Couple of podcasts by Colter Nuanez and regional sportswriter sidekick about the upcoming Big Sky season. Colter is pretty in the know about big sky - much better than the YouTube interlopers. He is a fan of coach Plough. You’ll have to scroll through some other stuff.

Also available on Apple Podcasts. Show is “Nuanez Now”.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3LTn4cMzXAVR2tuGrbs2ci?si=YyXLVRCARsSnhwdZSRaayA&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A4wBXFpIW0vjyBPuB2hapgm

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BrPu4vT2E6TnfNNGo2XYJ?si=mpqXU-wkRJ6i48tnl-2loA&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A4wBXFpIW0vjyBPuB2hapgm

Colter overweights the impact of Sac State not being FBS. A good chunk of the transfers and all the 2025 HS recruits signed before April, which is when Sac first announce they intended to go FBS without an invite. A good chuck of the transfers would never have played an FBS schedule nor visit an FBS opponent other than Nevada they visit this year. No reason for those players to be disheartened, they at least have a shot at playoffs.
Projecting that Sac loses at SDSU overlooks that SDSU lost over twenty FBS transfers, so they have their own challenges with integrating newcomers. Same is true for Nevada.

Sam Gbatu sighting: https://herosports.com/fcs-football-top-returning-2025-wide-receivers-bzbz/

Pretty good press for Gbatu

Just bought airline tickets to Atlanta for Mercer game. Looks to be about a 2 hour drive to Montgomery from the airport. Was initially thinking of driving with travel trailer (Cramton Bowl has hookups) but too much time involved even from east coast. Aggie side is western stands so late sun will be on opponents side. Tickets are cheap ($23 for GA) Even thought of “ESPN zone “ for $103 which gives you AC, some food (no host bar) and a general admission seat if you want to slum in the real stands for a while. Probably will go cheap route.

I hadn’t noticed Rutchena had such an outstanding start to his Cal career. Played wide receiver and safety in HS. Didn’t have a redshirt year but greyshirted, meaning he didn’t practice, then when he got to play linebacker for the first time this is how he finished his freshman year after becoming a starter..

– at Arizona - 8 tackles, 1 interception (0-yard return), 1 quarterback hurry
– at Stanford - 11 tackles ... career-high-tackles
– at UCLA - 9 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss (-6 yards), 1 pass breakup

Then he became a seldom used player, finally switching to tight end last year. Cal kept bringing in transfer linebackers.
I think Rutchena will be an impact player for Davis

Hero sports is out with it’s UC Davis preview. Also Idaho who they rank just ahead of #11 Davis
https://herosports.com/fcs-2025-uc-davis-football-preview-bzbz/

Lots they get right, but they project Perez will be #1 running back, whereas it is pretty clear from Plough’s comments that Fisher and Vargas will be the top backs. He said Fisher and Vargas had separated themselves, leading to Perez playing some at wide receiver.

The comparison with Idaho is striking. Davis has nine players who were All Conference in an FCS conference last year, Idaho has 2. Davis lost 2 transfers to the FBS, Idaho lost 20.

Driving through Atlanta is pure hell and would be worse with a trailer. With the roads still damaged in the NC mountains, it eliminates going through Knoxville and Chattanooga then heading south. I did that drive once after picking my daughter up from soccer ODP camp south of Tuscaloosa. It's a longer drive but eliminated ATL.

You guys are going to have a great year!

Aug 23 @ Mercer (FCS Kickoff Classic, Montgomery, AL)
Result: W 28–21

Passing: QB Aidan Williams – 22/35, 260 yds, 2 TD

Rushing: RB Ethan Cole – 18 carries, 100 yds, 1 TD

Receiving: WR Will Davis – 6 rec, 85 yds, 1 TD

Aug 30 @ Utah Tech
Result: W 35–17

Passing: Williams – 24/32, 275 yds, 3 TD

Rushing: Cole – 20 carries, 120 yds, 2 TD

Receiving: Davis – 7 rec, 95 yds

Sep 6 @ Washington (FBS)
Result: L 17–42

Passing: Williams – 20/40, 245 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: Cole – 15 carries, 60 yds

Receiving: Davis – 5 rec, 75 yds

Big Sky Conference Games
Sep 20 vs Southern Utah
Result: W 31–14

Passing: Williams – 21/30, 255 yds, 2 TD

Rushing: Cole – 22 carries, 115 yds, 1 TD

Receiving: Davis – 8 rec, 110 yds

Sep 27 vs Weber State
Result: W 27–24

Passing: Williams – 23/36, 280 yds, 2 TD

Rushing: Cole – 16/85 yds, 1 TD

Receiving: WR C.J. Hutton – 6 rec, 95 yds

Oct 4 @ Cal Poly
Result: W 34–20

Passing: Williams – 20/28, 240 yds, 2 TD

Rushing: Cole – 18/105 yds

Receiving: Davis – 5 rec, 80 yds

Oct 11 vs Northern Arizona
Result: W 30–17

Passing: Williams – 25/33, 300 yds, 3 TD

Rushing: Cole – 15/90 yds, 1 TD

Receiving: Hutton – 7 rec, 110 yds, 1 TD

Oct 25 @ Northern Colorado
Result: W 38–21

Passing: Williams – 24/32, 290 yds, 3 TD

Rushing: Cole – 20/120 yds, 2 TD

Receiving: Davis – 6 rec, 100 yds, 1 TD

Nov 1 vs Idaho State
Result: W 42–14

Passing: Williams – 22/30, 280 yds, 4 TD

Rushing: Cole – 18/110 yds, 1 TD

Receiving: WR Marcus Reed – 5 rec, 80 yds, 2 TD

Nov 8 @ Idaho
Result: L 28–31 (OT)

Passing: Williams – 28/40, 320 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: Cole – 17/95 yds, 1 TD

Receiving: Hutton – 8 rec, 125 yds, 1 TD

Nov 15 @ Montana State
Result: L 21–35

Passing: Williams – 25/37, 310 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: Cole – 15/80 yds

Receiving: Davis – 7 rec, 90 yds

Nov 22 vs Sacramento State (Causeway Classic)
Result: W 31–28

Passing: Williams – 23/34, 285 yds, 2 TD

Rushing: Cole – 20/110 yds, 1 TD

Receiving: Hutton – 7 rec, 105 yds, 1 TD

Kadeeszy is a total fraud. He should be ashamed to do this stuff. Ban him!

I guess Chat GPT picked up on the fact we don't have officially listed #1's at QB/RB/WR.....kinda funny. 9-3 could happen though!

What are the issues driving through Atlanta, traffic, humidity, and 'homeless'??

in Atlanta it is always rush hour and always under construction.

Most times of the day there are 8 lanes in each direction with bumper to bumper traffic. I lived in NY for a while and Atlanta traffic makes NYC seem almost rural.

Rex Connors ranked #3 on this list: https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2025/7/14/24441967/fcs-2025-preview-aj-pena-rhode-island-rams-andrew-zock-mercer-bears-ckelby-givens-southern-jaguars

It will be interesting to see who among the DBs plays and where they fit them in. Questions to be resolved: Is Baston or Riddick going to be the field safety? Allen was also listed as a Safety last year, but also played a position UTEP called Spur, which some have described that as a slot corner, will he play corner, or is he the nickle? Who else plays corner?
Anyone notice that 247 Sports rated Blake Cotton as a 4 star transfer? On one of the Montana podcasts last fall they had a frequent guest who at one time was Montana State's cornerback coach. He thought highly of our corners last year.

I like the kid from Tufts at corner too. The smaller school xfers usually have a lil extra something to prove, which can bode well. Will be interesting to see how the DBs shake out.

I ‘m rooting for Richarson also for a couple of reasons. One, he is an achiever, graduating from Tufts with a science degree in two years, and two, Tufts is not a high profile D3 team, and he only played 14 games in college and you really have to standout to become an All American as a sophomore.

He sounds like he comes from a school-first type of family, and that he probably could have played football at a higher level if he wanted. I'm sure he's looking forward to playing at a higher level at Davis.

I'm looking forward to seeing him out there.

Is Montana State a good / fun place to watch a game?

247 Sports says Richardson had offers from Cal Poly and Georgetown in 2023. I forgot the amazing thing is he graduated in a year and a half. He graduated at Tufts in time to participate Spring practice at Davis after graduating from Menlo School in 2023. Not your average high school i guess.

Great place to see a game. Caveats would be potentially dicey weather in November this year and ticket availability unless you have a connection to the UCD allotment. I had to go the third party re-sale route - was not at all happy with vivid seats as they didn’t release them till about hours or so prior to game after purchasing airfare, rental car, air b&b. Had someone on the Bobcat board offer me 2 free tickets but didn’t use them as our purchased tickets came through.

Great atmosphere and Bozeman is nice. Land of Magic steakhouse northwest of Bozeman is great. Very good computer museum (American Computer and Robotics museum) and Jam is a good breakfast place. We stayed in Manhattan (l guess the littlest apple) on 90 NW of Bozeman. Hot springs in the area too.

Thanks for the tips I'm 60% going - the 40% holding me back is the November game time...I do not want to see myself get snowed in with all the other fans (and my niece). Need to get back to the Bay Area and tie off projects in November!

We are literally about 5 Weeks away from 2025 kickoff.

Get your plane tickets now if you're going! Won't be there myself, too much family business to attend to in the coming weeks.

Who has the best flight/drive option to Montgomery?

We live in the Raleigh area and after checking flights to Montgomery and to Atlanta figured we could rent a car in Atlanta using the cost differential between flying to Montgomery and Atlanta. Southwest had the best fare from RDU to ATL but Delta has their hub in Atlanta so probably has the most options from the west coast. ATL is southwest of the city so should avoid the worst traffic.

Good breakdown.

I suppose depends on your priorities. Atlanta probably has the most nonstop flights from the west coast. Northwest Florida Beaches, Destin/Ft Walton, and Pensacola airports are little bit longer drive from Montgomery but it’s all rural highways without much traffic. They are the sorts of airport with like 5 gates, no line for anything, and the rental car parked front row at the terminal. Might be a thing if you were looking to make it a long weekend at the beach or oyster bar.

Between Atlanta and Montgomery, there is a Buc-ee’s near Aurburn. Worth the stop if you’ve never experienced one. Keep in mind the split between Eastern and Central time is the GA/AL border. It kind of comes up by surprise driving so remember for getting back to the airport. Outside of the city, restaurants in Alabama can have smoking sections, like the old potted plant dividing smoking from not situation. It’s jarring stepping back 30+ years. Rural Alabama, Georgia, and Florida are mostly tiny counties where the main municipal funding is the lone sheriff running traffic on the highway, so mind the speed.

this was a fascinating write up.

Standouts Fill 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team

4 Aggies named to the All-American teams:

Rex Connors DB - 1st Team Defense
Winston Williams TE - 2nd Team Offense
Hunter Ridley PK - 2nd Team Special Teams
Porter Connors LB - 3rd Team Defense

https://theanalyst.com/articles/2025-stats-perform-fcs-preseason-all-america-team

Im curious when we are going to get that athletic facility plan back from ELS architecture that was mentioned as coming this summer in the last IGNITE update?