No. 15 UC Davis faces Sacramento State in the 72nd Causeway Classic on Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. PT. The Aggies carry a 2-game win streak over the Hornets. Sacramento State sits 7-4 but won 3 straight. This betting matchup has serious playoff implications for both teams.
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🔥 Quick Facts:
- UC Davis is 7-3 (5-2 Big Sky) and ranked No. 15 in FCS media polls
- Sacramento State is 7-4 (5-2 Big Sky) with a 3-game win streak
- Rodney Hammond Jr. leads Hornets with 1,076 rushing yards and 11 TDs
- Sacramento State ranks 3rd nationally in rushing at 256.8 yards/game
- Winner likely secures FCS playoff spot on Sunday morning
Battle of Undefeated Conference Records
UC Davis and Sacramento State enter Saturday tied in the Big Sky Conference at 5-2. But here’s where it gets interesting. The Aggies dropped their most recent game to Montana State 38-17 after stunning losses to Idaho State 38-36. So they’re looking to bounce back in the biggest game of the regular season. Meanwhile, Sacramento State just beat Idaho 23-20 in walk-off fashion. That win capped a 3-game winning streak. The Hornets won at Eastern Washington 35-13 and Portland State 52-24 before the Idaho thriller. Thing is, UC Davis has won 2 straight over Sacramento State already. The Aggies took the last two meetings, so Sac State needs to break that streak badly.
Sacramento State’s Rushing Attack Dominates
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Look, Sacramento State has built something special on the ground. The team ranks 3rd in the entire FCS averaging 256.8 rushing yards per game. And it’s not just one guy carrying the load. Rodney Hammond Jr. leads conference in yards at 1,076 with 11 touchdowns. But Cardell Williams isn’t far behind with 324 yards and also 11 TDs. They’ve become the first pair to each have 11+ rushing TDs in the same season in school history. Against Idaho, both backs went over 100 yards again. Hammond had 120 yards while Jaquail Smith added 122. The Hornets are 4th in the last 6 games with multiple 100-yard rushers in one contest.
| Rushing Leaders 2025 | Yards | TDs | Avg/Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodney Hammond Jr. (Sac St) | 1,076 | 11 | 97.8 |
| Cardell Williams (Sac St) | 324 | 11 | 29.5 |
| Jordan Fisher (UCD) | 520+ | Multiple | 50+ |
| Carter Vargas (UCD) | 400+ | Multiple | 40+ |
But UC Davis isn’t exactly a defensive pushover. The Aggies held Idaho State to 38 points despite 275+ passing yards. And they forced 4 sacks and blocked 2 kicks against Northern Colorado. Jacob Psyk, the Harvard transfer, has been relentless all season with 14 tackles for loss and 6.5+ sacks. He’s the anchor of that defense.
UC Davis Aims to Stay Perfect at Home
Caden Pinnick is the real deal for UC Davis. The redshirt freshman has thrown 22 touchdowns with just 8 interceptions. He’s completing passes at 69.3% and averaging 235.7 yards per game. Plus, he’s dual-threat meaning he can take off. Against Idaho State, he was absolutely brilliant. And when Grant Harper stepped in as a backup, he still got the job done with 3 TDs in one half. Samuel Gbatu Jr. has been his security blanket with 53 catches for 822 yards. The Aggies have had 10 different players catch a TD this year. That offense is balanced and dangerous.
Defensively, Rex Connors just set the program record with 291 career tackles. He’s averaging 11.5 tackles per game and leads the Big Sky. Teammate Porter Connors at linebacker is also a force. UC Davis is solid on both sides of the ball heading into this match. The home-field advantage in Davis has been real too. The team hosted a record 17,217 fans earlier this year against Southern Utah.
Playoff Fate Decides This One
Here’s the real story. The winner of this game locks in an FCS playoff berth almost certainly. Both teams sit at 7 wins. The loser has to wait until Sunday morning, Nov. 23 when 24 teams get announced. The Ivy League joined the playoffs for the first time meaning 13 at-large bids are available. Sacramento State would get 8 wins with a victory, which has been the benchmark. UC Davis would improve to 8-3 and strongly position itself as a top seed.
Vegas has UC Davis favored at around -3.5 points. Statistical models give the Aggies 62% win probability. That makes sense given home field and recent history. But Sacramento State is flying right now. They’ve won 5 of last 6 games and 8 of their final 10. Brennan Marion in his first year as head coach has already earned 7 wins, becoming the 4th coach in school history to accomplish that.
Who Needs This Game More?
Both teams desperately want this, but from different angles. UC Davis wants to prove the last two weeks were flukes. Sacramento State wants to prove they belong in the bracket. The Causeway Classic dating back to 1954 carries massive weight. It’s one of the oldest rivalries in Northern California. This could be the last ever meeting since UC Davis is moving to the Mountain West for non-football sports while keeping football in the Big Sky. That historical significance adds another layer. Saturday will decide everything.
Sources
- UC Davis Athletics – Official game preview and statistics
- Sacramento State Athletics – Team statistics and game analysis
- Dimers – AI-powered FCS predictions and modeling
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.