UC Davis prepares for FCS Playoff matchup vs. South Dakota

Dec 11, 2024, 8:01 AM

UC Davis football head coach Tim Plough....

(UC Davis Athletics)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

The road to an FCS Championship continues this weekend for the UC Davis football team as the Aggies prepare to face South Dakota on Saturday afternoon.

UC Davis head coach Tim Plough joined The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross to preview the matchup, discuss how the first-round bye benefited his team, recap the opening-round win against Illinois State, and much more.

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

More on UC Davis football & athletics

The University of California, Davis has accepted a formal invitation to join the Mountain West Conference beginning July 1, 2026.

“We are thrilled to join the Mountain West Conference, and we look forward to an incredible experience for our student-athletes and for our fans,” said UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May. “Our transition to the highly regarded conference will introduce our Aggie community to a broader audience, in major metropolitan areas and through increased media coverage. It also provides us with an opportunity to align with universities that share similar academic strengths while also expanding our competitive presence in the Western United States.”

The Aggies will compete in all Mountain West Conference-sponsored sports, except for football, which will continue to participate in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in the Big Sky Conference. Men’s and women’s water polo as well as beach volleyball will seek to remain in the Big West through affiliate membership but are prepared to explore other options, if necessary. No changes will occur with membership agreements for equestrian, field hockey and lacrosse.

“Adding UC Davis further strengthens the trajectory of the Mountain West as it continues to build its brand that has proven to elevate institutions and student-athletes,” said MW Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “Chancellor Gary S. May and Director of Athletics Rocko Deluca have shared their strategic plan and financial vision for enhancing student-athlete development, welfare, and competitive excellence, and I believe UC Davis brings a wealth of positives in the continuing growth of the Mountain West.”

The announcement comes on the heels of a historic fall sport season for the Aggies in which all eight varsity fall sports teams qualified for postseason competition.

Men’s soccer secured a Big West championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament. UC Davis football finished the regular season seeded fifth in the nation with a bye in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship followed by a win against Illinois State on Dec. 7. They will play South Dakota on Saturday, Dec. 14 at noon in the quarterfinals.

Women’s soccer and women’s cross country ended the season in second place in the Big West Conference, with men’s water polo, men’s cross country and women’s indoor volleyball finishing third in the Big West and field hockey finishing sixth in the America East.