NCAA· Season 2026
UC Davis scored 31 unanswered second-half points to come back from 21-0 down and stun Portland State 31-24 in the Big Sky opener at Hillsboro Stadium.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Portland State controlled the first half completely under new head coach Chris Fisk. Quarterback Tyrese Smith capped a 9-play, 70-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run at the end of the first quarter. On the ensuing UC Davis punt, Cru Newman fielded the kick at his 22-yard line and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0 as the quarter expired.
The Vikings extended their lead in the second quarter with a 16-play, 87-yard march that consumed 5:06 of clock, Smith again punching in from 1 yard out. At half-time, PSU had outgained UC Davis 218-96 in total yards and held a 19:03 to 10:57 edge in time of possession.
The second half was a different game. UC Davis’s defence forced a safety 2:18 into the third quarter — a botched snap that sailed through the end zone — to cut the deficit to 21-2 and flip momentum. Jordan Fisher then scored on a 1-yard run and a 4-yard run on consecutive possessions, and suddenly the Aggies had trimmed the lead to 21-16 with 6 seconds left in the third quarter.
Portland State responded with an 11-play field-goal drive early in the fourth quarter. Joshua Hossmann Lees converted from 24 yards to push the lead back to 24-16 with 9:35 remaining.
UC Davis answered with a 9-play, 75-yard drive. Treynor Cleeland found Samuel Gbatu Jr. on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 2:19 left, and the two-point conversion — a pass from Cleeland to Laviel Pickett — tied the game at 24-24.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Aggies took over at their own 20-yard line with 1:53 on the clock. Cleeland orchestrated a 5-play, 80-yard drive, hitting Pickett for a 22-yard touchdown with 27 seconds remaining. Portland State’s last-gasp Hail Mary from the Aggies’ 36-yard line fell incomplete, sealing UC Davis’s improbable victory.
The Turning Point
The safety 2:18 into the third quarter changed everything. Portland State had dominated the first half, holding UC Davis to zero points and 96 yards. Once the Aggies smelled blood — cutting a 21-point lead to 21-2 on a special-teams mistake — their offence found rhythm while the Portland State attack stalled.
Portland State managed just 3 points and 139 yards in the second half after hanging 21 points and 218 yards in the first. The Vikings ran only 12 offensive plays in the entire second half before their final desperation drive.
Key Performers
Treynor Cleeland (UCD, QB) — The Aggies’ signal-caller threw for 287 yards on 22-of-39 passing with two touchdowns and one interception. He completed 5 of 6 passes for 78 yards on the game-winning drive.
Jordan Fisher (UCD, RB) — Pounded in two short-yardage rushing touchdowns (1 yard and 4 yards) in the third quarter to spark the comeback.
Laviel Pickett (UCD, WR) — Caught the game-tying two-point conversion and the 22-yard game-winning touchdown. He also drew a key pass-interference penalty on the final drive.
Tyrese Smith (PSU, QB) — Threw for 268 yards (23-of-36) and ran for two first-half touchdowns from the 1-yard line. His efficiency in the first half was undone by a scoreless second half.
Cru Newman (PSU, PR/WR) — The 78-yard punt return for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter was the highlight of the first half.
Player of the Match: Treynor Cleeland (UCD) — 287 passing yards, the game-winning drive, and leadership in the face of a 21-point deficit.
By the Numbers
UC Davis finished with 374 total yards to Portland State’s 357, but the distribution tells the story. In the first half, PSU outgained UCD 218-96; in the second half, UCD outgained PSU 278-139. The Aggies averaged 7.1 yards per play in the second half after managing just 3.2 per play before the break.
Time of possession flipped: PSU held the ball for 33:56 overall (19:03 in the first half, 14:53 in the second), while UC Davis had it for just 26:04. The Aggies converted 5 of 13 third downs (38.5%) and held PSU to 5 of 16 (31.3%).
The punt-return touchdown and safety — 9 points from special teams and defensive units — were decisive in a game decided by 7 points.
Scoring Summary
| Quarter | Time | Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 00:59 | PSU | Tyrese Smith 1-yard run (Hossmann Lees kick) | PSU 7-0 |
| 1st | 00:00 | PSU | Cru Newman 78-yard punt return (Hossmann Lees kick) | PSU 14-0 |
| 2nd | 00:08 | PSU | Tyrese Smith 1-yard run (Hossmann Lees kick) | PSU 21-0 |
| 3rd | 09:42 | UCD | Safety — bad snap through end zone | PSU 21-2 |
| 3rd | 06:01 | UCD | Jordan Fisher 1-yard run (Meyer kick) | PSU 21-9 |
| 3rd | 00:06 | UCD | Jordan Fisher 4-yard run (Meyer kick) | PSU 21-16 |
| 4th | 09:35 | PSU | Hossmann Lees 24-yard field goal | PSU 24-16 |
| 4th | 02:19 | UCD | Samuel Gbatu Jr. 15-yard pass from Cleeland (Pickett pass from Cleeland) | Tied 24-24 |
| 4th | 00:27 | UCD | Laviel Pickett 22-yard pass from Cleeland (Meyer kick) | UCD 31-24 |
What It Means
UC Davis (1-0, 1-0 Big Sky) opens its season with a signature comeback win that demonstrates the resilience of Tim Plough’s programme. The Aggies face San Diego at home on 5 September before a trip to Southern Utah on 12 September.
For Portland State (0-1, 0-1 Big Sky), new head coach Chris Fisk’s debut ends in crushing fashion after a dominant first half. The Vikings visit San Diego State on 5 September before returning to Big Sky play at home against Eastern Washington on 12 September.
The H2H rivalry now stands at 2-0 in favour of UC Davis, both victories coming by narrow margins.
Verdict
A game of two completely different halves. Portland State’s first half was as dominant as it gets — 21 points, 218 yards, a punt-return touchdown, and a shutout. But the Vikings’ 55 yards of punt return allowed and the third-quarter safety handed UC Davis a lifeline, and Treynor Cleeland was clutch when it mattered most. This is the kind of result that can define a season for an FCS contender.
Rivalry since 2023
Portland State vs UC Davis Head to Head Results· 2
Portland State and UC Davis have met 2 times — Portland State won 0, UC Davis won 2, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2023. UC Davis leads the head-to-head with 2 victories from 2 meetings. A combined 113 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 56.50 per match (49 for the home side, 64 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 2 matches (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 2 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 37–23 in 2023.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 30 Aug 2026