You think you know Big Sky football, but the UC Davis football record actually tells a much weirder, more dominant story than a lot of people realize. It’s not just about a school in a cow town. It’s about a program that, for decades, basically forgot how to lose at home.
Honestly, if you look at the raw numbers, the Aggies have one of the most storied histories in California college sports. We are talking about a program with an all-time record of 494–375–35. That is a lot of Saturdays spent on the gridiron since they started back in 1915. But the record isn't just a pile of wins; it’s a reflection of a culture they call "Aggie Pride," which sounds kinda cheesy until you see the championship rings.
The 2025 Season and Where Things Stand Now
The most recent 2025 campaign ended with a 9–4 overall record and a solid 6–2 mark in Big Sky play. They were good. Really good. Under Tim Plough, the offense was basically a track meet, averaging 32.4 points per game.
They made it to the FCS playoffs again, beating Rhode Island 47–26 in the second round before hitting a wall against Illinois State in the quarterfinals, losing 31–42. It’s a recurring theme lately—getting deep into the bracket but just missing that final leap.
- 2025 Record: 9–4 (6–2 Big Sky)
- Playoff Result: Reached Quarterfinals
- Key Stat: 454.8 yards of total offense per game
Caden Pinnick really took the reins this year. The kid threw for over 3,200 yards and 32 touchdowns. When you have a quarterback completing nearly 70% of his passes, your UC Davis football record is going to look healthy. But football is a cruel mistress; despite a 5–2 home record, those two losses at UC Davis Health Stadium felt like gut punches to the faithful.
Why the Jim Sochor Era Still Matters
If you want to understand why the UC Davis football record is respected nationally, you have to talk about Jim Sochor. He wasn't just a coach; he was a literal Hall of Famer who turned Davis into a Division II juggernaut.
From 1971 to 1990, the Aggies won 20 consecutive conference championships. Read that again. Twenty. In a row.
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During that stretch, they went 58 straight home conference games without a loss. It’s the kind of streak that feels fake, like a video game glitch. Sochor finished his career with a .785 winning percentage. He’s the reason guys like Chris Petersen (Washington/Boise State) and Dan Hawkins (Colorado/Boise State) are household names—they all came out of the "Sochor coaching tree."
Most people don't realize that for a huge chunk of their history, UC Davis didn't even give out scholarships. They were beating teams with "scholarship talent" using biology majors and future veterinarians. That’s a massive part of the nuance behind their win-loss columns.
The Modern Division I Era
The jump to Division I wasn't easy. It never is. The UC Davis football record took some hits during the transition in the mid-2000s. There were some lean years under Ron Gould where the winning percentage dipped to .267.
But then Dan Hawkins came back home in 2017. He stabilized the ship, led them to a Big Sky title in 2018, and handed off a winning program to Tim Plough.
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Recent Playoff History
- 2024: 11-3 record, lost in Quarterfinals to South Dakota.
- 2021: 8-4 record, lost in First Round to South Dakota State.
- 2018: 10-3 record, lost in Quarterfinals to Eastern Washington.
The Aggies are currently sitting on a 3–4 all-time playoff record in the FCS. They are no longer the "little engine that could" from the D-II days. They are a legitimate powerhouse in the toughest conference in the country.
Breaking Down the Rivalries
You can't talk about the record without the Causeway Classic. The rivalry with Sacramento State is one of the most heated in the West. As of right now, UC Davis leads the series 49–23.
They also have a weirdly successful history against "bigger" schools. They’ve beaten Stanford. They’ve played Cal tough. They have a winning record against local rivals like Cal Poly and Humboldt State (back when they had a team).
What’s Next for the Aggies?
Looking at the UC Davis football record through a historical lens, the program is clearly in a "win now" window. They have the stadium, the recruiting base in Northern California, and a coaching staff that knows the system.
To take the next step, they have to figure out the "Montana problem." The Big Sky is top-heavy with the Montana schools, and while Davis is consistently 3rd or 4th, they need to break into that top tier to host more playoff games.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Home/Road Splits: The Aggies historically play significantly better at UC Davis Health Stadium. If you’re betting or projecting their season, look at the November home schedule.
- Monitor the Coaching Continuity: Tim Plough is currently 20–7 over two seasons. His ability to keep his coordinators will determine if they hit the 10-win mark in 2026.
- Check the SOS (Strength of Schedule): The Big Sky is a gauntlet. A 7–4 record in this conference is often better than a 10–1 record in a weaker FCS league.
The record isn't just a list of scores. It's the story of a program that moved from non-scholarship underdogs to Division I contenders without losing its identity. Whether you're an alum or just a fan of West Coast football, keep an eye on the win total—it usually ends up higher than the "experts" predict.