Last week, Sacramento State announced it was moving to the FBS level, specifically the Mid-American Conference. The reaction to the move has been mixed. One analyst did not mince words when sharing his opinion.
Sacramento State’s Move to MAC Heavily Criticized by CFB Analyst
Without a released 2026 schedule, Sacramento State left the FCS ranks to join the FBS. The Hornets will compete in the Mid-American Conference. “Cover 3 Podcast” co-host Tom Fornelli took issue with the move.
“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.”
To understand Sacramento State’s path to FBS, a recent look at its history helps. While the school is a state university (California State University, Sacramento is its official name), it has raised millions of dollars for its athletic programs.
For example, in 2024, Front Office Sports reported that the school raised $24 million in a single day for its collective. Additionally, the school president announced plans to remodel its athletic facilities to make the move to FBS smoother.
The football program is leaving the Big Sky to compete in the MAC rather than the Mountain West. While Mountain West schools are geographically closer, MAC schools may be closer in competitive balance. With programs such as UNLV and a resurgent Hawaii, the MWC could present a stronger challenge. Sacramento State will remain in the Big Sky for every other sport.
Seven MAC schools won at least six games last year. Meanwhile, the conference had one 10-win team (Western Michigan) and four other teams with winning records. According to the NCAA, FCS programs receive $5,160,594. In contrast, Group of Six football programs receive $14,822,554.
While the MAC may not appear to be the most natural fit for Sacramento State, other factors could make the move worthwhile. For instance, Sacramento is the No. 20 media market in the country. Cleveland-Akron is No. 17. By adding the Hornets, the MAC would gain a larger media presence.
Like Fornelli’s comments, some reactions to the $23 million move have not been overwhelmingly positive. Yet the school and conference continue to push forward. Is FBS done expanding, or will other FCS schools seek upward mobility?
