Pesky Aggies stand in way of Vandals' playoff push

UC Davis at Idaho • Today, 5 p.m. • TV: SWX/ESPN+ • Radio: ESPN 700, 105.3 FM, 1230 AM, 107.1 FM 

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

UC Davis is ranked No. 22 in this week's Stats Perform top 25 FCS poll, while Idaho is just out of the top 25, among those receiving votes. 

But you could make the argument that, at this point in the season, the Idaho Vandals (5-5, 5-2 Big Sky Conference) are the hotter team heading into today's senior day clash with the Aggies 6-4, 4-3) at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. Kickoff has been pushed back to 5 p.m., due to flights being halted Friday because of air traffic communications problems.

"Just extremely happy with the way our players are getting better each week," second-year Idaho head coach Thomas Ford Jr. said earlier this week, in his weekly meeting with area media. 

After an 0-4 start, Idaho has won four straight, and five of its last six, to remain in the conversation for a berth in the 24-team FCS playoffs.

UC Davis, after starting out 2-0, has alternated losses and wins over its next eight games. The Aggies, coming off back-to-back FCS quarterfinal appearances, were ranked No. 6 in the preseason FCS poll. 

All three of the Aggies' losses in Big Sky play have been blowouts — 62-22 at home to Montana, 38-17 at Southern Utah and, two weeks ago, 38-14 at Weber State. 

But, for some reason, Idaho has had a hard time with UC Davis since returning to the Big Sky in 2018. The Aggies have won all six meetings since then, including three in Moscow, the latest a 28-14 UC Davis win in the Dome last year. 

Idaho's only win over UC Davis came in 1997, the Vandals' second year in FBS. 

"We're going to have a little chip on our shoulder; we haven't beat UC Davis in a long time," Ford said. "I've never beaten them." 

Ford said what makes the Aggies, under third-year head coach Tim Plough, difficult to prepare for is the various shifts and motions designed to confuse the defense. 

Ford said he tried to recruit UC Davis tailback Jordan Fisher, who has 1,054 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns this season, to Moscow. He said Samuel Gbatu Jr., who has 69 receptions for 905 yards and five touchdowns, "can beat you in a number of ways." 

Treynor Cleeland, who took over at quarterback when Caden Pinnick transferred to Washington State, has thrown for 2,390 yards and 19 touchdowns, with eight interceptions. 

Defensively, Ford said UC Davis defensive coordinator Matt Coombs "does a good job having a wrinkle or two that you haven't seen, so you have to adjust early." 

Star defensive back Rex Connors has yet to return from a knee injury suffered early in the 2025 season, His twin brother, Porter, a linebacker, is second on the team with 69 tackles. 

Aggies defensive back Hayden John, a former Vandal, has 49 tackles, 2.5 for loss, and an interception in nine games. 

If Idaho wins today, the Vandals travel to Idaho State next Saturday for the regular season finale with a chance to earn a playoff spot for the first time since 2024, and fourth in five seasons. 

"Obviously we still have some opportunities that can be on the table if we can keep going 1-0," Ford said. "We have a great opportunity if we can win six games, but you can't win all six in one week," Ford said.