Know the Foe: UC Davis
9/30/2025 6:09:00 PM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly and UC Davis will renew the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe this Saturday when the Mustangs host the No. 7 Aggies at Mustang Memorial Field at 5 p.m.
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).
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.
The No. 7 Aggies come into Saturday’s game winners of their last three and are 3-1 overall. They are coming off a 34-12 victory over Weber State in the Big Sky opener last week. All-American safety Rex Connors, UC Davis’ all-time leading tackler with over 300, leads the Big Sky in tackles per game.
Offensively, running back Jordan Fisher is third in the Big Sky in rushing, averaging more than 84 yards per game. As a team, the Aggies rank fourth in the conference in passing touchdowns with eight (Cal Poly is second with 11).
Last year, UC Davis made it to the FCS Playoffs. They advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to South Dakota.
Cal Poly is looking to ride its momentum after last week’s road win over No. 21 Sacramento State in the Big Sky opener, 32-24. Saturday’s game is homecoming with the first 2,500 fans receiving a snap coozie.
