Sacramento State football is officially making the leap.
After years of speculation and steady momentum around the program, the Sacramento State Hornets have accepted an invitation to move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision, joining the Mid-American Conference as a football-only member.
The move represents a historic shift for Sacramento State, ending the program’s run in the Big Sky Conference and placing the Hornets at the highest level of college football for the first time. It is a major milestone not only for the football program, but for the university as a whole.
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is one of the most long-standing established leagues in the FBS.
Sacramento State Football Is Joining The FBS’ Mid-American Conference
As members of the MAC, Sacramento State football will compete against programs such as Miami (Ohio), Ball State, UMass, Central Michigan, Ohio, Toledo, Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Akron, and Buffalo — a slate that brings both new challenges and increased national exposure.
The significance of the move was underscored by Sactown Sports’ Jason Ross, who added context to the announcement and explained what it means for the Hornets moving forward.
“There’s been a lot of news around Sacramento State football over the last couple of years,” Ross said. “The big question this offseason was whether the Hornets would move up a level. We can now answer that question, and the answer is yes.”
Ross emphasized that the jump to the FBS reflects years of growth within the program, both on and off the field.
Sacramento State has been highly competitive at the FCS level in recent years, and the move to the MAC signals confidence that the Hornets are ready to compete on a bigger stage — one that includes bowl games, broader recruiting reach, and regular national television exposure.
The conference change also fits into a broader realignment for Sacramento State athletics.
While football will compete in the MAC, the rest of the university’s sports programs are preparing for a transition of their own. Beginning in 2026, Sacramento State’s non-football sports will enter their first full year of competition in the Big West Conference, creating a new structure for Hornets athletics moving forward.
Ross noted that the combined moves represent a turning point for the university, aligning football with the FBS while placing Olympic sports in a geographically sensible and competitive conference.
The changes are expected to increase visibility, investment, and opportunities across the athletic department.
After years of questions about whether Sacramento State football would take this step, the answer is now official. The Hornets are moving up, entering a new conference, and beginning a new chapter at the highest level of college football.
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