I think the Aggie offensive line is one of the better ones in our D1 history. The defensive line has a lot of turnover from last season. Transfers and non-starters form last year taking over.

Game week. Go Ags!

Tubs at the Club guys predict the Ags to finish 2nd in the Big Sky behind MSU

https://www.youtube.com/live/Yznl9pUKL_M

People let their bias against Sac States style color their predictions.
Sacs challenge integrating new players is shared by every team. Davis is the island of stability and has to replace 12 starters. Senior heavy classes due to 2024 being the end of the line for most players who were anything but a true freshman in 2020 meant losses to graduation were more than normal. People argue that teams like Idaho have shown the ability to reload, but FCS teams were exceptionally deep in prior years due to the extra year. Idaho has been hit by heavy transfer losses in consecutive years, at some point depth suffers.

Nice of them. As the Idaho / UC Davis series continues -- it's a bit like the Aggies have the Vandals' number for whatever reason. With a new coach in the Idaho program, the perspective and the game plan will no doubt be different, so interesting to see the next match up.

There is an hour long podcast on the team site, Plough and David Collins

https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2025/8/18/football-catching-up-with-tim-plough.aspx

They posted the text version of the offensive position review.
Not much to say about it, although they claim David Porotesano is a returning starter which i don’t think is right.
We seem to have lost OL Souriolle, Strange trajectory for his career. He played in his first game as a true freshman against A&M Commerce, which is a rare thing for an offensive linemen. I’m pretty sure he was on the summer roster.

https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2025/8/19/2025-football-positional-preview-offense.aspx

Here is the video offensive position preview.

They have posted the game niotes in the schedule and there is a depth chart. Lots of ORs
The players aren’t listed in alphabetical order. Make of it what you will.

DE 96 Jaden Few (Fr., 6-5, 250) -or-
94 Jacob Psyk (Gr., 6-3, 265)
-or-
56 Julius Ray (Jr., 6-2, 250)
Does that mean Jaden Few is the #1 guy? No way.

Interesting they list so many freshmen. I doubt most of them play but they must look good

They moved Nava to Main’s spot at right guard, put Porotesano at right tackle.
If you listened to Ploughs press conference he said this year was the first that players gained weight. The roster weight are updated. Zaire Collier is 320lbs, Jace Rodriguez the left guard is 305, Porotesano is 300 Eli Simonson at 295 is the lightest lineman likely to start.

I seem to remember Hawkins listing everyone and their brother...
I think this year, we just don't know who's going to be the guy at each spot yet. Understandably.

It is a little odd that Psyk isn't on top.

Totton / Cofield were really big recruits. Being listed as a true freshman is impressive.

Can we not ask Rex to return kickoffs? His load is really heavy as-is.....

we will only know who is at the top of the list when they play a game and we see who starts.
They list so many of the freshmen, even guys who were lightly recruited, i wouldn’t attach much meaning to it.
However, Cravin and Cofield were top prospects, they may play and one of them might not redshirt, thats my guess.

Regarding “It is a little odd that Psyk isn't on top”
I belatedly figured out how the depth chart order works.
When they say OR, they list the players they are ORing alphabetically.
So the positions like defensive tackle and end everyone is tied for first, but listed alphabetically.
When players are not separated by an OR the order means ranking. This may seem obvious but i didn’t parse it.

Could also be the starter depending on defensive package. Nickel/Dime/3 down vs 4 down.

The depth chart is laid out for 3-3-5, their base defense.

The 3-3-5 is the stack defense which few programs run. Davis runs a base nickel in a 4-2-5 alignment like just about everyone in the country these days. The $ position is an edge that lines up on the ball mostly.

I’m sure you are right but the defense has 3 lineman, 3 linebackers and 5 defensive backs.
I take your word for that not being a 3-3-5.

Excellent article about Big Sky football:

https://www.si.com/college-football/how-big-sky-staying-true-old-school-roots-modern-college-football-world

The $ position is an edge that rushes from the LOS, so 4-2-5.

I understand the point.

But if you have outside and inside linebackers (which Davis so designates) are you saying one of the two is middle and the other is outside? Not seeing how that checks.

Most programs Davis included call the edge a LB but functionally this is a pass rushing DE that usually lines up on the ball. Last year they played base with two LBs, Meyer and Connors. This year sub out Meyer for Rutchena. The game is situational so you match groupings based on the personnel on offense but you usually need 5 dbs on the field and a lot of the mix/match depends on whether your better player/matchup is an athletic third backer or a safety that can play up in the box.

Just signed up for youtube tv, new lawn flag representing the Ags here in Boise- Go Ags! 2025.

https://youtube.com/shorts/5Uamyz0MYfI?si=XvVY9z4wKGj9MDw_

Love it!

Question on away games -- I've never been to an away conference game except for Sac State before, but I'm eyeing destinations like Moscow and Bozeman this year. Does UCD or CAAA typically put together packages in the visitor's section for these out of state Big Sky games like they do for FBS games? Or do folks here typically just try to buy a ticket near the visitor's sideline from the other team?

Generally, the FBS games have organized events
https://ucdavisaggies.evenue.net/events/FBAWAY

In the past, we've just bought GA and found all the Aggies (usually parents/family/friends are easy to find).

Its hit n miss. Sometimes CAA puts on a tailgate and offers a tailgate/game ticket combo. And sometimes they don’t. For example, they always have a gathering and game ticket for Cal games. I’ve attended gatherings and bought the game ticket package for PSU, SLO, and EWU. I’m probably forgetting a few.
The players parents have a FB page that is informative on gatherings and team info such as the team hotel. Its always fun staying at the team hotel - usually a good gathering of Aggie faithfuls in the lounge :).

Moscow should be easy to get tickets for on the general market. Bozeman would be very expensive on the third party market. Montana State usually has a sellout and you are purchasing someone’s ticket with a big market. I had a bad experience with vivid seats (for Montana State in 2022) as they don’t release tickets until the last minute and you may have plunked down a lot of money in hotel and air travel before having tickets in hand. If possible going through USD would be better but I think you would need some sort of status to have those available to you.