The presidents of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) have officially invited FCS Sacramento State to join as a football-only member starting in 2026, as reported by ESPN. The entry fee is projected to be around $18 million, bringing the total cost to roughly $23 million once an additional $5 million payment to the NCAA is included.
This transition is a noteworthy achievement for Sacramento State, making it the first West Coast football program to level up in decades. President Luke Wood emphasized this goal, stating that the university and the Sacramento region deserve major college football.
Sacramento State will fill the slot left by Northern Illinois, which is moving to the Mountain West next year, keeping the MAC at 13 teams. This trend of schools investing heavily to shift leagues is becoming more common. For example, SMU sacrificed nine years of TV revenue to join the ACC, while Cal and Stanford also took cuts to make similar moves.
Recently, North Dakota State made headlines by moving to the Mountain West with a $12.5 million fee, showcasing how financial commitments are rising in college sports. Smaller conferences like the MAC face tougher times, struggling to keep star players amid new recruitment rules and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) agreements.
Sacramento State has shown consistent football success, with playoff victories in both 2022 and 2023. They recently hired Alonzo Carter, an assistant from Arizona, marking the fourth coaching change in just over a year.
After a previous denial from the NCAA for a waiver that would allow them to play independently, Sacramento State has now secured their conference invitation for the 2026 season. However, they won’t be eligible for postseason play for two years as they transition.
Wood and athletic director Mark Orr are not only focusing on football. They are trying to make the most of Sacramento’s significant television market. They hired Mike Bibby, a notable name, as the men’s basketball coach, indicating their ambition to elevate the sports program as a whole.
This strategic move positions Sacramento State among the ambitious schools looking to enhance their athletic presence in collegiate sports. The university is also set to house its non-football sports in the Big West starting in the 2026-2027 academic year.
For further insights on the financial dynamics of college athletics, you can read more in this NCAA report.
