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It came as no surprise that the two blue bloods in the Big Sky Conference football circles are projected to finish first and second in one of the powerhouse leagues in the FCS.
And it’s no surprise that UC Davis was picked to place third behind Montana State and Montana in the preseason coaches’ and media polls, recently released by the conference’s offices in Farmington, Utah. UCD did receive two first-place votes in both polls to top the Big Sky.
Coaches cannot vote for their own teams, so this offers a glimpse into what the Big Sky thinks of the Aggies.
UC Davis seeks its fifth FCS playoff berth since 2018 and third in succession under third-year coach and one-time Aggies quarterback Tim Plough.
UCD has won 32 conference championships in its storied history, including a remarkable 20 in a row in 1971-1990 when the Aggies stood as one of the elite Division II programs in the country under coaches Jim Sochor, Bob Biggs and Bob Foster. Plough thinks of those coaches and mentors often as he continues the legacy of “Aggie Pride.”
The Aggies reached the FCS quarterfinals in each of the past two seasons behind a dynamic offense and a sound defense, and the aim is to extend that success and reach the program’s first FCS title game. Winning the Big Sky would certainly help in that pursuit. UCD is led by preseason All-American receiver Samuel Gbatu Jr., defensive back Drew Cofield, linebacker Nate Rutchena and All-American safety Rex Connors.
Montana State is the defending Big Sky and FCS national champion, having gone 14-2 last season under longtime coach Brent Vigen and All-American quarterback Justin Lamson, The Sacramento Bee’s Player of the Year in 2019 out of Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills.
Lamson and a host of other Bobcats players return, seeking the program’s 19th Big Sky crown since 1964. Montana State is preseason ranked No. 1 in the FCS in multiple polls, including by CBSports.com with Montana ranked third and UCD eighth.
Montana has won 19 Big Sky crowns and gave it another run last season, finishing second in the Big Sky at 7-1 and going 13-2 overall in Bobby Hauck’s final season as head coach. Bobby Kennedy now heads the Grizzlies after serving as a Montana assistant.
Sacramento State is not in the Big Sky after 29 years as the Hornets will kick off their first season in the FBS as a member of the Mid-American Conference. This also means that UCD will not play Sac State in 2026 - or anytime soon, halting the Causeway Classic rivalry that began in 1954 when the Hornets started their program. Sac State placed fourth in the Big Sky last season and went 7-5 overall.
Big Sky Kickoff Weekend takes place this Friday through Sunday in Spokane, capped by media day Sunday. UCD will be represented by Plough, Gbatu and Cofield.
Big Sky Football Preseason Coaches Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses, followed by total points)
1. Montana State (11) – 143
2. Montana – 130
3. UC Davis (2) – 121
4. Northern Arizona – 108
5. Idaho State - 99
6. Southern Utah – 82
7. Idaho – 77
8. Eastern Washington – 70
9. Weber State – 48
10. Northern Colorado – 47
11. Cal Poly – 46
12. Portland State – 24
13. Utah Tech – 19
Big Sky Football Preseason Media Poll
1. Montana State (35) – 490
2. Montana (1) – 448
3. UC Davis (2) – 421
4. Idaho State – 349
5. Northern Arizona – 339
6. Idaho – 283
7. Southern Utah – 273
8. Eastern Washington – 246
9. Cal Poly – 168
10. Weber State – 155
11. Northern Colorado – 153
12. Portland State – 68
13. Utah Tech – 65
