The 2025 UC Davis Aggies football team represented the University of California, Davis during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Big Sky Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Tim Plough and played their home games at UC Davis Health Stadium in Davis, California. It was the Aggies' 107th season overall, and 14th in the Big Sky.
UC Davis finished the regular season 8–3 and received a bye during the first week of the FCS playoffs due to their No. 11 (No.8 by the playoff committee) ranking. After defeating the Rhode Island Rams in the Second Round at home, the Aggies would fall to eventual championship runner-ups Illinois State in the Quarterfinals, also at home. Due to the FCS Committee's ranking of the Aggies prior to the start of the playoffs, UC Davis was able to host two consecutive playoff games for the first time since joining Division I FCS in 2003, and the first time hosting a Quarterfinal since 2001.
UC Davis saw record average attendance this season, with an average of 12,991 fans per a game alongside the new stadium record of 17,217, which sets the highest attendance out of all of UC Davis's home venues. This season also saw the first time a linear ESPN channel had been hosted at a UC Davis home game, with the Second Round game against Rhose Island being shown. Preseason Polls On July 17, 2025, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Aggies were predicted to finish second in the Big Sky by the coaches and third by the media.
Transfers Outgoing Robbie MascheroniWRIdaho StateJosh GaleTEMontanaKavir Bains-MarquezSPittsburghBlake CottonDBUtah
Incoming Cole BatsonSBoston CollegeNate RutchenaTECaliforniaDerrell PorterDLDartmouthJacob PsykDLHarvardMarquis BellDBLibertyKhalani RiddickDBSoutheast Missouri StateTy RichardsonDBTuftsTeeg SloneSUtah StateJosiah AllenDBUTEPAJ HassonOLWake ForestDylan MauroPWashington StateRoice CleelandOLWashington
Players Signed into the NFL and CFL
Undrafted3New England PatriotsLan LarisonRBUndrafted7Ottawa RedblacksMiles HastingsQBUndrafted1Edmonton ElksCJ HuttonWR
Schedule On August 23, UC Davis was set to play in the FCS Kickoff in their first of three nationally televised games this season. With just 7:46 left in the fourth quarter, and Mercer having the ball with a 1st-and-10 at the UC Davis 48-yard line, the game was suspended due to lightning. In the early morning hours of August 24, it was announced that the game would not resume, and that both teams had agreed to declare it a no contest despite the Aggies leading 23–17. ‡New UC Davis Health Stadium attendance record.
Game summaries
vs. No. 11 Mercer (FCS Kickoff)
Statistics UCD MER First downs – – Total yards – – Rushing yards – – Passing yards – – Passing: Comp–Att–Int – – Time of possession – – Team Category Player StatisticsUC Davis Passing – – Rushing – – Receiving – –Mercer Passing – – Rushing – – Receiving – –
at Utah Tech
Statistics UCD UTU First downs 21 18 Plays–yards 74–425 74–360 Rushes–yards 43–164 30–81 Passing yards 253 272 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21-31-1 28–44–2 Turnovers 2 4 Time of possession 27:45 32:15 Team Category Player StatisticsUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 21/31, 253 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jordan Fisher 16 carries, 105 yards, TD Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 4 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TDUtah Tech Passing Bronson Barben 24/39, 222 yards, 2 INT Rushing Bronson Barben 9 carries, 28 yards Receiving Kaden Eggett 3 receptions, 58 yards
at Washington (FBS)
Statistics UCDWASH First downs 13 34 Plays–yards 52–218 76–628 Rushes–yards 24–76 46–324 Passing yards 142 304 Passing: –– 14–28–1 19–30–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 24:52 35:08 Team Category Player Statistics UC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 8/16, 50 yards, TD, INT Rushing Carter Vargas 5 carries, 43 yards Receiving Mitchell Dixon 2 receptions, 44 yards Washington Passing Demond Williams Jr. 16/25, 254 yards, TD Rushing Jonah Coleman 15 carries, 111 yards, 5 TD Receiving Dezmen Roebuck 4 receptions, 77 yards, TD
Southern Utah
Statistics SUU UCD First downs 28 18 Plays–yards 86–549 48–519 Rushes–yards 43–233 27–357 Passing yards 316 162 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–43–1 13–21–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 36:59 23:01 Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Utah Passing Bronson Barron 23/43, 316 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Joshua Dye 20 carries, 155 yards, TD Receiving Gabe Nunez 8 receptions, 106 yards, TDUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 13/21, 162 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jordan Fisher 12 carries, 170 yards, 2 TD Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 3 receptions, 45 yards
Weber State
Statistics WEB UCD First downs 17 21 Plays–yards 67–313 66–469 Rushes–yards 43–138 37–175 Passing yards 175 294 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–24–0 17–29–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 34:27 25:33 Team Category Player StatisticsWeber State Passing Jackson Gilkey 14/22, 138 yards Rushing Davion Godley 19 carries, 60 yards Receiving Marvin Session 3 receptions, 44 yardsUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 16/27, 288 yards, 2 TD Rushing Carter Vargas 8 carries, 55 yards Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 4 receptions, 112 yards, TD
at Cal Poly (Battle for the Golden Horseshoe)
Statistics UCD CP First downs 23 21 Plays–yards 63–449 70–342 Rushes–yards 37–136 31–71 Passing yards 313 271 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–26–0 22–39–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 30:09 29:51 Team Category Player StatisticsUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 21/26, 313 yards, 3 TD Rushing Caden Pinnick 11 carries, 60 yards, TD Receiving Stacy Dobbins 3 receptions, 89 yardsCal Poly Passing Bo Kelly 20/37, 251 yards, 2 TD Rushing Trey Wilson 11 carries, 33 yards Receiving Logan Booher 6 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TD
No. 14 Northern Arizona
Statistics NAU UCD First downs 21 22 Plays–yards 71–410 61–458 Rushes–yards 42–165 32–110 Passing yards 245 348 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–29–0 25–29–0 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 34:46 25:14 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Arizona Passing Ty Pennington 18/28, 245 yards, TD Rushing Quran Gossett 8 carries, 66 yards, 2 TD Receiving Isaiah Eastman 7 receptions, 135 yardsUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 25/29, 348 yards, 5 TD Rushing Jordan Fisher 14 carries, 104 yards, TD Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 7 receptions, 114 yards, 2 TD
at Northern Colorado
Statistics UCD UNCO First downs 22 18 Plays–yards 70–452 67–345 Rushes–yards 39–236 22–76 Passing yards 216 269 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–31–2 31–45–1 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 29:46 30:14 Team Category Player StatisticsUC Davis Passing Grant Harper 15/31, 216 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Carter Vargas 16 carries, 90 yards Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 5 receptions, 108 yards, TDNorthern Colorado Passing Eric Gibson Jr. 31/45, 269 yards, TD, INT Rushing Brandon Johnson 9 carries, 65 yards, TD Receiving Brayden Munroe 8 receptions, 100 yards, TD
Idaho State
Statistics IDST UCD First downs 22 33 Plays–yards 65–471 79–567 Rushes–yards 29–219 47–242 Passing yards 252 325 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–36–2 23–32–2 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 23:18 36:42 Team Category Player StatisticsIdaho State Passing Jordan Cooke 21/36, 252 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Dason Brooks 24 carries, 219 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tsion Nunnally 9 receptions, 119 yards, TDUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 23/32, 325 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jordan Fisher 22 carries, 108 yards Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 6 receptions, 112 yards
at Idaho
Statistics UCD IDHO First downs 25 18 Plays–yards 68–448 65–430 Rushes–yards 41–200 26–133 Passing yards 248 297 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21-27-2 20-39-1 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 32:03 27:57 Team Category Player StatisticsUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 21/27, 248 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jordan Fisher 21 carries, 103 yards Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 7 receptions, 110 yards, TDIdaho Passing Joshua Wood 20/38, 297 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Elisha Cummings 10 carries, 52 yards Receiving Michael Graves 3 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TD
at No. 3 Montana State
Statistics UCD MTST First downs 28 15 Plays–yards 83–424 50–377 Rushes–yards 46–190 32–233 Passing yards 234 144 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–37–2 10–18–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 37:14 22:46 Team Category Player StatisticsUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 22/36, 234 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jordan Fisher 17 carries, 76 yards Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 10 receptions, 80 yards, TDMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 10/18, 144 yards, TD Rushing Justin Lamson 11 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD Receiving Taco Dowler 5 receptions, 78 yards
Sacramento State (Causeway Classic)
Statistics SAC UCD First downs 22 22 Plays–yards 74–343 59–406 Rushes–yards 65–326 29–100 Passing yards 17 306 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 3–9–1 24–30–0 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 35:09 24:51 Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Cardell Williams 3/9, 17 yards, INT Rushing Rodney Hammond Jr. 22 carries, 140 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ernest Campbell 1 reception, 11 yardsUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 24/30, 306 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jordan Fisher 16 carries, 48 yards, 2 TD Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 7 receptions, 127 yards, TD
vs. No. 8 Rhode Island (Division I Second Round)
Statistics URI UCD First downs 17 25 Plays–yards 67–467 72–553 Rushes–yards 27–173 43–276 Passing yards 294 277 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–40–0 17–29–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 29:35 30:25 Team Category Player StatisticsRhode Island Passing Devin Farrell 22/40, 294 yards, 2 TD Rushing Antwain Littleton Jr. 16 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD Receiving Marquis Buchanan 5 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TDUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 17/29, 277 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Jordan Fisher 16 carries, 140 yards, TD Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 4 receptions, 121 yards, TD
vs. No. 17т Illinois State (Division I Quarterfinal)
Statistics ILST UCD First downs 26 24 Plays–yards 63–532 65–533 Rushes–yards 42–266 24–131 Passing yards 266 402 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–21–1 29–41–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 35:45 24:15 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 15/20, 266 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Victor Dawson 29 carries, 148 yards Receiving Daniel Sobkowicz 6 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TDUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 29/41, 402 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jordan Fisher 13 carries, 70 yards, TD Receiving Stacy Dobbins 10 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TD
Ranking movements
References