At first glance, casual FCS fans may see a UC Davis team that went 5-6 last year defeating FBS San Jose State, 2-11 last year, as the first FCS over FBS upset of the 2018 season and that's it. After all, the Aggies finished eighth in the Big Sky in 2017 and SJSU isn't exactly a Mountain West powerhouse.
But there's a lot more to it than simply brushing it off as an above-average FCS team defeating a terrible FBS opponent. UC Davis is the real deal. The Aggies are a threat in the Big Sky this year and are going to have a big-time impact on the 24-team playoff picture.
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We didn't rank UC Davis No. 22 in our preseason Top 25 poll just to be different. We are firm believers that this team, which returns 13 starters from last season, is about to make some noise. The Aggies proved it with a 44-38 win against the Spartans on Thursday.
The Big Sky is known for its powerful offenses. UC Davis just might have the best unit in the conference in 2018. Just look at these Week 1 stats:
- 589 yards of total offense
- Jake Maier: 37-55 passing, 446 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT.
- Keelan Doss: 11 rec., 85 yards
- Ulonzo Gilliam: 8 rec., 59 yards, 1 TD
- Wesley Preece: 3 rec., 75 yards, 1 TD
- Jared Harrell: 5 rec., 87 yards, 1 TD
- Khris Vaughn: 3 rec., 65 yards
Maier is coming off a Big Sky Newcomer of the Year season and Doss is an NFL Draft prospect who led all of Division I last year in catches per game and receiving yards. The passing attack is deadly with multiple weapons.
WR Jered Harrell makes a SPECTACULAR 49 yard pass to put the Aggies ahead 28-14! pic.twitter.com/XuxjgrIXTJ
— UC Davis Football (@UCDfootball) August 31, 2018
And just to make this offense balanced and even more explosive, redshirt freshman running back Ulonzo Gilliam made his debut with these rushing numbers:
- 23 rushes for 132 yards
- 2 TDs
- 5.7 yards per attempt
Ulonzo Gilliam with the TOUCHDOWN!! Putting the Aggies ahead 43-31. pic.twitter.com/jCiC96CG0k
— UC Davis Football (@UCDfootball) August 31, 2018
I don't care if it's Alabama or San Jose State, an FCS team with 22 fewer scholarships putting up those numbers on an FBS defense is eye-opening.
The other side of the ball, though, still needs work. That unit allowed exactly 38.0 points per game last year, a mark SJSU hit perfectly. UC Davis' strategy of outscoring opponents and holding on for dear life on defense isn't foreign to the Big Sky. But 44-38 ball games get you in trouble late in the season when playoff berths are on the line.
The Aggies are now in the driver's seat to be a high nationally-ranked FCS team and make a run at the playoffs. If they weren't already, they're a team everyone should have on their radar.
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NEXT: BMac's Wrap – Will CAA Eat Its Own This Year?
