UC Davis overcomes 21-point deficit to beat Portland State

UC Davis overcame a 21-0 halftime deficit to defeat Portland State 31-24 in their Big Sky Conference season opener. Entering the game as a 24-point favorite and ranked sixth in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll, the Aggies struggled early against the Vikings.

Portland State established an early lead through a Tyrese Smith touchdown run and a 78-yard punt return by Cru Newman. However, UC Davis mounted a comeback in the second half, fueled by two rushing touchdowns from Jordan Fisher and a late-game surge led by quarterback Treynor Cleeland. Cleeland threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Laviell Pickett with 27 seconds remaining to secure the victory.

Portland State head coach Chris Fisk noted that while the team showed aggression and competitiveness in the first half, the program still has significant growth ahead regarding pressure management.