Sacramento State is making a big leap into college football. According to Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger, the Mid-American Conference (MAC) has voted to welcome the Hornets as a football-only member. This is a significant step for the program, marking their transition from FCS to FBS.
The Hornets, now being coached by Alonzo Carter—previously an assistant at Arizona—will start competing in the MAC as soon as this season. Last year, under former coach Brennan Marion, they finished with a 7-5 record, just missing the FCS playoffs.
This move is especially noteworthy because it’s been 57 years since a West Coast school moved its football program from FCS to FBS. The last schools to do it were Fresno State and San Diego State in 1969. Sacramento State began its football journey in 1954 but didn’t reach Division I status until 1993.
The addition of Sacramento State brings the MAC’s football membership back to 13 teams, effectively filling the spot left by Northern Illinois, which recently joined the Mountain West Conference. However, this relocation poses some logistical challenges since the closest MAC member is Western Michigan, located in Kalamazoo.
Moreover, the financial investment is significant. Sacramento State will pay an entry fee of $18 million, which illustrates the commitment the school has made to elevate its football program.
As college football evolves, the realignment continues to reshape the landscape. Many fans have taken to social media to express their excitement and curiosity about how this shift will affect the future of the sport, especially in terms of competition and rivalries.
For more insights on the ramifications of conference realignment in college sports, you can read more from trusted sources like ESPN.
