On weekday mornings, Nevada Sports Net will recap three big headlines of the day in its Morning Download. Read below for today’s topics.
1. Sacramento State football officially joins MAC in $23 million deal
The Mid-American Conference officially announced Monday it is adding Sacramento State football to its conference starting July 1. The Hornets will pay an $18 million entry fee to the MAC plus a $5 million transition payment to the NCAA, making this a $23 million deal. The school also will forgo conference distribution and cover air travel for visiting MAC teams. Of the $18 million entry fee, $6 million will be paid in the first year.
“This is a historic moment for Sacramento State — a bold leap into the future,” Sacramento State president Luke Wood said in a news release. “Our move to the FBS represents more than a change in classification; it is a declaration of who we are and where we’re going. We are elevating our university, our student-athletes, and the entire Greater Sacramento region onto the national stage — committed to competing, leading, and winning at the highest level.”
2. Nevada softball to battle No. 15/16 Arizona tonight
Nevada softball will play a ranked team for the fourth time in the early going this season with tonight’s matchup against No. 15/16 Arizona at Hillenbrand Stadium. Nevada is 6-4 with all of its losses coming to Power 4 foes, including defeats to ranked LSU (twice) and Arizona State. The Wolf Pack has beaten three Power 4 teams, including Sunday’s win over Indiana. Arizona is 8-3 with two of its three losses to powerhouse Oklahoma, which the Wildcats also beat once. Tonight’s first pitch is 5:15 p.m.
3. Mountain West swim and dive championships to kick off
The Mountain West swim and dive championships are set to start Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. at CRWC Natatorium in Houston. The Wolf Pack is coming off a strong regular season and looking for a spot on the podium after a fourth-place finish in 2025, which marked its third straight season without a top-three conference placement after Nevada was in the top three every year from 2014-22. The Wolf Pack’s Scarlett Ferris, Bailey Heydra and Enkhkhuslen Batbayar have all competed at an NCAA Championship level this season. Coach Brendon Bray will join today’s NSN Tonight (at 6, 8 and 10 p.m.) to preview the championships from Houston.