Illinois State quarterfinal opponent capsule: UC Davis

Quarterback Caden Pinnick, a redshirt freshman, was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List in October. The honor is given annually to the top freshman in FCS. (Photo by UCDavisAggies.com)

By Barry Bottino

Playing in the FCS quarterfinals has become a habit for UC Davis and head coach Tim Plough.

The eighth-seeded Aggies (9-3) and their second-year head coach advanced to host Illinois State in the quarterfinals with Saturday’s late night 47-26 win against No. 9 Rhode Island.

The Aggies will be playing in the quarters for the second year in a row.

“We talked all week about how we wanted to win so that we could spend another week together,” Plough said. “I love this team so much and love coaching them, so it was tough to bear the thought of not having another week with these guys.”

Rhode Island led, 20-11, late in the second quarter before the Aggies erupted, scoring 36 unanswered points. That avalanche of points was aided by four touchdown passes from redshirt freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick to three different players.

“I’m proud of these guys for working hard and getting it done against a fantastic Rhode Island team, as they all are at this point of the season,” Plough said.

Here’s a deeper look at the Redbirds’ quarterfinal round opponent:

School:  University of California-Davis.

Founded: 1905.

Location:  Davis, Calif.

Distance from Normal, Ill.: 2,027 miles.

Population: 65,832.

Enrollment:  40,848.

Nickname; Mascot: Aggies; Gunrock the Mustang.

Colors: Blue and gold.

Stadium: UC Davis Health Stadium, which has a capacity of 10,743, opened in 2007.

Conference: Big Sky.

Head Coach: Tim Plough.

Overall Record: 20-6 in two seasons.

I-AA/FCS Playoff Appearances: Four since 2018.

Key players: Redshirt freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick, who was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List in October among the nation’s top freshmen, has thrown for 29 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He is completing nearly 70% of his passes and is the team’s third-leading rusher (411 yards, three TDs). Pinnick was also honored as the Big Sky Freshman of the Year. … Defensive lineman Jacob Psyk, a graduate student, has a team-best 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. He was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the best defensive player in FCS. …  Junior running back Jordan Fisher, who rushed for less than 200 yards a year ago, is thriving as the lead back in 2025. He has rushed for 1,051 yards and seven scores. … Eleven different players have caught a touchdown this season, led by senior Samuel Gbatu Jr. (64 catches, 1,070 yards, 11 TDs).

Quick facts about the Aggies: Head coach Tim Plough, as a high school quarterback prospect in California, took recruiting trips to Harvard, UC Davis and Illinois State. “I had a great time,” he said of Normal before last season’s playoff matchup with the Redbirds. “I remember is was really cold.” … Senior wide receiver Samuel Gbatu Jr. was born in Liberia and spent the first 11 years of his life there, where he played soccer. His father, Samuel Sr., came to the U.S. in 2008, leaving his family behind. The elder Gbatu joined the U.S. Marine Corps, then brought his family to the U.S. and is still serving in the military today. As a military kid, Gbatu Jr. has lived in Washington, D.C., Japan and California, where he blossomed as a high school football player. …. As a team, the Aggies have compiled 50 pass breakups this season. Defensive backs Drew Cofield (nine) and Khalani Riddick and Marquis Bell (seven each) lead the way. … Senior kicker Hunter Ridley has made 76.4% of his career field goals. His 42 made kicks place him fourth all-time in school history and just three field goals away from third place.

Best UC Davis player in the NFL: Quarterback Ken O’Brien, who played for the New York Jets from 1984-92 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1993.

Famous UC Davis alumni: Mike Bellotti (football coach); Adam Duritz (lead singer, Counting Crows); Tracy Caldwell Dyson (astronaut); Kimberly Guilfoyle (TV personality); Dan Hawkins (football coach); John Morrison (WWE); Jonny Moseley (Olympic champion freestyle skier); Chris Petersen (college football coach); Stephen Robinson (astronaut); Danielle Spencer (played Dee on ‘70s sitcom “What’s Happening”); Anne Veneman (former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture); Martin Yan (TV Chef).

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