Sacramento State Joins MAC as Football-Only Member

The move marks the Mid-American Conference's westward expansion, adding the FCS program as it looks to boost revenue.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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In a surprising move, the Mid-American Conference (MAC) has voted to add Sacramento State University as a football-only member starting this season. The 30,000-student school in California's capital city will pay an $18 million entrance fee to join the league, as well as a $5 million fee to transition from the FCS to the FBS level. The westward expansion comes as the MAC looks to shore up its finances amid the changing college sports landscape.

Why it matters

The addition of Sacramento State to the MAC, a conference traditionally based in the Midwest, represents a significant geographic shift for the league. It also highlights the financial pressures facing mid-major conferences as they seek to retain and attract members in an era of NIL deals and revenue sharing.

The details

Sacramento State had been seeking an FBS home after the Mountain West and Pac-12 rejected its overtures. The MAC, which was previously a model of geographic cohesion, agreed to the move after the California school offered an $18 million entrance fee. Sacramento State will join the MAC solely for football, while its other sports will remain in the Big Sky Conference.

  • The MAC presidents voted to add Sacramento State on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
  • Sacramento State is set to begin play in the MAC for the 2026 football season.

The players

Sacramento State University

A 30,000-student public university located in California's capital city that is transitioning its football program from the FCS to the FBS level by joining the Mid-American Conference.

Mid-American Conference (MAC)

A NCAA Division I conference that has traditionally been based in the Midwest, but is now expanding westward by adding Sacramento State as a football-only member.

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What they’re saying

“Yep, get ready for Sacramento State-UMass on a Wednesday night in November.”

— David Briggs, Columnist (toledoblade.com)

“I remember asking MAC athletic directors for a one-word reaction to UMass joining the league last year. 'WTF?' one replied.”

— David Briggs, Columnist (toledoblade.com)

What’s next

The NCAA must approve Sacramento State's transition from the FCS to the FBS level in order for the move to the MAC to be finalized.

The takeaway

The addition of Sacramento State to the MAC represents the latest example of the shifting landscape in college sports, as mid-major conferences look to boost revenue and membership in the face of growing financial pressures. While the geographic expansion may seem unusual, it underscores the willingness of schools and leagues to explore unconventional arrangements in pursuit of stability and growth.