UC Davis rallies past Portland State in opener

UC Davis erased a 21-point halftime deficit to defeat Portland State in a season and Big Sky opener, rallying in the second half to secure the win. Treynor Cleeland threw two touchdown passes and, in several accounts, was helped by Jordan Fisher, who scored twice on the ground as the Aggies surged back. The decisive moment came when Cleeland connected with Laviel Pickett for a 22-yard game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds remaining, followed by a late Vikings Hail Mary that fell short. The Aggies, ranked sixth in the FCS poll at the time, demonstrated resilience and late-game execution to overturn the sizable first-half margin. This game marked a crucial early-season statement for UC Davis under Cleeland’s leadership in its Big Sky opener. Multiple outlets documented the performance, highlighting the dramatic finish and the standout performances from Cleeland and Fisher.