NCAAF - Sacramento State will join the Mid-American Conference as a football-only member starting July 1, 2026. The university will join the conference for a five-year term as it transitions to the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Hornets will serve as a replacement for Northern Illinois, which is scheduled to depart the MAC this summer to join the Mountain West. Sacramento State previously moved its non-football sports from the Big Sky to the Big West last summer after the NCAA denied a waiver for the school to join the FBS as an independent.
According to ESPN, the cost for Sacramento State to enter the conference is expected to be approximately $18 million. The university has also increased its financial resources for athletes, with a source telling CBS Sports that the school’s budget for name, image, and likeness (NIL) is currently more than $1 million.MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher announced the expansion on Monday and cited the school’s history of investment in its athletic programs. “Today’s exciting announcement is about strengthening our competitive profile and creating value for the membership,” Steinbrecher said. “We were presented with an opportunity to add an institution with demonstrated success in football, a record of investment and commitment to the continued growth of the institution and community. Sacramento State is ready and poised for this next step.”
The team is transitioning to new leadership following the hire of head coach Alonzo Carter on Dec. 15. Carter, a first-time head coach who previously served as an assistant at San José State and Ariz., replaced former coach Brennan Marion. Marion departed the program to join the staff at the University of Colorado as offensive coordinator.
Athletic Director Mark Orr said Carter’s experience makes him an ideal fit for the university as it moves toward the FBS. “Coach Carter is a proven leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field,” Orr said.
“His history of success in recruiting, constructing teams, and producing results at all levels of football makes him an ideal fit for Sacramento State.”Sacramento State finished its final football season in the Big Sky Conference with a seven-five overall record and a five-three mark in conference play. While the university has not yet released its full 2026 schedule, several programs have already announced games against the Hornets, including Tarleton State, Maine, and North Ala. The team is also scheduled to face Fresno State in Week 2.
The Hornets are the second school from the Football Championship Subdivision scheduled to make the jump to the FBS in 2026. Earlier this month, N.D. State announced it would move from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Mountain West.
Sacramento State will officially join the Mid-American Conference on July 1, 2026. The agreement includes a five-year term for the university as a football-only member.