SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The “MACtion” map just stretched to the Pacific. Sacramento State is officially making the jump to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), joining the Mid-American Conference as a football-only member starting in the 2026 season. The move, confirmed by sources briefed on the negotiations, ends a relentless multi-year pursuit by the university to reach the highest level of college football.
The transition isn’t cheap. Sacramento State is prepared to pay a staggering $18 million entry fee to the MAC, paired with a mandatory $5 million NCAA reclassification fee. The total $23 million investment signals the school’s massive commitment to football, even after the Mountain West and Pac-12 previously passed on the Hornets during last summer’s frantic realignment cycle. While the move creates a logistical nightmare—spanning from the California capital to the Atlantic coast with UMass—it secures the school’s seat at the FBS table.
The Hornets will occupy the slot vacated by Northern Illinois, which is bolting for the Mountain West this summer. This swap keeps the MAC at 13 football members. Under NCAA transition rules, the Hornets will be ineligible for the postseason during their first two years in the FBS, though they could sneak into a bowl game in 2027 if the national pool of eligible teams falls short.
“This is the culmination of years of hard work by our players, coaches, and donors. We didn’t just want a seat at the table; we wanted to prove Sacramento State belongs in the national conversation. The MAC gives us that platform.”
— Mark Orr, Sacramento State Athletics Director
The jump to the MAC comes during a period of significant coaching turnover. After a successful era under Troy Taylor (who left for Stanford), the program briefly leaned on Brennan Marion’s “Go-Go” offense. However, Marion recently departed to become the offensive coordinator at Colorado. The Hornets have since turned to Alonzo Carter, the former Arizona assistant and Bay Area coaching legend. Carter inherited a roster that went 7-5 last season and is now tasked with recruiting for an FBS future while the school’s other sports move to the Big West.
