The stage is set for a rematch as the UC Davis Aggies take on the Illinois State Redbirds in the NCAA Division I Football Championship quarterfinals this Saturday. The game will kick off at 2 PM at UC Davis Health Stadium.
Ranked No. 8, the Aggies enter the playoff clash with a record of 9-3, having recently defeated No. 9 Rhode Island 47-26. Head coach Tim Plough expressed his excitement during a press conference, stating, “We”re really excited to have another week together. We just love being around each other and how much we love this team and the staff.”
The Aggies are looking forward to their home advantage after an impressive turnout of 8,525 fans for their last game. In the previous round, Illinois State shocked the field by edging out top-seeded North Dakota State with a narrow 29-28 victory. “Illinois State is a really good football team,” acknowledged Plough.
This Saturday”s winner will advance to face the victor of the matchup between No. 12 Villanova and No. 4 Tarleton State, scheduled for 9 AM. The final showdown is set for December 20.
Last season, the Aggies hosted Illinois State in the second round of the playoffs, marking the first encounter between the two squads, which resulted in a dominant 42-10 win for UC Davis. Plough noted, “Obviously, we have some familiarity with them from last year. We know they are one of the better teams in the country.”
The Aggies aim to focus solely on this year”s Illinois State team, which boasts a record of 10-4. “I think both teams are similar in the sense where there are not a lot of staff changes,” Plough added, indicating a continuity in team dynamics.
Illinois State”s quarterback, Tommy Rittenhouse, has been a key player, recording 268 completions out of 412 attempts for 2,740 yards and 31 touchdowns this season. The Redbirds are part of the Missouri Valley Conference for football.
As the Aggies prepare to face the Redbirds, they are also tackling off-field challenges. With final exams scheduled for the fall quarter, the team is working to balance their practice schedules around academic obligations. “We”re trying to figure out just the schedule and the practice scheduling,” Plough mentioned.
In terms of player accolades, Aggie quarterback Caden Pinnick and cornerback Drew Cofield have been recognized as FCS Central All-Americans. Running back Jordan Fisher has achieved 1,051 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this season, while wide receiver Samuel Gbatu Jr. has tallied 64 receptions for 1,070 yards and 11 touchdowns.
On defense, middle linebacker Nate Rutchena leads the team with 22 tackles, followed closely by safety Khalani Riddick with 18. The Aggies hope to make their seventh home game of the season a memorable one, especially with the earlier start time compared to their previous game against Rhode Island.
With a storied history, this marks the 17th time UC Davis is hosting an NCAA Playoff Quarterfinals game, the first since 2001. The excitement is palpable as the Aggies aim to advance further in the postseason.
