PREVIEW: Bears Host No. 6/6 Aggies at Nottingham Field

WATCH: ESPN+
LISTEN: Pirate Radio // 93.5 FM // pirateradio935.com
LIVE STATS: UNCBears.com/FBStats

GAMEDAY INFO & TIMELINE
The gameday timeline for Saturday is listed below.

Student Tailgate Opens – 10 a.m.
Gates Open – 12 p.m.
National Anthem – 12:56 p.m.
Kickoff – 1:02 p.m.

TICKETS & PARKING
Tickets for Saturday's game are available at UNCBears.com/Tickets.

Parking information for Saturday's game are available at UNCBears.com/FBParking

WEEK 8 RECAP: Northern Colorado football went toe-to-toe with Sacramento State in a Big Sky shootout Saturday night, coming up just short in a 40-35 thriller at Hornet Stadium. After a quiet first quarter, the Bears found their rhythm offensively behind quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. and wide receiver Carver Cheeks. The duo connected on touchdown passes of 75, 6, and 62 yards, helping UNC take a 21-17 halftime lead and stay within striking distance until the final minute. Cheeks finished with a historic stat line, nine receptions for 223 yards and three touchdowns, the second-highest single-game total in UNC's Division I era and fourth all-time. Gibson threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns, marking his fourth 300-yard performance of the season and fifth consecutive game with 200+ yards.

Running backs Brandon Johnson and Mathias Price added balance to the attack, combining for 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Hudson Voggesser matched his career high with 16 tackles, while Zach Nowatzke tallied 13 and Cam Chapa added nine.

UNC's front line produced three sacks for the second straight week and the fourth time this season, with Ezra Ekuban, Dominic Butts, and Voggesser all creating pressure.

SERIES HISTORY:
UC Davis has won five straight in the series, averaging 42.4 points per game during that span. Northern Colorado's last win came in 2015 (56-27 in Greeley), the Bears only victory at home in the all-time series. The Aggies have scored 30+ points in 10 of 13 matchups, while UNC's closest road win came in 2014 (27-21).

THE LAMB ERA: In his third season, head coach Ed Lamb continues to redefine Northern Colorado football with a focus on development, discipline, and in-state recruiting. After a 1-11 finish in 2024, the Bears have already tripled that win total in 2025, highlighted by a 49-33 upset of then-No. 11/13 Idaho and narrow losses to FBS Colorado State and Sacramento State. UNC has become one of the nation's most disciplined programs, ranking top 10 nationally in fewest penalties and fewest penalty yards per game, while boasting a top-five passing defense and top-40 turnover margin.

GIBSON JR. DRIVING THE OFFENSE: Quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. is the centerpiece of UNC's offensive surge. The redshirt junior ranks:

                  - No. 9 nationally in passing yards per game (259.7)
                  - No. 4 in the Big Sky in completion percentage (65.6%)
                  - No. 19 nationally in total offense (265.3 YPG)

Gibson has surpassed 1,800 passing yards and 9 total touchdowns through seven contests, including four 300-yard games, the most by a UNC quarterback in a single season since 2016.

CHEEKS REACHES NEW HEIGHTS: Carver Cheeks continues to rank among the top receivers in the FCS. Following his 223-yard, three-touchdown explosion at Sacramento State, the junior sits:

                  - No. 3 nationally in receiving yards (725)
                  - No. 4 nationally in receiving yards per game (103.6)
                  - No. 1 in the Big Sky in receptions per game (6.3)
                  - No. 22 nationally in receiving touchdowns (5)

Cheeks has topped 100 yards in three of seven games, providing consistent explosive production for UNC's passing attack.

DEFENSE HOLDS ITS OWN: The Bears' defense continues to thrive under Lamb's leadership, ranking among national and conference leaders in several key categories:

- No. 1 Big Sky / No. 17 FCS – Passing Yards Allowed (175.1 YPG)
- No. 1 Big Sky / No. 5 FCS – Team Passing Efficiency Defense (102.05)
- No. 1 Big Sky / No. 19 FCS – Turnovers Gained (12)

Hudson Voggesser ranks among the top five tacklers in the Big Sky (8.4 per game), while Cam Chapa leads the Big Sky and ranks fourth nationally in solo tackles (5.9 per game). Darrell Bryant Jr. and Chapa each have two interceptions to pace the secondary.

UNC has also recovered seven fumbles (No. 9 FCS), with Dominic Butts and Ezra Ekuban adding a steady pass rush up front.

SPECIAL TEAMS IMPACT: Kicker Jacob Willig remains one of the league's top specialists, converting 77% of his field goals (8-for-11) and ranking No. 7 in the Big Sky. His 52-yard make against Idaho remains one of the longest in the conference this season. Punter Leo Blumentritt continues to flip the field, ranking No. 3 in the Big Sky and No. 24 nationally at 43.0 yards per punt, helping UNC stand No. 20 nationally in net punting (39.2).

DISCIPLINED AND DANGEROUS: Northern Colorado continues to play clean, efficient football:

- No. 8 nationally / 1st Big Sky – Fewest Penalty Yards (229 total / 32.7 per game)
- No. 11 nationally / 2nd Big Sky – Fewest Penalties (30 total)
- +0.29 turnover margin (No. 37 nationally)

TRENDING UP / QUICK HITTERS:
- Offensive Surge: UNC has scored 35+ points in back-to-back games for the first time since 2022.
- Passing Power: The Bears average 272.9 passing yards per game — No. 10 nationally / 3rd Big Sky.
- Balanced Attack: UNC ranks No. 36 nationally in total offense (396.7 YPG).
- Takeaway Machine: UNC's 12 takeaways (5 INT, 7 FR) lead the Big Sky.
- Clean Football: The Bears have committed just 4.3 penalties per game — top 15 nationally.
- Reliable Protection: The offensive line has allowed just five sacks all season (No. 8 FCS / 2nd Big Sky).
- Top Targets: Cheeks' 223-yard night is UNC's best since Jaren Mitchell's 242 vs North Dakota in 2019.
- Defensive Consistency: UNC ranks top five nationally in passing efficiency defense (102.05).
- Momentum Builder: The Bears have held halftime leads in four of seven games this season.

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Players Mentioned

Leo Blumentritt

Darrell Bryant Jr.

Dominic Butts

Cam Chapa

Carver Cheeks

Ezra Ekuban

Eric Gibson Jr.

Brandon Johnson

Zach Nowatzke

Mathias Price

Hudson Voggesser

Jacob Willig

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