Sacramento State Joins MAC Football, Raising Scheduling Challenges

The addition of the California school to the Midwest-focused conference brings logistical questions.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has announced that Sacramento State University will join the conference as a football-only member starting in the 2026 season. This marks a significant shift for the traditionally Midwest-focused MAC, as Sacramento State is located on the opposite side of the country in California. The move comes as the conference sees the departure of Northern Illinois, balancing out the football programs. However, the long-distance travel and Wednesday night game scheduling that is common in the MAC will present new challenges for integrating Sacramento State.

Why it matters

The addition of Sacramento State to the MAC is an unexpected move that highlights the ongoing changes and realignment in college football. While it helps maintain the conference's football lineup, the geographic distance between Sacramento and the other MAC schools raises logistical issues around travel, scheduling, and the traditional "MACtion" midweek games that fans have come to expect.

The details

Sacramento State, an FCS program, has expressed a desire to move up to the FBS level, and the MAC has provided that opportunity. The conference's usual lineup of Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, and others will now include the California school. This creates challenges, as asking teams to travel cross-country for Wednesday night games is a significant burden compared to the typical short Midwest trips.

  • Sacramento State will join the MAC football conference in the 2026 season.
  • Northern Illinois is leaving the MAC, balancing out the football programs.

The players

Mid-American Conference (MAC)

A NCAA Division I conference primarily focused on schools in the Midwest region of the United States.

Sacramento State University

A public university located in Sacramento, California that has historically competed at the FCS level in football but is now joining the FBS-level MAC conference.

Northern Illinois

A university that is departing the MAC football conference, leading to the addition of Sacramento State to balance out the lineup.

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What’s next

The MAC and Sacramento State will need to work out the logistics of integrating the California school into the conference's traditional scheduling and travel plans, especially for the midweek "MACtion" games that have become a signature of the league.

The takeaway

The addition of Sacramento State to the Mid-American Conference is an unexpected move that highlights the ongoing changes and realignment in college football. While it helps maintain the conference's football lineup, the significant geographic distance between Sacramento and the other MAC schools raises new logistical challenges around travel, scheduling, and preserving the conference's unique midweek game tradition.