Sacramento State Announces $23M Move to FBS, Joining MAC

CFB analyst criticizes the Hornets' decision to leave the FCS for the Mid-American Conference

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Sacramento State University has announced it will move its football program from the FCS to the FBS level, joining the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in a $23 million move. The decision has been met with criticism from a prominent college football analyst, who called it "desperation" on the school's part.

Why it matters

The move is seen as a risky one for Sacramento State, as the MAC may not provide the same level of competitive balance or financial upside as other FBS conferences like the Mountain West. However, the school is hoping the larger media market and potential revenue boost will make the transition worthwhile.

The details

Sacramento State is leaving the FCS Big Sky conference to join the MAC, which features schools like Ball State, Miami of Ohio, and Buffalo. The school has raised millions in recent years to fund athletic facility upgrades and the move to the FBS level. However, CBS Sports analyst Tom Fornelli criticized the decision, saying "the reason these teams move up is to make money, right? Is the MAC some sort of moneymaking league that I didn't realize? The move makes absolutely no sense."

  • In 2024, Sacramento State raised $24 million in a single day for its athletic collective.
  • Last week, Sacramento State announced it would be moving from the FCS to the FBS and joining the Mid-American Conference.

The players

Sacramento State University

A state university in California that is moving its football program from the FCS to the FBS level, joining the Mid-American Conference.

Tom Fornelli

A CBS Sports analyst who heavily criticized Sacramento State's decision to move to the FBS, calling it "desperation" on the school's part.

Mid-American Conference (MAC)

The FBS conference that Sacramento State will be joining, known for schools like Ball State, Miami of Ohio, and Buffalo.

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What they’re saying

“We have Stanford and Cal in the ACC. We have all this dumb realignment stuff. To move up to the FBS level and join the MAC, so you can start playing Ball State, Miami of Ohio, and Buffalo. The reason these teams move up is to make money, right? Is the MAC some sort of moneymaking league that I didn't realize? The move makes absolutely no sense. To me, it's desperation on Sacramento State's part.”

— Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports Analyst (Cover 3 Podcast)

What’s next

Sacramento State will need to finalize its 2026 schedule and continue preparing its facilities and program for the transition to the FBS level and the Mid-American Conference.

The takeaway

Sacramento State's $23 million move from the FCS to the FBS and the Mid-American Conference has been met with skepticism, with one prominent analyst calling it a "desperate" decision that may not pay off financially or competitively for the school. The move highlights the ongoing realignment in college football as schools seek to boost their profiles and revenue.