NCAA D-I FCS playoffs: UC Davis is in as No. 8 seed, Sacramento State is out

What a weekend for the UC Davis Aggies.

The football team started the weekend with an inspired 31-27 home victory over Sacramento State on Saturday afternoon in front of an overflow crowd of 14,590 sun-splashed spectators in the 71st and, quite likely, final Causeway Classic.

On Sunday morning, UCD as a team watched on ESPNU as the NCAA Division I FCS football brackets were announced, and there were cheers across Yolo County. UCD with a record of 8-3 and a third-place finish in the Big Sky Conference earned the No. 8 seed in the 24-team bracket.

The Aggies then had their team awards banquet, everyone in good spirits. The extra bonus for UCD is that the Aggies have an opening-round bye on Saturday to rest and prepare for the winner of Saturday’s Central Connecticut State at No. 9 Rhode Island winner. UCD would host that game on Dec. 6.

UCD finished third in the Big Sky Conference behind FCS playoffs No. 2-seeded Montana State (10-2) and No. 3 Montana (11-1). Montana State and Montana are FCS ranked second and third in polls, too.

North Dakota State is the top seed at 12-0. The powerhouse program seeks its 11th FCS championship since 2011.

Sacramento State, at 7-5, did not get into the playoffs. The Causeway Classic loss meant it would be a steep climb to sway the FCS committee for a team that was not nationally ranked in the top 25.

An example of how difficult it was to get into the field, Monmouth at 9-3 and Presbyterian at 10-2 did not qualify.

This story was originally published November 23, 2025 at 10:58 AM.