Aggies Ranked No. 8 In Stats Perform Preseason Top-25 Poll

Stats Perform has released its FCS Preseason Top 25, with UC Davis football earning its highest preseason ranking since 2019, coming in at No. 8.

BY UC DAVIS ATHLETICS

Aug 5, 2025, 7:11 AM

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In just under three weeks, UC Davis football will kick off the 2025 campaign, and with that date quickly approaching, Stats Perform has released its FCS Preseason Top 25, with the Aggies earning their highest preseason ranking since 2019, coming in at No. 8.

The Aggies are coming off a 2024 season where they finished with the highest ranking in program history, coming in at No. 5 in the final Stats Perform FCS Top 25. During that season that Aggies finished 11-3, getting program-defining wins over then-ranked No. 5 Idaho, on the road at Eastern Washington, and a home playoff win over then-ranked No. 12 Illinois State.

UC Davis football is one of six Big Sky programs to be ranked inside the top 25, with Montana State coming in at No. 2, Montana at No. 7, Idaho at No. 12, Sacramento State sitting at No. 15 and Northern Arizona rounding out the Big Sky representatives at No. 19.

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UC Davis comes in ranked No. 8️⃣ in the 2025 Stats Perform Preseason FCS Top 25!! 😤#GoAgs | #Shredville pic.twitter.com/UXgoRmUu4I

— UC Davis Football (@UCDfootball) August 4, 2025

While the 2024 graduating class had a large collection of great Ags, the 2025 team returns its own special group of Ags while adding a talented bunch to create a deep 2025 squad.

Headlining the Aggie returners is Preseason All-American and Big Sky Preseason Defensive Player of the Year defensive back Rex Connors. Connors, who set a program record in 2024 with 74 solo tackles during the season, was also named to the Buck Buchanan Preseason Watch List and the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000.

Along with Connors, four other Aggies have been tabbed Preseason All-Americans with Rex’s brother Porter Connors (linebacker), kicker Hunter Ridley, tight end Winston Williams and defensive lineman Jacob Psyk all earning the honors from either Stats Perform or FCS Football Central.

UC Davis football returns all five starting offensive linemen, leading receiver Samuel Gbatu, Jr., and a strong collection of running backs with Matteo Perez, Jordan Fisher and Carter Vargas all having received touches during the 2024 season.

Psyk and Rex Connors headline the defensive side of the ball, but the secondary as a unit returns Jayden Stanley while adding important transfers Cole Batson, Khalani Riddick and Ty Richardson. Porter Connors is joined at the linebacker corps by California transfer Nate Rutchena while up front Derrell Smith-Porter comes over from the Ivy League with Psyk and they join returners Trent Carrade, Joey Carrillo and Rayne Mayo Jr.

UC Davis football opens 2025 on Aug. 23 in Montgomery, Ala., when they face No. 11 Mercer in the 2025 FCS Kickoff Classic. That game is set to kickoff at 4 p.m. PT and will be aired on ESPN. The Aggies open UC Davis Health Stadium on Sept. 20 when RV Southern Utah visits Davis for a 7 p.m. kick.

SEASON TICKETS: Season tickets are on sale now, and fans can head here to secure their spot in Shredville for the 2025 season. Tickets start as low as $100 for new alumni and $140 for the general public.

GROUP TICKETS: Football group ticket discounts start at 10 or more tickets and provide a great opportunity for gatherings and parties to enjoy Aggie football. If you’d like to create an unforgettable experience with your group, the Aggie Ticket Office is here to help you customize your day! Fans can head to THIS LINK to purchase their group ticket packages.

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SINGLE GAME TICKETS: Single game tickets are on sale now and fans can secure their spot at one five home games for as little as $13 a ticket. HEAD HERE to buy single game tickets today.