Five Things to Know: UC Davis
10/3/2025 2:48:00 PM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly football returns to Mustang Memorial Field Saturday to host rival No. 7 UC Davis. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. with the game being streamed on ESPN+.
Gates open at 3:30 p.m. with tailgating starting at 11 a.m. followed by the Stampede BBQ opening at 2:30 and the traditional Stampede March where the team walks down to the stadium happening at 3 p.m.
Get ready for gameday with five things you need to know:
How to Follow
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ beginning at 5 p.m. with Chris Sylvester providing play-by-play and former coach John Kane as analyst. Live stats will also be available for fans to follow on GoPoly.com.
Homecoming Giveaways
There are several giveaways for fans and students alike who attend the game. The first five 2,000 fans will receive a slap coozie upon entering the stadium. Students can receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win in-state tuition money for a quarter. The winner will be announced after the third quarter.
Mobile Ticketing
This year, Cal Poly ticketing is going mobile. Be sure to download your mobile ticket to your wallet before you arrive at the stadium. This eliminates the variable of not having strong Wi-Fi around the stadium and not being able to download it. Mobile tickets were sent to your email at the time of purchase. Click here for more information on downloading mobile tickets.
Pregame Festivities
There are plenty of things to do before the game starts. You can purchase a permit to tailgate at the stadium, which starts at 11 a.m. or you can buy tickets to the Stampede BBQ on O’Neill Green next to the stadium which opens at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for those can be bought at GoPoly.com/tickets.
Battle for the Golden Horseshoe
The rivalry in football between UC Davis and Cal Poly is known as the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe. The official Battle for the Golden Horseshoe was established in 2004 as student-run spirit clubs from both schools came together to sponsor a perpetual trophy that resides with the team that wins each year. The horseshoe-shaped trophy signifies the agricultural influence at both universities. Since the trophy was created in 2004, UC Davis leads the series, 14-7. Cal Poly will be seeking its first win over the Aggies since 2016, which was also a home game. This will be the 51st all-time meeting between the two programs, with UC Davis leading it 28-20-2. The first game of the series was played in 1939, and the two teams have met every year since 1978 (including twice during 2021 calendar year).
