UC Davis head coach Tim Plough previews Playoff showdown vs. Illinois State

After delivering a blowout win during its opening round action of the FCS Playoffs, UC Davis football will look to continue to push for a championship this weekend.

UC Davis football head coach Tim Plough joined The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross to recap last weekend’s playoff win over Rhode Island, preview Saturday’s showdown against Illinois State, 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.

Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

Click here for full episodes of The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross.

More on UC Davis football

For the second-straight season, No. 8 UC Davis football (9-3) has advanced to the NCAA Football Championships Subdivision Playoff Quarterfinal, but for the first time since 2001, a playoff quarterfinal will be played in Davis when Illinois State (10-4) makes its second-straight postseason trip to UC Davis Health Stadium on Dec. 13.

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.

NCAA FCS CHAMPIONSHIPS QUARTERFINALS
UC Davis Health Stadium | Davis, Calif.
Dec. 13 | 2 p.m. – vs. Illinois State | ESPN+ | Listen | Tickets

It’s the first time since 2001-02 that the UC Davis football team has reached the playoff quarterfinals and the first time hosting since 2001. It’s also the 17th time the Aggies have reached the quarterfinals in their postseason history.

The Aggies reached the quarterfinals after knocking off No. 9 Rhode Island on ESPN2, 47-26, in the second-round matchup played at UC Davis Health Stadium.

During the game, Caden Pinnick, an FCS Football Central Freshman All-American, threw for five touchdown passes becoming only the second Aggie in program history to achieve that in a playoff game, while both Jordan Fisher (running back) and Samuel Gbatu Jr., (wide receiver) went over 100 yards, each breaking 1,000 yards on the season in both rushing and receiving.

As for Illinois State, they come in having pulled off one of the bigger upsets in FCS history, knocking off No. 1 North Dakota State in the Fargodome 29-28 in an exciting game that will go down in the history books. And despite throwing five interceptions, the Redbirds scored late to pull off the upset.

It’s the second-straight season that Illinois State and UC Davis football will meet in the playoffs, with the Aggies and Redbirds matching up during last year’s second round.

In that game, also played in Davis, the Aggies dominated from start to finish, coming away with a 42-10 victory to advance into the 2024 quarterfinals.

No. 8 UC Davis Football Eyes Home NCAA FCS Quarterfinal Match Up Against Illinois State

2025 UC Davis football schedule

• Saturday, December 13th – vs. Illinois State – 2:00 PM PT (3rd round of FCS Playoffs)

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