20
Winner
Toledo
TOL
7-2 , 4-1
17
Sacramento St.
SAC
2-8 , 1-6
Winner
20
17
Sacramento St.
SAC
2-8 , 1-6
Score By Quarters
Team
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
TOL
Toledo
7
0
10
3
20
SAC
Sacramento St.
3
7
0
7
17
Game Recap: Football | 11/4/2026 8:58:00 PM
FOOTBALL EDGED BY TOLEDO, 20-17, IN HOME FINALE
Hornets hold Rockets to 17 points less than their scoring average
Next Game:
at Central Michigan
11/11/2026 | 4:30 PM
Nov. 11 (Wed) / 4:30 PM
at Central Michigan
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State football team played arguably its best half of the season in the first half but could not hold off Toledo in the second half as the Rockets prevailed, 20-17, on Wednesday night at Hornet Stadium.
The win improved the Rockets to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the MAC. The Hornets dropped to 2-8 and 1-6.
“I told the guys after the team that I was proud of the way they fought and competed,” Sacramento State head coach Alonzo Carter said. “We showed that we have the ability to play with anyone in the league. There are still things that we need to improve on but you can see the progress the team has made since the beginning of the year.”
Toledo entered the game averaging 37.4 points per (16th in the FBS), but was limited to a single touchdown in the first half. That score came on an 18-yard pass from to Anthony Simpson from Jon Alan Richter to cap a five-play, 32-yard drive which was setup by a fumble recovery.
Despite the early deficit, the Hornets did not shy away. The team scored its first points on a 38-yard field goal from Grant Meadors — his 12th of the season — with 5:09 left in the first quarter. The only points of the second quarter gave the Hornets a 10-7 lead when Jackson Sharman found Matt Coleman in the back right corner of the end zone for his sixth receiving TD of the year.
Both defenses held their own in the half as Toledo was limited to 133 yards on 35 plays and the Hornets finished with 131 yards on 31 plays.
The Rockets awoke in the third quarter to score 10 points and take a 17-10 advantage. The team’s first touchdown was setup by a punt which pinned the Hornets at the 2-yard line and nearly resulted in a safety. Toledo turned the good field position into a 34-yard field goal from Reice Griffith to tie the game.
After holding the Hornets to a three-and-out, Toledo re-took the lead in a 19-yard rush from Autavius Ison with 86 seconds left in the quarter. The Rockets rushed on all but one of the seven plays of the drive.
Toledo extended its lead to 20-10 early in the fourth quarter on a 40-yard field goal from Griffiths. The Rockets again rode the run game during the series and were aided by a 15-yard targeting call across the middle of the field.
The Hornets were not done yet, however, as Brian Salazar Jr. led the team on a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Salazar, who played the entire second half in place of a banged up Jackson Sharman, completed 5-of-6 passes during the series, including a 30-yarder to Raiden Brown which set up a 3-yard TD from Jamar Curtis.
The Hornet defense provided a glimpse of hope on the ensuing drive, stripping the ball free from CJ Miller and seeing Amari Wallace return it for a would-be touchdown. Following review, Miller was ruled down and Sacramento State did not get the ball back until 55 seconds were left on the clock. Salazer completed a pair of passes on the drive but a fourth-down throw fell incomplete.
The total offensive numbers for the teams were similar but came in opposite fashions. The Hornets rushed for just eight total yards (including sacks) while passing for 216 yards. Toledo compiled 230 yards on the ground but was limited to 60 passing yards.
Sharman was 8-of-15 for 113 yards in the first half with a touchdown while Salazar was 12-of-18 for 103 yards in the second half. The pair were sacked five times between them. Raiden Brown set a career high with 108 receiving yards on five catches. Coleman also finished with five grabs for 46 yards.
The Hornet defense was led by reigning MAC Player of the Week Fata Puloka who had eight tackles. Tim Thomas and Silvera each added seven with Wallace credited for six.
Sacramento State will play its final MAC game of the year next Wednesday night at Central Michigan. The team will then have 17 days between games before closing the year at Hawaii on Nov. 28.
NOTES
Prior to the game Sacramento State honored 26 seniors who were playing their final game at Hornet Stadium.
The 60 passing yards allowed were the fewest ever against an FBS opponent in school history. The previous record was 143 at UTEP in 2002.
Conversely, Sacramento State’s eight rushing yards were the fewest against an FBS opponent, breaking the mark of 11 at Washington in 2015.
Thomas, Miles Bailey and Brodie Tagaloa — all seniors — each had a sack.