Sacramento State to Join Mid-American Conference as Football-Only Member

The unusual arrangement will see the Hornets join as an affiliate member starting in 2026.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Mid-American Conference has approved Sacramento State to join the league as a football-only member starting in the 2026 season. Sacramento State, which has competed at the FCS level since 1993, will become the 138th FBS program and the first MAC team in the Pacific Time Zone. The Hornets will pay a $5 million entry fee to move to the FBS level and an additional $18 million to join the MAC.

Why it matters

This conference realignment move expands the MAC's geographic footprint significantly, with Sacramento State located over 2,000 miles from the conference's previous westernmost member. It also comes as the MAC is set to lose longtime member Northern Illinois, making Sacramento State's addition crucial to maintaining the conference's football lineup.

The details

Sacramento State will join the MAC in 2026 as a football-only member, becoming the 13th football program in the conference. The Hornets, who were previously part of the FCS-level Big Sky Conference, will make the jump to the FBS level and pay a $5 million entry fee. They will also pay an additional $18 million entry fee to join the MAC specifically. Sacramento State's addition comes after North Dakota State was recently announced as a football-only member of the Mountain West Conference starting in 2026.

  • On Feb. 14, 2026, the MAC presidents approved adding Sacramento State as a football-only member starting in the 2026 season.
  • Sacramento State was previously planning to compete as an FCS independent in 2026 before this move to the MAC.
  • The MAC typically releases its football schedule in the first week of March, so adjustments will need to be made to accommodate Sacramento State.

The players

Sacramento State Hornets

A California-based institution that has competed at the FCS level since 1993 and will now become the 138th FBS program, joining the Mid-American Conference as a football-only member starting in 2026.

Mid-American Conference (MAC)

A college athletic conference that will add Sacramento State as a football-only member in 2026, expanding its geographic footprint significantly westward.

Alonzo Carter

The first-year head coach of the Sacramento State Hornets, who was hired on Dec. 15 to replace Brennan Marion and will lead the program's transition to the FBS level.

North Dakota State

Another FCS program that was recently announced as a football-only member of the Mountain West Conference starting in 2026.

Northern Illinois

A longtime member of the Mid-American Conference that will depart the league on July 1, prior to Sacramento State's addition.

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What they’re saying

“This stunning conference realignment move, which gained significant ground in a short amount of time, sets the MAC at 13 football programs for the 2026 season, as the conference prepares to lose longtime member Northern Illinois on July 1.”

— Ross Dellenger (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The MAC must adjust its 2026 football schedule to accommodate Sacramento State's addition, with the conference typically releasing its schedule in the first week of March.

The takeaway

Sacramento State's move to the FBS level and the Mid-American Conference represents a significant geographic expansion for the MAC, with the Hornets becoming the conference's first member in the Pacific Time Zone. This realignment comes as the MAC is set to lose longtime member Northern Illinois, making Sacramento State's addition crucial to maintaining the conference's football lineup.