UC DAVIS

UC Davis Football opens 2025 With Week 0 match up; face Mercer in FCS Kickoff Classic

Jan 14, 2025, 7:13 AM

UC Davis football will go head-to-head with fellow FCS Quarterfinals participant and nationally-ranked Mercer in the 2025 FCS Kickoff Classic in downtown Montgomery, Ala., the Week 0 event is scheduled for Aug. 23, 2025, at the historic Cramton Bowl.

Game time, ticket information and television coverage will be announced later.

“We are very excited to have Mercer and UC Davis play in the 2025 FCS Kickoff,” FCS Kickoff executive director Johnny Williams said. “Mercer is a former FCS Kickoff Classic champion, while UC Davis gives us a presence from the West Coast. We encourage both schools/ fans to support their teams in Montgomery next fall.”

More on UC Davis football

Mercer will make its second appearance in three seasons, having used a swarming defense to knock off North Alabama, 17-7, in a lightning-altered game that opened the 2023 college football season. UC Davis football is the first California-based school to play in the FCS Kickoff Classic.

The Aggies had the program’s best season in terms of wins since making the move to Division I in 2007. First-year head coach Tim Plough led the Aggies to landmark wins over than-ranked No. 5 Idaho and No. 7 Montana (in Missoula, Mont.) and helped guide the Aggies to a home playoff victory, the second in program history. Senior running back Lan Larison led the nation in all-purpose yards and senior quarterback Miles Hastings became the first Aggie to throw for over 4,000 yards in a season, both earning Walter Payton Award finalist nods.

“We have tremendous momentum with our football program and are excited to showcase Aggie Pride on a national stage in Montgomery, Alabama, next year,” said UC Davis Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca. “Competing in the FCS Kickoff during Week Zero at a historic venue not only amplifies our visibility but also highlights everything our remarkable student-athletes from this top 10 public university have to offer.”

Both schools wrapped up historic 2024 campaigns as national seeds in the quarterfinals round of the FCS Playoffs on Saturday. The fifth-seeded Aggies (11-3) dropped a tough 35-21 contest at fourth-seeded South Dakota, while the seventh-seeded Bears (11-3) fell 31-7 to second-seeded North Dakota State.

UC Davis will look to come into the 2025 season led by returning starters safety Rex Connors and wide receiver Samuel Gbatu, Jr. While it may be a new look Aggie squad, Connors and Gbatu, Jr., were big contributors during the season, with Connors finishing with 115 total tackles and Gbatu, Jr., finishing second on the team with 779 receiving yards to lead all Aggie receivers in 2024.

Mercer opened its 2024 campaign with six-straight victories on the way to capturing the Southern Conference championship – the first league title in program history – on the way to securing its second-straight appearance in the NCAA postseason. The Bears lead all 123 FCS teams in five defensive statistical categories, including a program-record 25 interceptions and a rushing defense that surrendered just 71.6 yards per game.

The Bears are set to return 11 starters for the 2025 season, including seven on the offensive side of the ball. Among the returners for the Orange & Black is rising sophomore quarterback Whitt Newbauer who threw for 1,398 yards and 12 touchdowns on 101-of-179 passing as a rookie. Newbauer took over as the starter under center in time for MU’s Week 9 win over then-No. 23 Western Carolina in Macon.

Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Newsletter

UC Davis

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Jim Les of the UC Davis Aggies yells at officials as he d...

Brenden Nunes

UC Davis basketball HC says they’re “fighting for consistency” early this season

UC Davis basketball head coach Jim Les joined The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross to discuss their early start to their 2024-25 season.

24 days ago

UC Davis basketball...

UC Davis Athletics

Aggies fall to Long Beach State for first home loss of Big West play

UC Davis basketball dropped its first home game in Big West conference play over the weekend, falling to Long Beach State.

26 days ago

HENDERSON, NEVADA - MARCH 15: Head coach Jim Les of the UC Davis Aggies reacts from the sideline du...

Frankie Cartoscelli

Jim Les is impressed by Doug Christie’s energy and passion

UC Davis basketball coach Jim Les joined Dave & Jason to discuss the start to the season, Doug Christie's new role with the Kings & more.

1 month ago

UC Davis football...

Frankie Cartoscelli

David Meyer named Walter Camp FCS All-American

UC Davis football redshirt-junior linebacker David Meyer has been named an All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

1 month ago

UC Davis football...

UC Davis Athletics

Lan Larison & Rex Connors named AP FCS All-Americans

Two UC Davis football players have been named an AP All-Americans following a historic 2024 season of Aggies football.

2 months ago

UC Davis football...

UC Davis Athletics

FCS Football Central names Larison, Hastings, Meyer & Rex Connors All-Americans

Several members of the UC Davis football team were named FCS All-Americans for their efforts during a historic 2024 season.

2 months ago

UC Davis Football opens 2025 With Week 0 match up; face Mercer in FCS Kickoff Classic