Mid-American Conference teams will be logging more travel miles in the future.

The Midwest-based conference announced the addition of Sacramento State as a football-only affiliate member on Monday. The FCS school will officially join on July 1 for a five-year term.

“Today’s exciting announcement is about strengthening our competitive profile and creating value for the membership,” said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher.

“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. I welcome the Hornets to the Mid-American Conference and expect they will become a competitive and contributing member to the long history and legacy of one of the oldest Division I conferences.”

The MAC includes Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan, but now will have schools from Northern California to UMass on the East Coast.

Sacramento State will make the jump to FBS from FCS, joining after longtime MAC member Northern Illinois left the league for the Mountain West Conference.

Located in California’s capital well outside most of the league’s footprint in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, Sac State’s membership will lead to a significantly longer road trip for some schools each year.

But from a football standpoint, the Hornets bring proven pedigree at the FCS level. The program has won seven conference titles, including three consecutive Big Sky championships from 2019-2022. During that time, the Hornets made four NCAA FCS Playoff appearances and held a top 25 ranking for 50 weeks.

Founded in 1947, it has an enrollment of nearly 31,000. Sacramento State President Luke Wood called the move a “historic moment” and “a bold leap into the future” that is “bigger than football.”

“This is a special day for Sacramento State. I am ecstatic for our football student-athletes, coaches, and staff who work so hard to represent our university,” said Sacramento State Director of Athletics Mark Orr.

“Our student athletes will now have the opportunity to showcase their talent on the highest level of college football in front of national audiences.”

Sacramento State’s non-football sports will be in the Big West, which it joins in 2026-27.