The UC Davis Aggies football team was defeated 56-10 by the No. 17 SMU Mustangs on September 12, 2026, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. This contest marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs as UC Davis embarks on its transition to the Mountain West Conference for the 2026-27 season.
SMU dominated early, scoring 42 points in the first half while holding UC Davis scoreless until the fourth quarter. The Mustangs improved to 2-0 on the season with a comprehensive performance on both sides of the ball.
UC Davis quarterback Jackson Kollock, who transferred from Minnesota, connected with true freshman running back Coby Herman on a four-yard touchdown pass at 11:18 in the fourth quarter. This marked the first collegiate touchdown for both Kollock and Herman. The Aggies added a 33-yard field goal by Robert Meyer later in the quarter to finish with 10 points.
Starting quarterback Treynor Cleeland completed 11 of 26 passes for 83 yards with one interception, finishing with a passer rating of 61.4. Kollock completed 8 of 10 passes for 88 yards and one touchdown, recording an 80 percent completion rate and a 186.9 passer rating during his playing time.
Defensively, Brayden Rosa led UC Davis with a career-high seven tackles, including three solo stops. Teeg Slone recorded the team’s only sack, taking down SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings in the second quarter. Slone also led the Aggies with two tackles for loss. Additional contributors on defense included Drew Faulkner, Nick Afato, and Macray Madruga.
The loss concluded a three-game road stretch for UC Davis, where the Aggies posted a 2-1 record. They will return home to face Stetson at UC Davis Health Stadium on September 19, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
CSB Take
UC Davis football’s heavy loss to a ranked SMU team underscores the challenges of competing against a high-powered opponent during a period of transition to the Mountain West Conference. The first collegiate touchdowns by Jackson Kollock and Coby Herman provide encouraging signs for the Aggies’ offensive potential moving forward. Standout defensive efforts from Brayden Rosa and Teeg Slone reflect resilience that will be important in upcoming games. This experience will be valuable as UC Davis prepares for the remainder of its 2026 season and strives to sharpen its competitive edge.
Source: Original report
