I’m curious what ISU did on offense in the 3rd quarter to make our LBs vanish into thin air. They were out there, but nowhere near #5 as he ran right up the middle for 8 yards per carry it seemed. That was frustrating to watch. Could have been as simple as fatigue? It looked to me like a big team wore some sick guys down over the course of the game.

Getting deep into the playoffs has a lot to do with depth, conditioning, and a lot of luck (especially health-wise).

With all that, strange feeling that at no point in the game to me did I feel like the Ags were going to lose….then all of the sudden the season was over. Heartbreak!

Fun season to watch. Unstoppable offense at times and really good defense. So many talented, interesting and entertaining players. Just a really likeable program with so much potential. Looking forward to next year already!

I didn't expect a shootout to turn into a drought.

Interesting, a friend thought the fake field goal was an emotional turning point.

From the Sacramento Bee:

Those three possessions where we got no points, a fake field goal stopped on fourth down, and the interception on the goal line. That’s the game, right?” Aggies coach Tim Plough said. “If those three plays are touchdowns, then we got 53 points, and we win the game, right? So, those three plays are the difference for sure.”

[quote]Will Pinnick return?

Aggies redshirt freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick, a former standout from Del Oro High, threw for 402 yards and three touchdowns in the loss Saturday. He finished the season with 3,206 yards and 32 touchdowns through the air, plus 437 yards and another three scores using his legs.[/quote]

Pinnick has reportedly received multiple offers to play elsewhere next year, and he and Plough have already had discussions about his future in Davis. The transfer portal opens on Jan. 2 and closes two weeks later. If by then Pinnick has not accepted an offer, he will remain an Aggie.

Plough said he plans to talk to Pinnick soon, with the playoffs now over.

“I support Caden with whatever he wants to do, but if I was advising him, I think the best thing he can do is to continue to mature and learn the position from one of the best, I think, quarterback development schools in the country,” Plough said. “We plan on him coming back.”

To Plough’s point on quarterback development: Plough, on Cal’s coaching staff in 2023, served as something of a tutor to the Golden Bears’ then-third string QB Fernando Mendoza. Though Plough was Cal’s tight ends coach, Mendoza knew of his quarterback expertise and started to meet with Plough as a mentor.

Mendoza transferred after the 2024 season to Indiana. On Saturday, he won the Heisman Trophy, the honor given to the best college football player in the nation.

Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/sports/college/article313687259.html#storylink=cpy

it was a big turnabout especially when they hit us on a 93-yard TD. Huge swing

The beautiful long bomb and then fumble also hurt.

Lots of credit to the red birds. They started the playoffs unranked and have been traveling every week. They’re a well coached and greased machine. I won’t be surprised to see them in Nashville.
Darn, the way this bracket sorted out was a real opportunity for us.

FCS game reviews, they really skim over our game - which starts at 16:00.

https://youtu.be/7XOIQ5N8rR0?si=mLi76a7DWnARPz_N