By admin 
Tim Plough describes the dawn of a new season and the goal of competing for championships as “climbing that mountain.”
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The summit and the season have arrived.
FCS-ranked No. 6 UC Davis and its third-year head coach will kick off the 108th season of Aggie football on Saturday in Oregon with visions of winning a 32nd conference championship and securing their fifth FCS playoff berth since 2018.
Coming off of a 9-4 season and another FCS playoff run, the Aggies take on the Portland State Vikings in a Big Sky Conference opener before non-conference games at FCS-member San Diego on Sept. 5 and at FBS-member SMU in Texas on Sept. 12.
UCD’s home opener is Sept. 19 against FCS-member Stetson University of Florida.
Plough, a former UCD quarterback and offensive coach, said that in order to compete for the Big Sky crown, teams have to win their home games and topple at least one heavyweight on the road.
Portland State is no heavyweight, having endured a 1-11 season in 2025, but a triumph of the Aggies would serve as a wrench to the Aggies’ early season hopes.
Of the nine Big Sky teams that UCD plays in 2026, only the Montana Grizzlies posted a winning record in 2025. One of the blue bloods in the FCS, Montana went 13-2 last season and reached the FCS playoffs for the 30th time. The Grizzlies have won a record 19 Big Sky championships.
UCD placed third in the Big Sky behind eventual FCS national champion Montana State and Montana. The Aggies were 6-2 in the Big Sky in 2026. The Aggies host Montana on Sept. 26.
“I love this time of year, fall camp, building the team, learning new things, the culture we’re building and how we are continuing to build our team and teaching players about Aggie pride, the history of this place and playing for each other and for Davis,” Plough said Monday during his weekly news conference.
Plough said the depth in the trenches — the lines — is “the deepest and best we’ve had.”
The skill players are also skilled, including returning 1,000-yard rusher Jordan Fisher, returning 1,000-yard receiver Samuel Gbatu Jr. and returning All-American tight end Winston Williams.
The offensive line leader is center Zaire Collier, a senior out of Granite Bay High School in Placer County who has been recognized as one of the top linemen in the FCS.
Who starts at quarterback?
Plough said Treynor Cleeland won the quarterback job after a competitive battle in camp.
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The 6-foot-2, 225-pound sophomore is from Jesuit High School in Portland, where he was a three-star recruit. He grew up the son of a player. His father, Cam Cleeland, starred for the Washington Huskies, and he spent eight years playing tight end in the NFL. Treynor Cleeland made two appearances for UCD last season.
He takes over for Caden Pinnick, who earned Freshman All-American quarterback honors in 2025 at UCD after a star-studded prep career at Del Oro in Placer County. Pinnick transferred to Washington State, where on Monday he was named the Cougars starting quarterback.
Pinnick was a rare transfer-portal loss for UCD, which has had fewer than 15 players leave via the portal over an eight-year span.
“Treynor is driven,” Plough said. “He wants to be good. He really cares about his teammates and the history of quarterback play here. He’s a tireless worker. He’s as talented of a throw as I’ve coached. Great athlete, great baseball player and basketball player in high school. We’re excited for him.”
Connors brothers anchor defense
The return of brothers Rex and Porter Connors bolsters UCD’s defense. Both were granted a final year of eligibility by the NCAA after injuries stalled their 2025 seasons.
Porter is an All-American linebacker and Rex is an All-American defensive back who is UCD’s all-time career tackles leader with 313 stops.
The Aggies defensive line includes veterans Trent Carrade and Rayno Mayo Jr., and the secondary includes 2025 Freshman All-American cornerback Drew Cofield. Aggies defensive coordinator Matt Coombs said earlier in fall camp, “I want the edge group to be the loudest, fasted and most physical group on the field.”
No. 6 UC Davis (0-0) at Portland State (0-0)
When: Noon Saturday
On air: ESPN+, Sactown Sports 1140 AM radio
Of note: Is there such a thing as a must-win game in an opener? Well, sure, especially considering UCD should win this game based on momentum and experience alone. Portland State is coming off of a one-win season, and the Vikings went 3-8, 5-6 and 4-7 in the previous seasons.
First-year Portland State coach Chris Fisk previously coached at Division II Central Washington. He has a tall task this fall as the Vikings last fielded a winner in 2015 and have fielded one FCS playoff team since 2000.. The Vikings return seven starters on offense, including QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele, who passed for 1,623 yards in 2025. RB Delon Thompson (662 yards) and WR Terence Loville (517 yards) also return.
The teams first met in 1974 with Portland State winning 32-14. The series resumed in 2007 with 11 meeting since. UCD has won the last seven meetings, including 27-26 in 2024.
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