Football Team Looks to Continue Momentum in 2026

The UC Davis football team returns to the field next week to begin a quest to earn a third straight trip to the postseason.

“I’m excited about the 2026 season and the opportunity to continue building something special at UC Davis,” said third-year head coach Tim Plough. “We often talk about finding joy in what we do, and that’s what this program is about. We want to represent UC Davis in a way that brings joy to our players, our university and our community — and gives people a team they’re proud to support.”

For those who want to follow along from Davis, the team’s season opener Saturday (Aug. 29) at Portland State will be televised on ESPN+. After two more road games, the Aggies will return to UC Davis Health Stadium on Sept. 19 to host the Hatters of Stetson University.

Season tickets, multi-game mini plans and individual tickets are available for those who want to catch a game in person — see below for more details.

Strong showing

Plenty of action is expected on the field this year, with the Aggies ranked No. 6 in a preseason poll by the American Football Coaches Association. Last year, the team finished with a 9-4 record that included a 6-2 showing in conference competition.

The UC Davis football team continues to compete in the Big Sky Conference as an affiliate member, as most other NCAA Aggie sports transitioned to the Mountain West Conference over the summer.

Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca said UC Davis’ focus continues to be on “building and sustaining one of the premier programs in the FCS.”

To that end, Intercollegiate Athletics earlier this year extended Plough’s contract through January 2031; Plough has said his goal is to bring a national championship to Davis.

Game themes

The fun at UC Davis Health Stadium will extend off the field with a number of promotions and themed games this season:

• Sept. 19 vs. Stetson – new student orientation game
• Sept. 26 vs. Montana – Salute to Agriculture, featuring exhibits and activities; first-year field storm
• Oct. 3 vs. Eastern Washington – Homecoming; tube sock giveaway; Lantinx heritage celebration; Aggie Hall of Fame induction; ASUCD pregame tailgate for all students; game will be shown on ESPN2
• Oct. 24 vs. Northern Colorado – HalloweenFest, featuring student “scare actors” on the concourse; Junior Aggiette clinic; Tahoe blue jerseys
• Nov. 7 vs. Utah Tech – Parent and Family Weekend; faculty and staff appreciation game; band day; Doxie Derby
• Nov. 21 vs. Cal Poly – Battle for the Golden Horseshoe; salute to heroes; senior day

Cori returns with new merch

Cori, the Labrador retriever owned by Lisa Tell ’87, DVM ’91, a professor of medicine and epidemiology in the Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, will be back to collect the kickoff tees at Aggie home games.

Tell said she and Cori plan to attend each home game, although their plans for Oct. 24 haven’t been finalized.

New this year is a line of Cori-themed shirts and sweaters, available exclusively online from Athlete’s Thread, a website that offers apparel in its name, image and license, or NIL, storefront. Proceeds will fund future Cori merchandise, Tell said, adding that she has paid for previous stickers, keychains and other items from her own pocket and then given them away for free at events.

How to buy tickets

Several different options are available for those who want to attend a UC Davis home game:

• Single game tickets
• Mini plans: Two different options are available — they include the Sept. 26 game against Montana and allow fans to add one or two additional home games at a discounted rate. All Mini Plan seats are located in Sections 119 or 125 on the west side of UC Davis Health Stadium.
• 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 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. For more information, email the Aggie Ticket Office at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu or call 530-752-2471.
• Group ticket discounts: Begin with 10 tickets and provide an opportunity for company outings, family gatherings, birthday celebrations and more. Available packages include access to the player high-five tunnel or a turnkey tailgate space. Call the Aggie Ticket Office at 530-752-2471 to customize a game-day experience.
• To purchase tailgating or parking for the 2026 season, contact the ticket office at 530-752-2471.

Broadcast information

All regular season UC Davis football games will be televised on ESPN+, with two exceptions: the Sept. 12 game at Southern Methodist University will be shown on the ACC Network, and the Oct. 3 home game against Eastern Washington will be shown on ESPN2. The entire regular season will be broadcast on Sactown Sports 1140AM.