Sacramento State to Join MAC, Make Jump to FBS in 2026

Hornets to pay $18 million fee to transition from FCS to FBS

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Sacramento State is set to join the Mid-American Conference as a football-only member starting in 2026, multiple reports indicate. The Hornets will pay an estimated $18 million fee to make the jump from the FCS level to the FBS.

Why it matters

This move represents Sacramento State's ambitious plan to elevate its football program to the highest level of college football. The transition to the FBS and MAC will provide the Hornets with greater visibility, resources, and competition, though the steep entry fee highlights the financial challenges involved.

The details

Sacramento State will serve as a replacement for Northern Illinois in the MAC, which is losing the Huskies to the Mountain West. The Hornets have already scheduled several FBS opponents for their 2026 inaugural FBS season, including Fresno State, Tarleton State, Maine, and North Alabama. The school hired Arizona assistant Alonzo Carter as its new head coach in December to lead the program through the transition.

  • Sacramento State will officially join the MAC and make the jump to FBS in 2026.
  • The Hornets competed in the FCS Big Sky Conference for the final time in 2025, finishing 7-5 overall.
  • Sacramento State moved its non-football sports from the Big Sky to the Big West conference last summer.

The players

Alonzo Carter

The new head football coach at Sacramento State, hired in December 2025. Carter is a first-time head coach who has spent the last eight seasons as an assistant at San Jose State and Arizona.

Luke Wood

The president of Sacramento State University, who has overseen the school's efforts to transition its football program to the FBS level.

Mark Orr

The athletic director at Sacramento State, who has worked to secure the Hornets' move to the MAC and FBS.

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What they’re saying

“We are thrilled to welcome Alonzo Carter as our next head football coach. Coach Carter is a proven leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field. His history of success in recruiting, constructing teams, and producing results at all levels of football makes him an ideal fit for Sacramento State.”

— Mark Orr, Athletic Director, Sacramento State (Sacramento State Press Release)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This move by Sacramento State represents a significant investment and commitment to elevating its football program to the FBS level. The steep $18 million entry fee highlights the financial challenges involved, but the Hornets are betting that the increased visibility and resources of the MAC will pay dividends in the long run.