Reports: Sacramento State joining MAC this year as football-only member

The Mid-American Conference is going far west to add Sacramento State as a football-only member starting with the 2026 season, according to multiple reports on Saturday night.

The MAC presidents, per reports, approved the addition of the California-based Hornets, a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program from 1993-2025. Sacramento State will pay an $18 million entry fee to the MAC and a $5 million fee to the NCAA to move to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level, according to reports.