The Sacramento State Hornets have added the Youngstown State Penguins to their 2026 football schedule, according to a report from NECBlitz.
Per the report, Sacramento State will host Youngstown State at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, which will mark the first-ever meeting between the two schools in football. The Hornets will pay the Penguins a $350,000 guarantee for the contest.
Sacramento State will host Youngstown State football on 9/19/2026, https://t.co/bZFiyHlu0E has learned. This would replace a previously known game for the Hornets. @FBSchedules
— NECBlitz (@NecBlitz) October 14, 2025
Sacramento State is currently a member of the Big Sky Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Hornets applied to the NCAA to move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as an Independent next season, but their petition was denied.
According to its most recent game notes, Sacramento State will compete as an FCS Independent next season:
The 2025 season will be the team’s final in the Big Sky Conference. Sacramento State will move the majority of its sports to The Big West in the fall of 2026. At this time, football will compete as an FCS independent next season.
Sacramento State was previously scheduled to host the Lamar Cardinals on Sept. 19, 2026, but will now square off with Youngstown State instead. The status of the Sac State-Lamar contest is currently unknown.
In addition to hosting Youngstown State and possibly Lamar next season, Sacramento State will also travel to face the Fresno State Bulldogs on Sept. 12. As an FCS Independent, the Hornets can schedule nine more games for a total of 12 contests.
Youngstown State now has three opponents for its 2026 non-conference schedule. The Penguins are scheduled to open the season on Sept. 5 on the road against the Kentucky Wildcats before hosting the Duquesne Dukes on Sept. 12.
FOOTBALL SCHEDULES