Tim Plough looks forward to another step ahead for Aggie football in 2026

Aggie head coach is disappointed that his quarterback is moving on, but pleased with those who return

Putting a bow on a successful football season that nevertheless ended with a disappointing loss, Aggie head coach Tim Plough is already laying the groundwork for another run at a Big Sky championship and a third straight FCS playoff bid.

Even as he makes those plans, however, Plough knows he’ll be without the services of all-everything quarterback Caden Pinnick, who entered the transfer portal when it opened on January 2 and is definitely headed elsewhere.

“I wish Caden well, but I don’t necessarily agree with his decision,” Plough noted.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. I think Caden still had some developing and learning to do that would have helped him, but NIL money has become a real thing and it’s something we have to deal with like everyone else. I think leaving is a risk for him, but it’s a risk he’s willing to take. We worked hard to put together a package for him, but it just wasn’t enough to keep him here. I certainly wish him well and hope for the best for him wherever he goes.”

Rumors as to where Pinnick may land include Oregon State, Washington State, Colorado and Nevada.

The portal opened Jan. 2 and will close Jan. 16.

UC Davis running back Carter Vargas is also in the portal.

In the 100-plus years the Aggies have been playing football, quarterbacks come and quarterbacks go, and yet UCD has earned a reputation as Quarterback U. There’s every reason to believe that Plough, whose national reputation for developing standout quarterbacks is well known, will have another winner calling signals come fall.

In addition to returnees and incoming high school graduates, Plough will be looking in the portal for a quarterback, a couple of running backs and several defenders, but not the wholesale roster swaps that have become commonplace in college football in the last couple of years.

Plough was heartened by the fact that standout receiver Sam Gbatu, who could have commanded significant dollars at an FBS program, came into the coach’s office the other day to tell him he was staying.

Sam Gbatu

“It’s hard not to get emotional when I’m talking about Sam,” Plough said.

“He’s just a tremendous person in so many ways. He told me he’s a Davis guy and he loves his teammates and loves the school and wants to finish his career here. I think Sam will go down as one of the greatest players we’ve ever had here.”

Plough knows that the focus is frequently on who is leaving - especially if it’s the starting quarterback - but says the focus should more rightly be on those who are staying.

He quickly named a dozen or so returnees who also could have received substantial financial offers had they entered the portal, but chose instead to stay at Davis.

“The goal here is to treat our players well, tell them you love them, coach them hard, create as much financial assistance as we can and help them become the best version of themselves,” Plough added.

“As disappointed as we were after losing our final game, I think we made great steps in the program and we’ll come back next season and see how far we can take it.”

The Aggies open the 2026 season Aug. 29 at Portland State, then have road games at University of San Diego and SMU before coming home for the first time against Stetson, an FCS school out of DeLand, Florida.

The Big Sky will go to a nine-game league schedule in 2026.

In addition to the road date at Portland State, the Aggies will have home conference games with Montana, Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado, Utah Tech and Cal Poly, with away games at Southern Utah, Weber State and Idaho.

Two of UCD’s three FCS losses in 2025 were to Montana State and Illinois State. Those two met tonight in the FCS championship game in Nashville.

Montana State won the game, 35-34, in overtime.

Reach Bob Dunning at bobdunning@thewaryone.com