ESPN2 Sets Stage For No. 8 UC Davis Playoff Game Against No. 9 Rhode Island

UC Davis football will face off against Rhode Island in the second round of the FCS Playoffs in front of a national audience on ESPN 2.

BY UC DAVIS ATHLETICS

Dec 1, 2025, 8:45 AM Updated: 8:49 am

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In the second-straight season hosting a postseason game at UC Davis Health Stadium, No. 8 UC Davis football (8-3) will be showcased on ESPN2 when No. 9 Rhode Island (11-2) makes the visit in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Second Round playoff match-up.

The game is set to kick off on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., and it will be the first time that UC Davis Health Stadium has hosted a linear ESPN network in either the post or regular season. Fans can get tickets to the game by hitting the link, by calling the Aggie Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471, or by emailing the Aggie Ticket Office at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu.

📺👀

The nation will be watching on ESPN2 when No. 8 UC Davis hosts No. 9 Rhode Island in the second round of the @NCAA_FCS Playoffs!!

Hit the link BELOW to get your 🎟️ today and be part of history when 𝗦𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 takes the national stage!!

🎟️ -… pic.twitter.com/ORxwblMhym

— UC Davis Football (@UCDfootball) November 29, 2025

NCAA FCS CHAMPIONSHIPS SECOND ROUND

UC Davis Health Stadium | Davis, Calif.

Dec. 6 | 7 p.m. – No. 8 UC Davis football vs. No. 9 Rhode Island | Watch: ESPN2| Tickets

It’s the second-straight season UC Davis has earned a first-round bye, and the third playoff game the Aggies will host since 2018. The appearance marks the fourth time UC Davis has clinched a spot in the FCS playoffs and the 25th time the Aggies have played in the postseason at any level.

UC Davis football will face off with Rhode Island for the first time in program history, and when it comes to teams from the Northeast, the Aggies are 5-7 all-time. The last time the Aggies played a team from that part of the country was in 2019 when they welcomed Lehigh to Davis, taking that game 41-13.

Rhode Island finished its season as the No. 9 seed after going 10-2 (8-0) during the regular season, taking home its first-ever Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) title. Rhody earned itself a first-round game at home against Central Connecticut State (Northeast Conference), holding off the Blue Devils 27-19 in the first round to punch their ticket to the second round.

More on UC Davis football

Fresh off a win over Sacramento State in the Causeway Classic, UC Davis football is preparing to begin its FCS Playoff run.

UC Davis head coach Tim Plough joined The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross to recap the Aggies’ win over Sacramento State, share how the Aggies are preparing for the postseason during their first-round BYE, and much more.

Be sure to check out the entire interview with UC Davis football head coach Tim Plough on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube page.