West Football Conference) after one season as an independent team with exploratory status. After their provisional seasons and the construction of a new stadium, UC Davis became a full member of Division I in 2007 and eligible for the postseason.

Throughout its history, the football program won 31 conference championships. Between 1929 and 1992, the Aggies captured 27 outright or shared Northern California Athletic Conference championships, including 20 in a row from 1971 to 1990, an American West Conference title in 1993 (co-champion), GWFC/GWC (Division I-AA/FCS) championships in 2005 (co-champ) and 2009, and a Big Sky title (co-champion) in 2018.

Conference affiliations UC Davis has been both independent and affiliated with multiple conferences. NCAA Independent (1915–1924) Northern California Athletic Conference (1925–1992) Far Western Conference (1925–1981) Northern California Athletic Conference (1982–1992) American West Conference (1993) NCAA Division II independent (1994–2002) NCAA Division I-AA independent (2003) Great West Football Conference (2004–2011) Big Sky Conference (2012–present)

Conference championships UC Davis Aggies football program has won or shared a total of 31 conference championships since 1915, including 27 from the Northern California Athletic Conference where they won 20 straight conference champions from 1971 to 1990, most notably during that time was the stretch of 58 undefeated home conference games (including the 2004 season).

Pre-NCAA Divisional Classification 1929 Crip Toomey Far Western Conference 6–2 5–0 1947† Vern Hickey 4–5 3–1 1949 Ted Forbes 5–4 4–0 1951 5–4 2–1 1956† Will Lotter 7–3 4–1 College Division/Division II (Starting in the 1973 season) 1963† Will Lotter 6–2–1 3–1–1 1971† Jim Sochor 9–1 5–1 1972 6–2–2 5–0 1973† 7–3 4–1 1974 9–1 5–0 1975 7–3 5–0 1976 8–2 5–0 1977 11–1 5–0 1978 8–3 5–0 1979 6–3–1 5–0 1980 7–2–1 5–0 1981† 6–4 4–1 1982 12–1 5–0 1983 Northern California Athletic Conference 11–1 6–0 1984 9–2 6–0 1985 9–2 5–0 1986 10–1 5–0 1987 8–2 5–0 1988 7–3 5–0 1989 Bob Foster 8–3 5–0 1990 7–3 5–0 1992 8–2–1 5–0 1993† Bob Biggs American West Conference 10–2 3–1 Division I-AA 2005† Bob BiggsGreat West Football Conference 6–5 4–1 2009 6–5 3–1 2018† Dan Hawkins Big Sky Conference 10–3 7–1 † Co-champion

Postseason appearances NCAA Division I-AA/FCS (2018–present)

The Aggies have made four appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoffs since becoming eligible in 2007, with a combined record of 3–4. Davis, for the first time since 2002, made the playoffs for consecutive seasons since becoming a full Division I program in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Both seasons ended in the quarterfinals.

Division I (postseason playoffs with 24-team bracket) 2018 Second RoundQuarterfinals Northern IowaEastern Washington W, 23–16L, 29–34 2021 First Round South Dakota State L, 24–56 2024 Second RoundQuarterfinals Illinois StateSouth Dakota W, 42–10L, 21–35 2025 Second Round Quarterfinals Rhode IslandIllinois State W, 47–26L, 31–42

NCAA Division II (1972–2002)

The Aggies made eighteen appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs from 1977 to 2002. Their combined record was 15–18. Notable appearances are the 1977, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 seasons where UC Davis posted 10+ winning seasons, including an appearance in the Division II National Championship game in 1982.

College Division (rankings via AP writers poll)1972UnrankedRegional Semifinal (Boardwalk Bowl)UMassL, 14–35 Division II (postseason playoffs with 8-team bracket)19773rd PlaceQuarterfinalSemifinal (Knute Rockne Bowl)Bethune–CookmanLehighW, 34–16L, 30–391978QuarterfinalEastern IllinoisL, 31–351982Runner UpQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal (Palm Bowl)Northern MichiganNorth Dakota StateSouthwest Texas StateW, 42–21W, 19–14L, 9–3419833rd PlaceQuarterfinalSemifinalButlerNorth Dakota StateW, 25–6L, 17–261984QuarterfinalNorth Dakota StateL, 23–311985QuarterfinalNorth Dakota StateL, 12–311986QuarterfinalSouth DakotaL, 23–26 Division II (postseason playoffs with 16-team bracket)1988First RoundSacramento StateL, 14–351989First RoundAngelo StateL, 23–281992First RoundPortland StateL, 28–421993First RoundQuarterfinalsFort Hays StateTexas A&M–KingsvilleW, 37–34L, 28–5119963rd PlaceFirst RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsTexas A&M–KingsvilleCentral OklahomaCarson–Newman W, 17–14W, 26–7L, 26–2919973rd PlaceFirst RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsTexas A&M–KingsvilleAngelo StateNew Haven W, 37–33W, 50–33L, 25–271998First RoundTexas A&M–KingsvilleL, 21–541999First RoundQuarterfinalsCentral OklahomaNortheastern StateW, 33–17L, 14–1920003rd PlaceFirst RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsChadron StateMesa StateBloomsburg W 48–10W 62–18L, 48–5820013rd PlaceFirst RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsTexas A&M–KingsvilleTarleton StateNorth Dakota W, 37–32W, 42–25L, 2–142002First RoundQuarterfinalsCentral WashingtonTexas A&M–KingsvilleW, 24–6L, 20–27

Bowl games Pear Bowl November 24, 1949 Pacific University (OR) L, 15–33 Pear Bowl November 24, 1951 Pacific University (OR) L, 7–25 Boardwalk Bowl December 9, 1972 UMass L, 14–35 Knute Rockne Bowl (NCAA Division II Semifinal) December 3, 1977 Lehigh L, 30–39 Palm Bowl (NCAA Division II Championship) December 11, 1982 Southwest Texas State L, 9–34

Home stadiums 1915–1924 Various fields in Davis, California and Sacramento, California

1925–1927 Moreing Field, Sacramento

1928–1931 Sacramento Stadium, East Sacramento Capacity (20,000)

The stadium opened in 1928 and was initially known as Sacramento Stadium and Sacramento College Stadium. It is now known as Charles C. Hughes Stadium and commonly referred to as Hughes Stadium.

1932–1948 A Street Field, Davis

1949–2006 Toomey Field, unincorporated Yolo County, California Capacity (12,800)

Toomey Field is located on the campus of the University of California, Davis in unincorporated Yolo County, California. The Woody Wilson Track is located in the stadium and it is home to the UC Davis Aggies track and field team. At the northeast corner of campus, Aggie Field opened in 1949 and was home to the Aggies' football team through 2006. The first game, on November 18, was a 12–3 victory over Chico State. The record for attendance at the stadium was set on November 12, 1977, with 12,800 for a 37–21 victory over Nevada. The Aggies' all-time record at Toomey Field was . The stadium was renamed in 1962 in honor of Crip Toomey, who served as athletic director at UC Davis from 1928 until his death in 1961. Toomey graduated from UC Davis in 1923 and also served as the Aggies' basketball coach and football coach from 1928 to 1936. The natural grass playing field (now track infield) was aligned north-northwest to south-southeast at an approximate elevation of above sea level.

2007–present UC Davis Health Stadium, unincorporated Yolo County Capacity (10,743)

UC Davis Health Stadium is a 10,743-seat multi-purpose stadium located on the campus of the University of California, Davis. Opened as Aggie Stadium on April 1, 2007, it replaced Toomey Field and is the home to the UC Davis Aggies football and women's lacrosse teams. Plans call for the stadium to eventually be built out to 30,000 seats.

The artificial turf playing field is named Jim Sochor Field, after their College Football Hall of Fame coach. It is aligned north-south at an approximate elevation of above sea level.

The stadium was known as Aggie Stadium from 2007 to 2018. As part of a partnership with the UC Davis Health System, announced at the Causeway Classic Luncheon on November 15, 2018, the facility was renamed UC Davis Health Stadium on August 1, 2019, for a period of 20 years. Along with this development, announced with plans for a student-athlete performance center and practice field, and of the Bob Foster Team Center, located behind the north end zone, will be renovated. The previous venue, Toomey Field, continues as the home of the Aggies' track and field teams. The Tavernetti Bell, also known as the "Victory Bell", greets fans entering Aggie Stadium. The bell is named after Thomas Tavernetti (1889–1934) and is rung once for every point scored after an Aggie victory. With the construction of Aggie Stadium, the bell followed from its previous location at Toomey Field.

Rivalries

Sacramento State

The Causeway Classic

The Sacramento State Hornets are the natural cross-town rival who battle UC Davis annually for the Causeway Trophy. This rivalry is known as the Causeway Classic. UC Davis leads the all-time series 49–23. Sacramento State announced that they would join the Mid-American Conference of the FBS beginning in the 2026 season. There are currently no future meetings scheduled.

Cal Poly

Battle for the Golden Horseshoe

The Cal Poly Mustangs are another rival; these teams compete in the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe each year with the winner receiving a trophy of a large golden horseshoe. UC Davis leads the all-time series 29–20–2.

Stanford

UC Davis also has a smaller rivalry with the Stanford Cardinal following UC Davis' 20–17 upset victory in 2005 while still a provisional Division I team.

Nevada The Aggie–Pack Battle

UC Davis and Nevada have not played each other since 2013, but have a historical rivalry dating back to the first match up in 1915 when the University Farm School Aggies beat the Nevada Sagebrushers 14–0 in Carson City, Nevada. They have played each other 54 times since. The "Aggie–Pack" battle would regularly have old-fashioned rooters buses travel 146 miles (2.5 hours) down I-80 for this rivalry that was regularly "a battle for West Coast small-college supremacy … in fact, the mid-November 1977 Nevada–UCD matchup drew 12,800 fans to Toomey Field, which still stands as a home attendance record … and yes, the crowd-pleasing Aggies prevailed, 37–21 …" Nevada currently leads the all-time series 29–21–3.

Chico State

A most heated Northern California small-college rivalry That started in 1922 with 69 meetings between the two schools until 1997 when Chico State discontinued its football program. UC Davis won the series 46–20–3. Both programs were vying for Far Western Conference and Northern California Athletic Conference championships every year for decades. From 1970 to 1997, UC Davis and Chico State won or shared 25 of 27 FWC/NCAC titles.

Humboldt State

The Humboldt State Lumberjacks and Aggies first met in 1935 in Eureka, CA and last met in 2011 and were rivals in the Far Western Conference and Northern California Athletic Conference and played each other 60 times. The Aggies won the series 41–16–3. Humboldt State discontinued their football program in 2018.

San Francisco State