College football: UC Davis is 1-4 but still aims to make a run at a playoff spot
The results have not been favorable, but it’s not for lack of effort.
UC Davis sits at 1-4 this football season, including an 0-2 showing in the stacked Big Sky Conference, where some of the very best teams in the FCS reside and where the margin for error is razor-thin.
The Aggies are coming off a bye week to lick their wounds, to reassess, knowing full well that the playoffs are still within reach if they can peel off a winning streak with the following games remaining: Northern Arizona (2-4) on Saturday at home, Northern Colorado (2-4), Cal Poly (1-4), Idaho State (0-6), Idaho (3-2) and Sacramento State (5-0).
UCD is a bounce or two away from having two more victories as it navigates through one of the most challenging — OK, brutal— schedules in the FCS. The Aggies have crushing losses at No. 2 South Dakota State (24-22) and at home to No. 6 Weber State (17-12). UCD was in a fight with No. 4 Montana State in its last outing before falling 41-24.
“The bye week was good to get the wind under our wings, to analyze where we are and where we’re going, a chance to get people healed up,” UCD coach Dan Hawkins said. “We have to coach and play a little better. The guys’ spirits are good. We know there’s a lot of good football left. We just have to get back on the horse.”
Hawkins is 3-1 at UCD after bye weeks as he aims to get the Aggies back into the FCS playoffs for the third time since 2018. UCD hasn’t been sloppy in the losses as it rates as the least penalized team in the Big Sky. What’s more, UCD has allowed just four sacks this season, which leads the Big Sky.
Northern Arizona (2-4) at UC Davis (1-4)
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where: UC Davis Health Stadium
On air: SacTown Sports 1140, ESPN+
Quick hits: UCD beat NAU 40-24 in Flagstaff a year ago as returning quarterback Miles Hastings threw two touchdown and Trent Tompkins dazzled on a 54-yard scoring sprint. That win also came after a bye...UCD defensive back Devon King is tied with Jason Hairston with the school-record of 136 solo stops. ... UCD is second in the Big Sky with eight forced turnovers and is second with five interceptions. ... NAU has wins at Sam Houston State (10-3) and against Cal Poly last week (31-29) as Collin Robbins hit the go-ahead 40-yard field goal with 1:27 left. In that game, RJ Martinez passed for 359 yards and three touchdowns and ran for one. ... This will be the eighth meeting between NAU and UCD, with NAU leading 4-3.