A Sept. 17 matchup at Stanford, games against NCAA Division I-AA playoff participants New Hampshire and Eastern Washington, as well as five Great West Football Conference games and the 52nd annual Causeway Classic, highlight the 11-game UC Davis football schedule for 2005, released last week.

This fall UC Davis begins its third year of a four-year reclassification from NCAA Division II to Division I-AA status.

The Aggies will play six games on the road and five at home during what is being considered their toughest schedule ever.

UC Davis finished 6-4 overall and 3-2 in conference action last year and is coming off its 35th consecutive winning season.

UC Davis and Stanford have met only once for an official game, back in 1932, when the Cardinal won 59-0. The programs did, however, meet for a scrimmage at Stanford just prior to the 2003 season. The 2005 game will be UC Davis' first against a Division I-A program since a 44-14 loss at Idaho in 1997.

The schedule also features a pair of first-time opponents with New Hampshire and Eastern Washington, both of which advanced to the 2004 Division I-AA quarterfinals.

The Aggies will be looking for their sixth consecutive win against Sacramento State when they visit Hornet Stadium on Sept. 24 for the 52nd annual Causeway Classic. UC Davis, which won 58-23 at Toomey Field last season, holds a 36-16 lead in the series.

Sacramento State is one of three Big Sky Conference teams on the 2005 schedule, which also includes Portland State on Sept. 10 at Davis. UC Davis' other nonconference matchup is a Nov. 5 contest at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

The Aggies will open conference action with an Oct. 8 game at South Dakota State.

The 2005 season is set to be the final one at Toomey Field with UC Davis scheduled to open the 2006 campaign in a new stadium on the west side of campus. Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in late spring.

The 2005 Football Season ...

• Sept. 3, New Hampshire, home, 6 p.m.
• Sept. 10, Portland State, home, 6 p.m.
• Sept. 17, at Stanford, 7 p.m.
• Sept. 24, at Sacramento State, 2:05 p.m.
• Oct. 8, at South Dakota State, Sioux Falls, S.D., 11 a.m.
• Oct. 15, Southern Utah, home, 6 p.m.
• Oct. 22, at North Dakota State, Fargo, N.D., 11 a.m.
• Oct. 29, Cal Poly, (Homecoming), 1 p.m.
• Nov. 5, at Stephen F. Austin Nacogdoches, Texas, noon.
• Nov. 19, at Eastern Washington Cheney, Wash., 2:05 p.m.
• Nov. 26, Northern Colorado, home; 1 p.m.