Game-face Pinnick showing joy? Believe it, as UC Davis hosts another playoff game
The house could be on fire, and Caden Pinnick might not flinch.
No fear, just calm, and collect the kids, the dog and family photos and hustle out the back door.
On a football field, the UC Davis quarterback operates as a cool customer. This is the guy you want at the poker table. Pinnick won’t buckle under pressure, but he will gamble in the face of a pass rush. He will offer an expression of angst with irked eyes after throwing an interception, because no one self-critiques quite like Pinnick.
He also will be gleeful when the Aggies are victorious, which has been often in 2025. Pinnick has been a focal point for a team that is one of eight still standing in the NCAA FCS playoff bracket. As the No. 8 seed, UCD at 2 p.m. Saturday will host a quarterfinal contest against Illinois State, which just bounced defending FCS national champion and top-seeded North Dakota State, 29-28.
In his first year starting under center out of Del Oro High School in Placer County, Pinnick has propelled UCD to a 9-3 record in earning Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year and FCS Freshman All-American accolades.
In an Aggies setting in which “Find Joy” is the motto, Pinnick has yielded a bit. He’s smiling more. No one game faces like the stoic Pinnick, yet there he was after last Saturday’s 47-20 victory over Rhode Island beaming.
And it wasn’t just for the five touchdown passes he fired, or the 99 yards rushing he produced as a dual-threat that flusters defenses. It was the manner in which the Aggies performed on offense and defense that pleased Pinnick.
“I’m having a blast,” a grinning Pinnick said. “I’m addicted to winning, which I’m not sure is a good thing.”
Actually, it’s a good thing in Yolo County, where the storied Aggies have made winning a thing pretty much since the time they started football in 1915. Quarterback play has been a pillar of success over the decades at UCD, including local products such as Bob Biggs of Vacaville High and Jim Speck of Davis High in the 1970s; Ken O’Brien of Jesuit, Scott Barry of Delta in Clarksburg and Chris Petersen of Yuba City in the 1980s; Khari Jones of Center in the 1990s and J.T. O’Sullivan of Jesuit in the 2000s.
Pinnick fits right in with that group of achievers. He credits his offensive linemen for his success, and the receivers, tight ends and backs. He points to offensive coordinator Paul Shelton, and he appreciates the mentorship and bond with coach Tim Plough, who coaches quarterbacks harder than any other position since he played it 20 years ago at UCD.
Pinnick in a series of plays can fluster his coaches for extending a play when maybe throwing the ball away might be wiser. But the coaches know how he is wired, and they do not want to take his creativity away. Pinnick will mostly wow his coaches with his success in getting that first down after things break down or for well-executed scoring drives.
“Sometimes, it’s painful, and sometimes it’s exciting, but either way, it’s a learning lesson for (Pinnick),” Plough said. “His best football is ahead of him, and that’s exciting. I’m just so proud of him. He’s a special player.”
Plough commended Pinnick for bouncing back from turnovers or stalled drives. The coach has credited his budding star for his growth, leadership and skill set.
“I love coaching him because he loves this just as much as I do,” Plough said. “Being around guys like this is why you coach.”
FCS playoffs: ‘It’s ride or die’
Plough could see the competitive juices and stern game face of Pinnick when Pinnick played high school basketball. He saw Pinnick light up a team for 42 points in the same expressionless fashion as he picks apart defenses now.
Pinnick impressed in summer workouts and won the starting job over veteran backup Grant Harper. They each have each other’s back.
“The standard here at Davis is so high, especially at quarterback where you’re always expected to play well,” Pinnick said. “I’m still a young quarterback, still learning. I’ve got a great guy next to me (in Plough), who I look up to as a father figure and mentor. I feel really good about all of it.”
Pinnick embraces his role, his growth and the moment.
“At the beginning of the season, I didn’t think I was the best version of a leader,” he said. “I realized that I’ve got to be a voice for these guys. I’m not super emotional, but I love to play and love to win.”
He added: “The fun part about playoff football is nothing is guaranteed. “It’s ride or die. For me, I feel the real joyous part is because we have at least another week to play. We have another week to be with the guys that we love and working with. My success comes from a lot of other guys here. We’re in this together.”
UCD radio/TV color voice Scott Gordon said he is impressed with Pinnick. Gordon appreciates quarterback play, having starred at the position in high school, later playing at the University of Arizona.
“I went to the UCD walk-through on Friday, and Caden missed a player on an out route,” Gordon said. “Plough called the field goal team on, and Caden ran about 60 yards, around the goal post, to get a new ball for the next series. He’s a total control freak, in a good way. He’s a leader just in how he handles himself.”
Gordon added, “He just wants things to be perfect. He wasn’t mad at himself after missing his target. He wanted a different football, and he went and got it. The next time he went to the air, he was throwing the exact ball he wanted. His poise and understanding of a complex offense as a freshman is very impressive.”
This story was originally published December 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM.