Sac to the MAC

[SDHornet]

Saw this in the NDSU thread but figured I'd start a new thread. I don't post here much anymore but figured I'd bid you all a farewell. Our president was dead set on getting us into FBS and he accomplished that goal. The MAC obviously isn't an ideal landing spot but given that it's just for a 5 year term the goal is clearly to be palatable for an invite into one of the regional G6 conferences.

CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference today announced the addition of Sacramento State as a football-only affiliate member beginning July 1, 2026, for a five-year term.

“Today’s exciting announcement is about strengthening our competitive profile and creating value for the membership,” said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. “We were presented with an opportunity to add an institution with demonstrated success in football, a record of investment and commitment to the continued growth of the institution and community. Sacramento State is ready and poised for this next step. I welcome the Hornets to the Mid-American Conference and expect they will become a competitive and contributing member to the long history and legacy of one of the oldest Division I conferences.”

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2026/2/ ... ember.aspx

Personally I'm excited about the move. Lot's of work ahead with this move but given the D1 governance changes on the horizon Hornet admin wanted to get us into FBS. So long as the funding for an increased operating budget is made available (increased student fees for athletics went into effect this past fall) I don't see why we won't be competitive in the near term.

[BDKJMU]

Saw this in the NDSU thread but figured I'd start a new thread. I don't post here much anymore but figured I'd bid you all a farewell. Our president was dead set on getting us into FBS and he accomplished that goal. The MAC obviously isn't an ideal landing spot but given that it's just for a 5 year term the goal is clearly to be palatable for an invite into one of the regional G6 conferences.

CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference today announced the addition of Sacramento State as a football-only affiliate member beginning July 1, 2026, for a five-year term.

“Today’s exciting announcement is about strengthening our competitive profile and creating value for the membership,” said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. “We were presented with an opportunity to add an institution with demonstrated success in football, a record of investment and commitment to the continued growth of the institution and community. Sacramento State is ready and poised for this next step. I welcome the Hornets to the Mid-American Conference and expect they will become a competitive and contributing member to the long history and legacy of one of the oldest Division I conferences.”

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2026/2/ ... ember.aspx

Personally I'm excited about the move. Lot's of work ahead with this move but given the D1 governance changes on the horizon Hornet admin wanted to get us into FBS. So long as the funding for an increased operating budget is made available (increased student fees for athletics went into effect this past fall) I don't see why we won't be competitive in the near term.

Congrats on stepping out of the kiddie pool! Good luck- think ya‘ll are going to need it.

Sac should be competitive in the MAC. The problem is $$$:
-no travel partner.
-no rival.
-every trip a flight.
-18 million $$$ to MAC.
-5 million $$$ to the NCAA
-5 years no conference revenue.
-5 years paying everyone opponents travel costs.
+ move up costs that every FCS to FBS team faces 2-3x $$$ in coaching salaries (including bigger staff), now 42 more schollie equivalents, facilities upgrades, etc.
+ NIL to compete successfully at the G5 level.
+ CA costs in general (has to be a lot more expensive to run a G5 program in CA than in most of rest of country.

Sac can’t be doing that for weekday MACtion. I only see this working out for Sac if they have some BIG $$$ donor(s) and can parlay this into a PAC 12 invite, or maybe the Mtn West. BIG gamble.

Does Sac have some Silicon Valley billionaire (or several hundred millionaire) making an 8 figure donation?

[BDKJMU]

34:20 of The Audible with Bruce Feldman panel start about Sac St move up for <7 min. Lot of head scratching on this one. The one thing that stood out the most:

$18 million to the MAC and $5 million to the NCAA. $23 million. Last year, their entire athletic budget was $11 million and they sold $275,000 in tickets. It's odd."

[SuperHornet]

I'm the lone holdout that doesn't like this one little bit. The travel footprint is way too big (counting UMASS, a team that should go back to the CAA). For me, the numbers just don't add up, particularly considering that the multi-sport athletic complex at Cal Expo hasn't panned out yet, either. I'm also wondering if we're planning to kick the Manure Pile to the curb. That would be a HUGE mistake, IMO.

The current partial schedule showing at FBschedules will clearly have to change, as there are not eight gaps for conference games. It's also problematic in terms of how FCS-heavy (particularly Maine) it is. I also have no clue on how long the no-bowl transition exclusion will apply, or even if it will. There have been so many changes in recent years that it's hard to keep up.

That said, I'm not like "lifelong" Cowboy fan family and friends that bailed over how that crazy Jerry Jones mishandled the Micah Parsons situation. Family can disagree and still be collegial. I'm not going to have a hissy fit like that. SD and most of my other Hornet "fan kin" have always been collegial when we've disagreed, and as far as I'm concerned, this situation is no different. One was even kind enough a few years back to pay for a ticket at Will Call for me at a time when I was too poor to get one. That's a good friend. Plus, the players have nothing to do with insane leadership at the university. I will continue to follow the team and to cheer for them, even if we're playing teams with whom we have no history.

[Gil Dobie]

Football only, around 6 flights per season for SAC. 4 for MAC opponents. I assume UCD is now a home payout game and the power 5 games would pay SAC.

I found this as one reason they moved to FBS

Wood, himself a Sacramento State alum, commissioned a consulting firm to generate the economic impact of five years in FBS. It produced a $975 million figure to the Sacramento area (roughly $250 million annually).

[BDKJMU]

Football only, around 6 flights per season for SAC. 4 for MAC opponents. I assume UCD is now a home payout game and the power 5 games would pay SAC.

I found this as one reason they moved to FBS

Wood, himself a Sacramento State alum, commissioned a consulting firm to generate the economic impact of five years in FBS. It produced a $975 million figure to the Sacramento area (roughly $250 million annually).

975 million/5 years = 195 million annually. Still that seems WILDLY inflated for moving up to the bottom or next to bottom G5 conference. I doubt any of the recent move ups (JMU, KSU, JSU, UD, MO St) projected even a fraction of close that economic windfall. JMU has had about as much success as a move up could have in 4 years, and no way the Univ & surrounding area has generated close to that annual boom.

[Gil Dobie]

Football only, around 6 flights per season for SAC. 4 for MAC opponents. I assume UCD is now a home payout game and the power 5 games would pay SAC.

I found this as one reason they moved to FBS

Wood, himself a Sacramento State alum, commissioned a consulting firm to generate the economic impact of five years in FBS. It produced a $975 million figure to the Sacramento area (roughly $250 million annually).

975 million/5 years = 195 million annually. Still that seems WILDLY inflated for moving up to the bottom or next to bottom G5 conference. I doubt any of the recent move ups (JMU, KSU, JSU, UD, MO St) projected even a fraction of close that economic windfall. JMU has had about as much success as a move up could have in 4 years, and no way the Univ & surrounding area has generated close to that annual boom.

Listened to Sam Herder interview on YouTube. He said $37 million of Sacs $40 million athletic budget is subsidized. He mentioned donors coming out of nowhere offering support because of the FBS move.

[Caribbean Hen]

Sac St is just renting an Airbnb in an ugly neighborhood known as the MAC until there new home in the PAC XX is ready for them to move in

The MAC Presidents are slum lords

[dbackjon]

I'm the lone holdout that doesn't like this one little bit. The travel footprint is way too big (counting UMASS, a team that should go back to the CAA). For me, the numbers just don't add up, particularly considering that the multi-sport athletic complex at Cal Expo hasn't panned out yet, either. I'm also wondering if we're planning to kick the Manure Pile to the curb. That would be a HUGE mistake, IMO.

The current partial schedule showing at FBschedules will clearly have to change, as there are not eight gaps for conference games. It's also problematic in terms of how FCS-heavy (particularly Maine) it is. I also have no clue on how long the no-bowl transition exclusion will apply, or even if it will. There have been so many changes in recent years that it's hard to keep up.

That said, I'm not like "lifelong" Cowboy fan family and friends that bailed over how that crazy Jerry Jones mishandled the Micah Parsons situation. Family can disagree and still be collegial. I'm not going to have a hissy fit like that. SD and most of my other Hornet "fan kin" have always been collegial when we've disagreed, and as far as I'm concerned, this situation is no different. One was even kind enough a few years back to pay for a ticket at Will Call for me at a time when I was too poor to get one. That's a good friend. Plus, the players have nothing to do with insane leadership at the university. I will continue to follow the team and to cheer for them, even if we're playing teams with whom we have no history.

It is just football. Sac had shrinkage with the rest of their sports going to the Big West

[SDHornet]

Saw this in the NDSU thread but figured I'd start a new thread. I don't post here much anymore but figured I'd bid you all a farewell. Our president was dead set on getting us into FBS and he accomplished that goal. The MAC obviously isn't an ideal landing spot but given that it's just for a 5 year term the goal is clearly to be palatable for an invite into one of the regional G6 conferences.



https://getsomemaction.com/news/2026/2/ ... ember.aspx

Personally I'm excited about the move. Lot's of work ahead with this move but given the D1 governance changes on the horizon Hornet admin wanted to get us into FBS. So long as the funding for an increased operating budget is made available (increased student fees for athletics went into effect this past fall) I don't see why we won't be competitive in the near term.

Congrats on stepping out of the kiddie pool! Good luck- think ya‘ll are going to need it.

Sac should be conpetove in the MAC. The problem is $$$:
-no travel partner.
-no rival.
-every trip a flight.
-18 million $$$ to MAC.
-5 million $$$ to the NCAA
-5 years no conference revenue.
-5 years paying everyone opponents travel costs.
+ move up costs that every FCS to FBS team faces 2-3x $$$ in coaching salaries (including bigger staff), now 42 more schollie equivalents, facilities upgrades, etc.
+ NIL to compete successfully at the G5 level.
+ CA costs in general (has to be a lot more expensive to run a G5 program in CA than in most of rest of country.

Sac can’t be doing that for weekday MACtion. I only see this working out for Sac if they have some BIG $$$ donor(s) and can parlay this into a PAC 12 invite, or maybe the Mtn West. BIG gamble.

Does Sac have some Silicon Valley billionaire (or several hundred millionaire) making an 8 figure donation?

Thanks. Here's my retort to some of the concerns:

It's FB only so there is no travel partner. Our Oly sports are going to the Big West. There will be a significant cost and time savings for those Oly sports which funds can be used to cover a portion of the MAC travel subsidy.

Our rivals will move to FBS sooner now. Rumor is they declined a MW FB invite which allowed MW to go after NDSU. The phags egos will not allow us to be FBS an them not.

The financials will be covered by the students (athletics fee initiated this fall with increases over the next 2 years) and taxpayers. We have 30k+ students and 20M taxpayers in CA. We'll be fine.

Aside from the travel costs mentioned above, we were anticipating $5M per year to pay for guarantee home games as Indy status. Across the 5 year MAC membership term, the MAC situation is less than the Indy setup by a few million.

We've been ramping up the football budget over the last two years, especially this past season. We're anticipating $3M in revenue share to cover 105 roster spots this season with a football budget north of $10M. That increase will continue until as we roll into the MAC.

As far as how the private monies go, there has been some NIL monies. Not sure where it's coming from but Marion wouldn't have landed the top FCS recruiting class prior to last season without money to throw around. The Sac market (top 20 DMA) has no FBS presence until now, so it's not known how the local market will respond but it will be much better than when we were in the BSC.

MACtion kick off times are a concern for me, but you play when ESPN say to play so it is what it is.

Next big lift will be building a new stadium. If Dr. Wood delivers on that (probably will be backed by CSU revenue bonds) then I will not be worried one bit about our move to FBS.

[SDHornet]

34:20 of The Audible with Bruce Feldman panel start about Sac St move up for <7 min. Lot of head scratching on this one. The one thing that stood out the most:

$18 million to the MAC and $5 million to the NCAA. $23 million. Last year, their entire athletic budget was $11 million and they sold $275,000 in tickets. It's odd."

To put our "bad deal" in perspective, NDSU, the clear cut dominant program over the last 15 years had to pony up the following:

$12.5M entry fee
No TV money for 6 years
Required budget increases if performance on the field isn't delivered.

I think our and NDSU's deal just set the going rate for move up entry fee costs.

[SDHornet]

Football only, around 6 flights per season for SAC. 4 for MAC opponents. I assume UCD is now a home payout game and the power 5 games would pay SAC.

I found this as one reason they moved to FBS

Wood, himself a Sacramento State alum, commissioned a consulting firm to generate the economic impact of five years in FBS. It produced a $975 million figure to the Sacramento area (roughly $250 million annually).

They were scared to play us with out FCS Indy status, they for sure won't plays us for a guarantee game. TBH, we shouldn't pay them the going rate for what they can get from another FBS program. As mentioned, their egos won't allow them to remain JV while we are FBS so I expect them to accelerate their FBS move up schedule.

[SDHornet]

Football only, around 6 flights per season for SAC. 4 for MAC opponents. I assume UCD is now a home payout game and the power 5 games would pay SAC.

I found this as one reason they moved to FBS

Wood, himself a Sacramento State alum, commissioned a consulting firm to generate the economic impact of five years in FBS. It produced a $975 million figure to the Sacramento area (roughly $250 million annually).

975 million/5 years = 195 million annually. Still that seems WILDLY inflated for moving up to the bottom or next to bottom G5 conference. I doubt any of the recent move ups (JMU, KSU, JSU, UD, MO St) projected even a fraction of close that economic windfall. JMU has had about as much success as a move up could have in 4 years, and no way the Univ & surrounding area has generated close to that annual boom.

Apparently a marketing consultant came up with the initial annual projection. Dr. Wood extrapolated it across the 5 year MAC term to get that massive number. As with any politician using a economic impact analysis to sell their taxpayer backed program/policy, this is no different.

[SDHornet]

Sac St is just renting an Airbnb in an ugly neighborhood known as the MAC until there new home in the PAC XX is ready for them to move in

The MAC Presidents are slum lords

Exactly this. This is an audition for a nPAC invite. If Dr. Wood delivers on facilities and we are not a total dumpster fire over the next 5 years, I think we'll get an nPAC invite. The nPAC media deal was pretty lackluster so its clear that they need markets to bolster their media deal. Dr. Wood positioned us well to make a run for an invite.